Many people unfortunately still have the perception that saving the planet is something separate than doing something to help ourselves. When you do something to help the environment, you are also helping all of us who live on it since without a healthy planet, we would not survive.

So, even if you can’t wrap your head around that concept yet, there are ways you can “go green” and give back while being kind to the environment at the same time. Giving away stuff that you no longer need to charity is a perfect way to keep more trash out of landfills and do some good for people who are in need.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

• Clothing
  Unfortunately, your favorite clothes don’t last forever, but the good thing is that there are tons of people in the world who would greatly appreciate your hand-me-downs. Donate your old clothing and help keep fellow human beings warm. You also help the planet by not adding to the trash and reusing items.
• Books and magazines
  Your local library will absolutely love you if you cart over all those old books and magazines that you no longer need.  Depending on the topics, your schools or churches might be able to use them as well. Getting rid of all those can usually free up a lot of space in your house or garage too!
• Computers, Phones, Furniture, etc.
  Even if you have stuff that needs some “fixin’”, there are charities that accept old, beaten down stuff that they can fix up and give to people who can’t afford items that they need in their home.

Giving to charity is a great feeling, and not only do you help other people and save the environment from unnecessary trash, you set a great example for your children. You can even make it a fun family affair and get your kids involved and teach them the value in helping others and protecting the planet.

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.