This is a topic we are hearing more and more about over the last century. We regularly hear about the devastating impacts of climate change and that NOW is the time to act before the environment is sadly damaged beyond repair.
But how can this seemingly overwhelming task be done?
I have listed below a few practical things you can try at home to help make your small difference, and collectively, it will make a huge effort:
Cut your CO2 emissions:
Throughout the UK, fossil fuels have kept the country going by lighting up our homes, powering our cars and keeping us warm. However, now with carbon, natural gas and oil becoming a more limited supply, as well as causing horrendous damage to the environment, the most basic solution is that we all need to cut our overall CO2 emissions to help.
I know what you are thinking, how do we do this? There are a few changes below that can help to cut your CO2 emissions:
– Switch your car to an electric vehicle or a hybrid model (check all the Plug-in grants on offer and read up about the 2030 ban on new diesel and petrol vehicles coming into effect)
– A fairly easy switch – change all your lightbulbs to energy-efficient LEDs
– Another easy switch – swap to more showers over baths (saving on the water bill too – win win!)
– Consider green renewable energy
– Don’t just leave devices on or on standby, turn them off when not in use. Anything from kettles, to lights, to games consoles and televisions, anything that is not in use – SWITCH OFF.
Reducing Travel
Reducing time in a petrol or diesel-fueled vehicle will help to manage emissions. Perhaps consider walking to work, cycling to school or hopping on a bus, instead of simply jumping in the car. Not only would this reduce your carbon footprint, reduce air pollution, you will also improve your fitness levels.
Although hopping on a bus is still producing emissions, the government are actively working to provide green transport as part of its Green Industrial Revolution plans. So in time it will be less pollution and more green efficiency for your travels!
Reuse and Recycle
We love this topic here at waste removals, as we see so many items that can be reused or recycled to keep them out of landfill! It is estimated that recycling in the UK saves more than 18 million tonnes of CO2 a year – that’s a huge amount! It is roughly the equivalent of removing 5 million cars from the roads.
Whether you decorate and reuse old furniture, give away or sell your items for others to use, recycle your regular waste… it all helps! And it is easy to do! Recycling can easily fit into your daily routine and if you have a lot of waste to recycle or clear, a waste removals service can conveniently and quickly clear this for you, to save the items going into landfill. In the UK, there are over 1,500 landfill sites, these annually produce 25% of the UK’s methane emissions – we want to drastically reduce this! Landfill can be reduced when you recycle or reuse your items instead. Recycling reduces the need to extract raw materials, which then minimises air and water pollution. This in turn, saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. You may think that each step is small and won’t make a difference but overall, collectively the impact on the world is significant if everyone plays their part.
You can also avoid using plastic
Now this may be a difficult one – plastic seems to crop up in most of our daily lives. From your pre-packaged fruit and veg in the supermarket, to the useful storage box under your bed. The plastic boxes especially are great for durability but that can be biggest issue here – it’s not easy to get rid of!
Plastic items seem to be making their ways into our seas, beaches, rivers, streets, clothing, makeup, the air we breathe daily! It is wiping out rare species of wildlife, impacting forests and causing a massive global problem. At every stage of the plastic life cycle, it emits greenhouse gases as almost every type of plastic in existence is produced from fossil fuels (which we are trying to omit here!).
Thankfully, in the last few years, people are becoming more aware of the issues surrounding plastic and many alternatives are being created – from eco-friendly reusable sandwich bags to heavy duty boxes in various other materials. Supermarkets have also tried to consciously make an effort and are using less plastic in stores and encourage shoppers to bring their own recyclable bags rather than purchasing a plastic bag.
As you will now know, climate change is no longer being kept quiet and it really is impacting the world in which we live in. Now is the time to stand up and help make a change before it is too late. Whether you decide to skip the car for a few days a week and walk to work, or choose to upcycle your coffee table rather than throw away to buy new, or make a conscious effort to switch off every plug after use and switch your light bulbs – every step is helping our world become a better place for our children.
If you need any help or advice with recycling and removal of waste in the most eco-friendly way, please do get in touch and we would be happy to help you.
Contact us today – 07984921138