It’s safe to say that the majority of us want to do our bit to help the environment. Unfortunately, being environmentally friendly can sometimes mean spending extra money. Milk rounds are generally pricier than buying milk from your supermarket, for example, and eco-friendly clothing and cleaning brands are expensive. We can’t all afford to maintain lush green gardens either, or donate regularly to local charities and causes.
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If money is an issue (which it is for most of us thanks to the rising costs of living), never fear; there are still plenty of things you can do to protect the environment.
Recycle
We’re not just talking about your general household recycling. Most supermarkets now have a soft-plastics recycling scheme which means more stuff than ever can be recycled. Plus, it’s worth checking out where your local Terracycle point is and what schemes it covers so you can recycle even more. It means taking more time to clean out pots, jars and packaging and sort through them, but you’re not spending anything by doing it.
Reuse old clothes as cleaning rags
Stop wasting money on kitchen roll and start making your own cleaning rags out of clothes that are damaged or no longer fit. Not only are you cutting costs on disposable paper, you’re reducing waste too.
Reduce your meat consumption
You’ll wind up spending a lot less on your weekly groceries if you dedicate a few days a week to vegetarian meals. Veggie alternatives to meat are far cheaper than real meat, and you’ll find yourself coming up with all sorts of creative new recipes. The problem with eating a lot of meat is that it increases demand for methane-producing animals and therefore land and food to keep them; the methane is a huge contributor to global warming, and farming ultimately leads to deforestation.
Walk where you can
The general rule for transport is, if you can walk there, then walk there. Not only will you improve your health, but you’ll cut fuel costs by not taking the car everywhere you go. Plus, you’ll be massively reducing your carbon emissions.
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Go litter-picking
Volunteer with your local environmental groups and go litter-picking around your area. They may provide you with the necessary equipment for free which is why we suggest volunteering and not just going about it on your own. However, if you are already kitted out, there’s nothing to stop you from going solo - but make sure you know the rules on leaving full bin bags by public litter bins. Not all councils will be cool with it, and you may have to take the litter home with you.
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