World environmental day should be observed daily to encourage people to participate and support a clean environment and a healthy society. Each day, tonnes of rubbish, plastic, metal, rubber, textile, e-waste and all other waste end up in our water bodies or landfills.
Waste in the ocean and sea endangers submarine animals and organisms. Landfills are not only an ugly sight in the environment but are also health hazards.
When the waste is heated by sunlight, they produce chemicals that are toxic to human beings. They also contribute to air pollution because they produce a foul smell. The solution to saving our environment lies in each one of us.
If we all deliberate to stop littering, the waste released annually will be reduced.
Here are eight effective ways to help us stop littering.
1) Carry a shopping bag
To avoid getting a new bag each time you go shopping, keep a reusable bag in your handbag or in the boot of your car. This will ensure you do not get the disposable plastic bags offered at the stores.
2) Buy a water bottle
Drinking enough water is one of the healthy cultures that we should all cultivate. However, this healthy habit has come at a cost. Most people quench their thirst and then toss plastic bottles on the street.
To avoid littering with single-use plastic water bottles, consider acquiring a reusable water bottle (such as a copper water bottle). If you are not sure about the quality of your tap water at home, use a water filter.
3) Carry your mug to a cup shop
We love coffee, especially in the morning, to keep us going throughout the day. However, most of us carry the coffee cup and miss throwing it in a trash can. Carrying your own mug to a coffee shop will reduce the waste you produce annually.
4) Shop in bulk
Shopping in bulk will reduce the amount of packing used compared to shopping in small quantities. Avoid products, for instance, snacks, which use a large plastic packing bag that does not match the amount of the product.
While shopping, consider one large container of the product instead of multiple smaller ones. In addition, carry a reusable glass container to the store while shopping for cereals.
5) Dispose of your rubbish in the right place
Make sure each of your litter goes to the right place. Do not throw away cigarette butts anyhow, but instead, ensure you put them in a litter bin. Ensure your fully wasted rubbish does not end up in a landfill and you recycle your items as much as possible. Ensure your trash can has a lid to keep the waste safely secured.
6) Carry a trash bag while traveling
While traveling, ensure you have packed a trash bag in your car or the bag. To avoid littering, put all your trash in a bag until you find a garbage can for proper disposal. Small trash such as sweet wrappers is easy to litter with. The trash bag will remind you to keep your litter.
You won’t believe how much rubbish could be reduced by simply picking up after ours – here are additional littering facts to keep in mind.
7) Compost
If you have space in your compound, compost your kitchen waste to reduce throwing away leftovers. A composting project will help reduce garbage and improve the quality of your soil to yield better crops. After eating out, keep your food for proper disposal in the compost rather than littering the streets.
8) Refuse single-use items
Identify items that you mostly use and replace them with long-lasting alternatives. For instance, carry your own cutlery and leftover container. Say no to soft drink cans but instead buy glass bottles that can be recycled, or ensure you put your beer cans in the recycle bin rather than tossing it over your shoulder.
9) Make crafts from trash
Why not join the upcycling trend?
One of the creative ways to stop littering is to upcycle. You can turn ” trash ” into arts and crafts instead of letting “trash” rot in landfills or parks. Some examples of these are:
- Unused furniture to artsy home decor
- Shirts to bags
- Tin cans to planters
- Tea sets to bird feeders
- Bottles to candleholders
So, what are you waiting for? Stop littering through your creative ideas!
10. Clean up after your pet
You might think leaving your pet’s poop anywhere is fine since it’s biodegradable. But excrements smell and actually take time to disintegrate, leaving the surroundings with a putrid smell and attracting disease-carrying pests.
So, the next time you walk your pet, carry a litter bag!
11. Donate trash bins to the community
According to research, people litter mostly because of convenience. Then, they wouldn’t have any excuses if communities had more garbage bins.
If you have enough finances or extra bins at home, sponsor containers for anti-littering causes.
12. Pick it up
Other people can’t change overnight, but you have full control of your actions. Hence, if you see litter, promise to pick them up and put them in the right bin. You can even adopt a park or a roadway, a spot where you’ll regularly pick up litter. Just make sure to wash your hands after thoroughly.
13. Securely attach trash can lids
De ja vu?
The rubbish you thought you’d thrown in the bin is suddenly on the pathway. If you’re sure you dispose of it properly, it must be the stray and wild animals’ doing—not completely their fault, though! After all, they couldn’t have accessed it if the trash bin lid was securely attached.
14. Plant flowers
People are more likely to litter in dirty, highly-littered areas than in clean areas. Hence, by picking up trash and planting flowers in your yards and curbsides, you’re making people more conscious about the effects of littering.
15. Step up your recycling game
Did you know that only 9% of the world’s plastic waste is recycled?
It’s true, and you’ve probably guessed where the remaining 81% went—landfills and waterways. Most of these are single-use plastics, like polystyrene foam. At this rate, there’ll be more plastic than fish in oceans.
But it’s not yet too late. There are different ways to stop littering, like recycling. Familiarise yourself with the different types of waste and your local recycling facilities. Recycle better!
16. Report litterbugs
Littering may seem like a slight offense, something that’s just morally wrong. But it’s actually illegal and incurs significant fines. So, the next time you see someone litter, file a report. After all, people have to learn it the hard way sometimes.
17. Remind and educate others
Just don’t be preachy about it. Communicate the importance of proper rubbish disposal gently with others, especially kids. They’re more willing to understand new concepts and explore littering facts.
18. Donate to charities
Instead of illegally dumping your old furniture on the road, in empty lots, or landfills, donate to charities and donation centres instead. This way, your furniture will be given a new purpose in the hands of those in need.
19. Reach out to local environmental groups
Is doing things on your own exhausting?
Maybe it’s time to get others involved! After all, more heads are better than one.
Environmental groups have the resources and people to devise littering solutions and mobilise environmental campaigns. By joining these groups, you’ll meet new people and have fun while positively impacting the environment.
20. Be an advocate!
Once you’ve gained enough experience, knowledge, and connections from volunteer groups and campaigns, you can start your own anti-littering advocacy. It can be with the neighbourhood, local schools, or even government agencies—everything’s up to you!
Littering is a bad habit that people can move away from over time. If you have garbage in your house that you do not know how to dispose of it, contact Paul’s Rubbish Removal. We have over a decade of experience with efficient rubbish removal in Sydney under our belts.
Our extensive services are available to both residential households and commercial spaces. With Paul’s Rubbish Removal Sydney, you won’t ever have to worry about irresponsible rubbish disposal. Our green initiative ensures that your garbage is safely disposed of each and every time.
