How you can help the Environment

• Feb. 26 by Emma Williams (4)

“Saving the environment” can seem quite a daunting ambition, and out of reach to us in our everyday lives. It is very tempting to take the attitude of “there’s nothing I can do on my own to help”, and leave it to those clever conservationists who make it their mission to save the world.

But don’t give up! There are things that you can within your own day-to-day life to help contribute towards conservation and helping the environment. If everyone takes the effort to make these small changes, we could make a big difference. Take a look at these hints and tips and you can become eco-friendly in no time!

At Home…

• Stop Junk Mail! - You know all those endless leaflets, advertisements and pamphlets that come through your door trying to sell you double glazing you don’t want or takeaways you don’t need? They’re not just a nuisance but also a waste of energy and paper. Put a stop to it; you can write to the Mail Preference Service at FREEPOST 29, LON 20771, London, W1E 0ZT.  For more information on stamping out Junk Mail, check out the Stop Junk Mail website.
• Recycling – you can recycle your paper, glass, plastics and other waste. There are recycling bins located all over Birmingham – so you really have no excuse!
• In the Kitchen – There are a few simple ways to become more eco-friendly in the kitchen. Try to avoid using cling-film and foils to store food, instead use re-useable food containers. Also avoid using kitchen towel, which is a massive waste as it will be used once and then thrown away – instead use rags which you can use again.
• In the Bathroom – So much water is used in the UK every year. There are plenty of things you can do to combat this, such as simply turning the tap off while you’re brushing your teeth, or using a low flush on the toilet. Showers are also a large waste of water. If you enjoy your morning shower just for five minutes a day, in a week you will have used up 175 gallons of water! Try buying and aerated or non-aerated shower head, this reduces the water output by 50%.
• Don’t leave electrical products on standby! Remember to always turn your television, stereo, etc off properly. This helps save energy, and save you money on your bill!
• Paper - “Think before you print!”  Paper is too valuable to waste.  

Out and About…

• Shopping - There’s a lot of small changes you can make when shopping. For example, when doing big food shops, take your own bags instead of using loads of plastic ones. Look for products with less packaging; buy fresh ham from the Deli instead of the pre-packed, packaged stuff. It will probably taste better too!
• Shopping – organic produce – There are so many organic products out there at the moment, from fruit and veg to loo roll! High street stores such as New Look and Topshop have even started producing organic clothing lines.
• Garden - You can save water by collecting rainwater to water your plants and flowers with. There’s enough rain in Britain at the moment, so this one should be pretty easy to do! There are also now “Green Bins” available in Birmingham for all your garden waste.
• Make your own compost – Go a step further with recycling your natural waste, and use it to make your own compost! Save up used tea bags, vegetable peel, egg shells, fruit waste and more. Find out more here.