9 Lazy Ways To Start Recycling from Home

Recycling is a job we associate with the trash cans in our homes. But did you know you can start recycling by changing little daily habits?

From diminishing food waste to transforming items you have stored in your cupboard, there are many little changes you can do that can save the environment. 

From diminishing food waste to transforming items you have stored in your cupboard, there are many little changes you can do that can save the environment.  Here are 9 lazy ways to get you started! 

Why do we need to start recycling? 

With the rise of climate change causing concern for so many of us, it is more important than ever to start improving our recycling habits. By 2050 global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected to increase by 50%. If we don't reduce these by at least 45% climate change will destroy coastal regions, increase flooding and wildfires alike, and so much more 

When we use recycled materials, we prevent over-manufacturing, excessive harvesting of materials, and all that nasty waste. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing our overall energy consumption. 

Buy less and reusing products means less energy is needed to extract, transport, and process materials. Even better, purchasing products made from recycled materials instead of devastating natural resources also helps to reduce energy consumption. So we can save the planet by making better use of the things we already have! 

Let’s investigate some super easy ways you can reduce your own energy consumption and start making a positive impact from the comfort of your own home.  

1. Reuse Reuse Reuse  

2021 is the perfect time to start getting into new routines and habits. Investing in reusable grocery bags, coffee cups and homewares for daily use will ultimately lessen plastic waste. One plastic bottle alone can take up to 450 years to decompose. That is 6x the length of an average human lifetime. By having items that can be reused again and again, you diminish waste dramatically.   

Here are some of our favorite re-usable brands to check out!  

JOCO CUPS 

Joco Cups provide a premium solution to plastic and single-use waste.  Designed from luxury materials that are sleek and highly durable to enhance your daily drinking ritual. 

Since 2017, Every Joco cup purchase has contributed to the removal of over 120,000 pieces of plastic from the environment. It’s been a source of major encouragement for the average person to stop single-use waste and begin protecting the natural environment.  

S’WELL 

S’Wells founder Sarah Kauss pioneers reusable drinkware and set out to make sustainable products fun and stylish. We absolutely love their sleek color schemes and designs.  

S’well is also a proud partner of UNICEF. Donating millions of dollars to help provide clean and safe water to the world’s most vulnerable communities. They also educate families on water-borne diseases. From 2020, S’well focused more intensely on supporting water programs across Madagascar – a country where nearly 50% of the population lacks access to clean drinking water.  

STOJO 

Founded by busy New Yorkers Jurrien, Alex, and Ben, Stojo set out to develop the world's first ultra-portable, leak-proof reusable cup for ease and convenience. 

These guys are all too familiar with how difficult it is to quickly grab a disposable cup of coffee over doing what’s right for the planet. But inspired by their kids’ they knew they had to break that habit and make it easy for others to do the same. So now we can drink coffee and save the environment at the same time!  

reusable bottle of water

2. Eco-friendly Meal Prep 

The freezer is your best friend. We often find ourselves throwing out food we have forgotten to eat or overspend while browsing the grocery store. But excessive food waste emits gases that are 25 times more toxic for our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. When buying food, plan your meals ahead of time and store any leftovers in the freezer. This way you won’t find yourself throwing away food unnecessarily.  We've written a full article about meal prep.

3. Home Hacks are Lifesavers 

Another great way to utilize leftover food waste is by transforming them into cleaning products. Vinegar, lemons and even walnuts can help aid you with daily chores. These wonder foods are natural disinfectants and polishers which easily replace chemical cleaners that could end up harming the environment once chucked. So, don’t throw these items away too quickly, recycling them is much more effective. 

Keen to learn more?
We created a super simple list of some of our favorite recipes here. 

homemade non toxic cleaning products

4. Recycle Old Clothes into Cleaning Products  

Your clothes pile up in landfills as quickly as they do your wardrobe. If you are thinking about throwing away an old t-shirt- consider making it into a rag to stash away in your cleaning cupboard. Better yet, if you are about to spring cleaning your closet you can always donate clothes to your local shelter. Simultaneously saving the planet and giving back is a win win situation.  

5. Use Mason Jars 

Glass is the ecosystem’s best friend. The naturally durable material makes it perfect for holding all kinds of household items. Mason jars alone can be used for just about anything, including cold drinks, ingredients, make-up… the list is endless! Cut down on plastic products by replacing them with glass- we promise they will last longer. 

6. Don’t Wash! 

… your dishes. Ok this one might be a little gross. But by leaving your dishes to pile up a little on the side rather than washing after every meal will cut down on excessive water usage. Not only will you be saving the environment – you’ll be slashing the water bill too! 

7. Use Bamboo Toilet Paper 

Toilet paper alone can consume up to 270,000 trees per year. The excessive use is damaging our rainforests and majorly contributing to climate change. Bamboo on the other hand is a much more sustainable resource. Bamboo grows 35 inches within a 24 hour period and so it makes more sense to harvest this loo roll resource than cutting down trees. Which, by comparison, can take hundreds of years to flourish.  

bamboo tree for a better environment

8. Grow something  

You don’t need a huge garden to grow something great. By growing produce at home, you eliminate the need for imported foods as well as cutting the cost of your own groceries. Most homes have a window ledge where you can home small plants including herbs and spices. These low-maintenance plants won’t ask much of you and will only ripen the flavors in your cooking.   

9. Eat Less Meat 

Meat and dairy are the largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture industry.
From production through to consumption, these foods are polluting our atmosphere quicker than your 10 minute HIIT workout. That doesn’t mean you need to completely change diets. Even slightly reducing meat intake can create a substantial impact when it comes to reducing greenhouse gases that pollute our atmosphere. 

There you have it – 9 lazy ways to start recycling from home. You are not alone in the feat to implement greener practices. Following these 9 principles are easy and will save you time and money when it comes to being eco-friendly round the clock. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even calculate your own carbon footprint HERE to see how your current lifestyle habits are affecting climate change. 

At MiiRO we are passionate about being more sustainable and want you to join us throughout the journey. Check out our other articles HERE or join in the conversation over on social! 

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