Go on a Waste Diet for Earth Day 20102 min read

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Today, we’re honoured to host a special Earth Day-themed post from guest contributor Julie Urlaub of Taiga Company….
Earth Day started as a way to recognize that the Earth needed help and many use the annual celebration to kick off new environmental goals and commitments.  Fortunately, many businesses and individuals now look to Earth Day to celebrate success milestones and more importantly, build on that success for the future. Reducing waste in our daily practices is one way to ensure a more sustainable future not just on Earth Day but every day.
What does reducing waste mean?  When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you eliminate the disposing of waste or recycling it later.  It’s the first component of the sustainability concept of the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle.  As a green living consultant, I oftentimes ask clients, “What is in your garbage?”  Your garbage can give you clues as to how to reduce waste not just for Earth day, but every day.
Clue #1:
This is an easy one.  If you look in your garbage and notice paper, plastic, aluminium, kitchen waste and more all combined together, then your first step towards building a personal sustainability program is to embrace the sustainability concept of recycle.  Separate the paper, plastics, glass, and aluminium into bins and begin a recycling program.
Clue #2:
Inspect the paper and plastic in your garbage.  Are the paper products you are using made from recycled content?  Do you receive a lot of junk mail? Are you using reusable containers?  What kind of garbage bags do you use?  Take eco action and make a difference.  Address each area and explore ways to reduce your waste as well as make more environmentally friendly choices.
Following are some suggestions from our eco friendly training classes:
Reduce Food Waste:

• Pre plan your meals, buy in bulk, and prepare what you need.
• Compost and turn your old food into healthy soil.

Reduce when you shop and shop with the environment in mind:

• Purchase products that are returnable, reusable or refillable.  Use reusable and refillable containers in your home instead of disposable items.
• Purchase products with the least amount of packaging.
• Get the most out of what you buy by comparing warranties and cost to repair or replace the item.
• Look for products designed with the environment in mind.  Organic clothing, sustainable furnishings, and solar powered products are just a few examples.
• Rent or borrow instead of purchasing.

Reduce items at home:

• Reduce paper consumption- go paperless.
• Find new life for old furnishings, appliances and clothes.

By evaluating the contents of your garbage, there exist the opportunity to make more sustainable purchase choices, to reduce your waste, and to modify behaviour to support the environment.
Our sincere thanks to Julie Urlaub for writing today’s post. For more great info from Julie, be sure to check out:

• www.taigacompany.com
• @TaigaCompany on Twitter