Every year roughly 70 billion tons of raw materials are extracted from the Earth. This is double the demand we put on the planet at the end of the 1970’s. Although we are aware that our resources are limited, we continue to extract these materials relentlessly. It’s no surprise then, that in order to sustain ourselves we all need to do our bit for the planet. Here at JunkWize, we deal with plenty of rubbish removal in London, but there are lots of things all of us can do besides taking out the trash. Here are 7 tips each of us can take to help reduce our global footprint.
Green light. ©Derek Gavey via Flickr
Reuse plastic bottles Although there are fascinating reinventions of water containers, like Ooho, plastic water bottles still provide a huge global waste problem. Around 90% of them aren’t recycled, instead taking hundreds of years to degrade. The best thing to do is buy a water bottle and keep reusing it with tap water. Showers over baths Keep an eye on the amount of baths that you take as they use up twice as much water as a shower. This needn’t be as Draconian as it sounds, but perhaps try having a no-bath week every now and then. Not only will you find that this reduces your water consumption, but this will also lower your heating costs. Recycle old coat hangers Wire hangers are usually made of steel, which isn’t always accepted at recycling centres. So what can you do with them? Well, most dry cleaners will accept them back to recycle or reuse. Go veggie once a week By having one vegetarian meal a week you not only hep your diet but the planet really benefits too. This is because it takes around 20,000 litres of water to produce 1Kg of beef. The rainforests are also given a helping hand, as for every animal raised for slaughter it requires roughly 55 square feet of forest. Get creative with your wrapping You can reuse gift bags, ribbons and wrapping paper, but it doesn’t stop there – anything that can be used to wrap or box an item can be reused such as old newspapers and bits of cardboard. Have a bit of fun with stamps, stickers and felt tips and you’ll have yourself wrapping paper that’s environmentally-friendly and special for the recipient. Think before you throw Always remember that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Before you throw something away, think about donating it to a charity or post it up on a site where people are after miscellaneous objects, such as Freecycle. Buy second hand Following on from this, you might want to start considering obtaining items second hand. Clothes, bikes, and toys other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown. Second hand shops usually sell these items in very good condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them. So there you have our 7 environmentally-friendly tips. By recycling and reusing, you not only help the planet, but you’ll also find these are good for your wallet and your general state of mind. We understand that sometimes you might need a hand with your recycling efforts – so please, if you’re looking for a rubbish removal company in London always remember to bear JunkWize in mind!
