We all have a commitment to our planet to live a low impact life and seriously consider our futures and those of our children. There are many habits we can build in order to help reduce our impact on the planet and do our bit for the environment.

My list of the top forty one things you could try to challenge yourself to live more responsibly;

Recycling

• Use the yellow lidded bin for paper recycling and put it out every two weeks to be collected. Paper that can be reused can be kept and used as scrap paper.  

• Recycle any soft plastics. Collect at home and then drop off at Woolworths or Coles store in their Redcycle bin, usually located at the front of the store.

• Collect your used cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles at home and use the Return and Earn machines to earn 10c per item. Download the myTOMRA app, where you can find locations closet to you. The money is sent to your PayPal account.

• Donate rather than bin what you don’t need anymore to charity stores or organize a clothes swap with friends or family.

• Drop off any items you have at a recycling collection point for free. This includes televisions, computers, printers, computer parts, DVD players, and CD players. Find a list of e-waste points here

• Book a council cleanup for your bigger products

• Recycle old or unused mobiles at Mobilemuster.com.au

• Print cartridges, chargers, pens, e-waste, mobile phones and batteries can also be dropped off at OfficeWorks for recycling.  

• Select libraries allow you to recycle old DVDs, VCRs, mobiles, and print cartridges

  
  

Home

• Start your own garden. Grow your own herbs – put offcuts in water on the windowsill

• Use hankies rather than tissues that can be washed and reused

• Use cloths that can be washed instead of paper towel when wiping up spills and cleaning the kitchen

• Consider placing a ‘no junk mail’ sticker on your letterbox

• Attempt to keep your showers under four minutes

• Change your bills from receiving paper copies to online emails

• Cut out writing to-do lists on paper and record them using an app on your phone

• Gift unused or unwanted belongings to family and friends e.g. kitchen items, clothing

• Only wash when you have a full cycle in dishwasher and washing machine

• Have a compost bin for your food scraps and peels. If you do not have a compost bin you can look upon the app ShareWaste which neighbours would like your compost. You can use a compost bin in the garden or bokashi system under your sink

• Pass toys, clothing, and/or books on to others or donate to an Op Shop. Participate in the National Swap Day in Sydney on October 17. You can get tickets here

• Pass your books you have outgrown onto friends or donate them to hospitals and magazines to waiting rooms

• Reduce plastic in your cupboards and reduce plastic in food wrappings. Use containers to store food in the fridge and cupboards

• Do a household chemical cleanout and safely dispose of potentially hazardous chemicals. Visit this website for more information

• Install water-saving showerheads and dual-flush cisterns for toilets. Turn the tap off when cleaning your teeth, and try keep showers to under four minutes

• Turn the hot water temperature down on your thermostat. It doesn’t have to be boiling

• Keep your windows clean so natural light can stream through

• Close off rooms if want to keep one area either cool or warm

• Use door snakes to keep cool air from entering your home during Winter

• Make your own present wrapping using fabric’s or hessian and ribbon you have collected along the way

• Plan your meals – consider the food you need to buy for the week. Do not overbuy otherwise there will be food wastage at the end of the week

When Out

• Take your own metal straw with you in your bag when you go out

• Take your own cup when you buy a coffee. Build a habit to remembering it. Takeaway coffee cups can be recycled at RecycleMe collection stations

• Take your own water drink bottle with you and refill when needed

• Take your own lunchbox to work each day – buy in bulk and separate in smaller containers for the week

• Take your own bag when you go shopping for your purchases

Purchases

• Buy and eat less meat

• Buy local. Buy your fresh fruits and vegetables from local people and and fresh food markets

• Buy secondhand – op shopping can be lots of fun. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are great places to look to find some great purchases. But before buying, always question do you need it? Do not get distracted by the price tag

• Limit the items you buy wrapped in plastic

• Take your own cotton bags to place vegies in rather than grabbing the plastic bag from the shop. These are the ones I have

• Take your own shopping bags when going grocery shopping. Keep them in the back of your car or at the door so can you grab before you leave

How do you reduce your impact on the environment? What healthy habits have you created? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.