There is a crisis, and those who can’t see it are either naive or stubborn. The earth can’t handle the amount of garbage, emissions, and pollution we are putting through. The human race is throwing off the balance of the earth’s natural processes, and it can’t handle it for much longer. So what can you do? 

Pack a Bottle 

Suppose you have ever seen pictures of coastlines filled with plastic bottles and garbage. In that case, you know that the planet has a serious problem with the disposal of plastic and recyclable materials. The only way change can occur is if someone takes action. A great first step is to quit using plastic. 

There are several companies out there that are creating refillable metal water bottles that sustain ice to keep your water cold and durable enough to last years. By purchasing one of these water bottles, you would be putting an end to the personal use of plastic bottles and doing your part to help the environment.

Start Your Compost 

Most of the trash that gets thrown away gets placed in a landfill. So when you remove garbage from your home and give it to your garbage collection company, you aren’t “taking care of it,” you are just misplacing responsibility for the trash. This process is necessary, but the amount of waste in landfills can be significantly reduced if everyone creates their compost pile. 

A large majority of the garbage in landfills is decomposable, and instead of decomposing and being reused, it sits and rots in a huge pile of rubble. By starting your compost, you will be able to reuse the decomposable material, and you could even start your garden with the soil created from the compost. 

Recycle 

If you must use plastic bottles for sports drinks or soda, make sure they end up in a recycling bin. That being said, recycling is so much more than just plastic. There are three separate categories of recyclable materials: paper, plastic, and glass. Several businesses have taken the initiative to put three different recycling bins with the related materials, so companies don’t have to.

Certain items, such as electronics, have their recycling process. Electronic recycling is very important because they contain heavy metals that could severely damage our environment. 

Public Transportation 

It is smart to use public transportation, carpool, or ride your bike to your next destination when possible. Many pollutants and carbon emissions come from personal vehicles, and many people ignore them because they don’t know how to get to their destination without their car. Carpooling in South Florida is giving its hand in minimizing pollution to some extent.

If you live in the city, take the train, subway, walk, or ride your bike. If you live in a suburban area, find someone to carpool with, whether your roommate or a co-worker who lives nearby. 

The planet is counting on you to make a change. If you create a standard, people will have to live up to that standard, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. So taking the initiative and sparking change is the first step to solving this crisis.