GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Living an environmentally friendly lifestyle is a growing trend as our climate crisis becomes increasingly evident and as people choose to live more mindfully by adopting eco-aware ways of living.
One of the easiest ways many people help the environment is by recycling. Sean Hammond, a member of the Michigan Environmental Council, expressed the importance of recycling.
Even though recycling is a great start, we want to make sure that you are recycling properly.
"Wishful recycling is the biggest issue that recyclers face today. Where people believe something can be recycled, put it in their curbside bins and it can't be," explained Sean. Things like plastic bags, garden hoses, and milk cartons may seem recyclable, but they often gum up the machines.
Once you’ve nailed recycling, it’s time to take your environmentally-friendly lifestyle one step further by reducing waste. Sean Hammond has some simple tips on how composting during the garden season is the perfect place to start.
"It’s very easy to compost in your backyard if done the right way. Taking vegetables, eggshells, and coffee ground and putting them in a bin outback. It will help make nice soil for your gardens, help grow those vegetables again, and is a great way to reduce your waste that’s going to the landfill," he said.
Doing this will help ensure you are staying climate-friendly and living a more sustainable lifestyle. But of course, recycling and waste management are just the start. That is why each week of the month of April 13 ON YOUR SIDE's Samantha Jacques will be breaking down different ways in which you can begin your eco-friendly journey.
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