When you first consider the idea of reducing the amount of items that you throw away on a weekly basis, you might wonder how that could be done without having piles of garbage mounting in your garage or backyard. That doesn’t have to happen, but a change of thinking and being conscious of what we use daily is a necessity.

We have created so many products that make our life easier, but unfortunately, many of those things are not eco-friendly and are destroying the planet at a rapid pace.

Our homes usually have regularly stocked items like  paper towels, disposable water bottles, batteries, Styrofoam cups, etc. However, these disposable products end up in landfills and stay there for years. The pile just getting bigger and bigger because that stuff does not decompose.

The solution to that is not to stop throwing it away, but to actually stop using it and switch to reusable products instead. Buying reusable items at the grocery store saves you money and drastically reduces the amount of trash your home provides on a regular basis.

Here are a few items you may use often that can be switched to reusable items.

• Silverware
  Ok, there’s a slight downside to having to clean up and wash dishes, but did you know that using an automatic dishwasher actually uses less water than doing the dishes by hand in the sink? Plus, it’s plastic forks and spoons are really bad for the environment and are totally unnecessary.
  
• Cut back on paper towel
  Instead of throwing your old cloth towels into the trash when they start to look raggedy, why  not just add them to the cleaning pile instead? Simply wash them to reuse them over and over again while saving money and reducing trash at the same time.
• One water bottle
  Simply buy one reusable/refillable water bottle and drastically cut back on your grocery bill by not drinking out of plastic water bottles anymore.

Have you ever encountered a property that had such a vibrant flower garden that it stopped you in your tracks for a minute? Maybe a neighbor on your block has a vegetable garden that grows some of the most delicious looking vegetables that you’ve seen in a home garden? Well, it’s likely that the gardeners are passionate about what they’re doing, but it’s also a sure bet they have extremely healthy soil that is helping them out. How can you get that type of soil? Easy! It just takes a little composting know-how.

Composting isn’t difficult, and it’s one of the best green family ideas you can get started on because everyone can chip in and it benefits both you and the environment for an ultimate win-win situation.

How Composting Helps The Environment

Humans waste a ridiculous amount of food. When you create a compost, you reduce the amount of trash being dumped into landfills hat are already way too full.  Instead of throwing the table scraps into the garbage heap, you give nutrients back to the soil which in turn will give nourishment to whatever it is you’re growing.

How To Start Composting

The first thing you’re going to have to do is decide on a place for your compost pile. This can either be in a bin that sits in a corner of your yard, or if you have an area that it inconspicuous, you can simply pile it on the ground. It will decompose all on it’s own.

Once you’ve decided on where the compost pile will go, you have to “start piling”. However, it is important to know what goes into a compost pile. The most common reason that people run into trouble is because the they added the wrong items.

Basically, there are two types of materials that are great for composting. First, you have wood products which can include wood chips, straw and leaves that will create space throughout the pile that allows air to circulate throughout the pile.

Second, there is food and grass material. Fruits, vegetables, grass, and coffee grounds all fit well into a compost as these provide moisture for the bacteria to survive and digest.

You can also regularly turn the compost (using a rake or hoe) to be sure it’s getting air and decomposing properly. The compost is ready when it has turned a dark brown color and you do not recognize any of the materials that were added.

Now you can use the what’s left over to grow an amazing lawn and/or garden and you helped reduce the size of your local landfills!