Carolina Living

3 Easy Changes to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

Give old containers a second life — and save them from the landfill — by repurposing them for your fledgling vegetable garden.

1 Create a Compost Pile
Starting a compost pile is an outstanding way to make your home eco-friendly and requires little effort. It’s is a safe way to fertilize your outdoor plants, garden and lawn without applying harsh chemicals that can be detrimental to the environment.

To create your own, designate a part of your yard to pile compostable kitchen waste, such as fruit and vegetable scraps, as well as other natural materials like leaves, sawdust and woodchips. As the waste breaks down into fertilizer over time, you can apply it to your outdoor landscape to feed it and help your garden grow.

2 Repurpose Old Furniture
This is a fun and simple way to make the inside of your home more environmentally savvy. Instead of buying brand new furniture, try to repurpose some of your old furniture. You can repaint it, repair it or even refinish it. This gives you the opportunity to have exactly the piece of furniture you have had in mind while avoiding waste.

If you don’t have any old furniture to repurpose, consider purchasing used furniture from a second-hand store or online. You can give new life, all while being kind to the environment. This is something you can do with children or even with your elderly family members that may be utilizing in-home senior care.

3 Recycle Containers
This may seem an obvious way to make your home more environmentally friendly, however many people don’t think about the large impact this simple change can have. Recycling old containers allows you to cut down on the amount of plastic you use to store food and other household items. Plastic bags and wraps can end up sitting in landfills, but they don’t have to. Save your glass jars and containers and use them for storage instead.

These are just a few of small things you can do around the house to make your home a more eco-friendly place. Start with these suggestions, then look into other, bigger ways you can do your part. A little goes a long way!

About the Author

Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others. She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.

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