Warmer weather is on its way, and perhaps you’re looking for new opportunities to recycle/reuse for an eco-friendly Summer. You will be going on trips, heading to the beach, taking care of your lawn and spending a lot of time outdoors.
The following tips can give you some new ideas and help you to remain cognizant of your carbon footprint while still enjoying your summertime fun.
“Looking for new opportunities
to recycle/reuse for an
eco-friendly Summer?”
Traveling
When taking a road trip, be sure to pack food and snacks in reusable containers. Use eco-friendly water bottles instead of plastic ones. Keep a separate trash bag in the car for recyclables, and, instead of throwing them away, place them in recycling bins when you make a stop to rest.
More and more airports now have recycling bins throughout their terminals. Take advantage of these while traveling by plane.
Check with your hotel or the person you’re staying with to see if they recycle so that you can be prepared either way.
At the Beach/Lake/Pool
Most beaches have recycling bins these days, but if you don’t see one near you during your trip to the beach, keep your recyclable items in a bag to recycle when you get home.
If you’re on a boat at the lake or at someone’s lake house, ask if they recycle. If they do, great! If not, no problem — you know what to do. Collect your recyclables and dispose of them later.
Maybe you will be spending a lot of time at the pool this summer. Chances are you have floats and toys that you can reuse. If they are worn down or have holes in them, patch them up instead of tossing them in the trash. If you must purchase new pool toys and floats, be sure they are made of recycled materials.
Hiking and Camping
When you’re hiking, carry a backpack with you and keep trash and recyclable items in it along your journey so you can properly dispose of them at the end of your hike. If you see trash or recyclables on the trail, put those in your backpack too. Hiking and recycling — now that’s multitasking at its finest.
Going camping this summer? Check with the campsite prior to your trip to see if they have a recycling program. It will be helpful if they do, but, if not, you can collect your recyclables and put them in your own bin when you get home.
Use Glass Water Bottles
People are using glass water bottles like this one more and more. They are better for the environment and better for your health than plastic. Consider switching to a glass water bottle this summer to be more environmentally friendly.
Summertime Reading
Perhaps your child has a long summer reading list that needs to be checked off, or reading is something you enjoy doing indoors to beat the heat. Buying a bunch of books can get pricey. But you can save a lot by being an eco-friendly reader. Visit your local library or a store that sells recycled books for your summertime reads. Also think about recycling your own books and magazines, and keep the cycle going.
Recycle Grass
This takes composting to a new level. Instead of bagging all of that freshly cut grass in your front and backyards, leave it on the ground. It’s actually good for your yard and the environment, as it recycles moisture and nutrients back into the soil. Even better — use a mulching mower. Your lawn and the earth will thank you.
Reduce Spending
We waste a lot of money on things we don’t need, and then we end up tossing those things in the trash later. It’s best to reduce your spending in the first place.
During the summer months when we’re doing things like traveling and attending birthday parties, it becomes easy to overspend. Ask yourself if it’s really that important to buy a souvenir for your coworker or that overpriced gift for your child’s friend’s birthday, which will probably be thrown away in a couple months.
If it doesn’t seem worth it to spend money on these items that will likely never be used, forgo it. Perhaps you could make a gift instead of overspending on a big toy made of non-environmentally friendly plastic.
With the help of these tips, you’re on your way to having a great sustainable summer. Maybe you’ll even enjoy it more than usual now that you’re more knowledgeable about how to take care of the environment during the summertime months.
About the Author
Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. You can contact Kacey at https://twitter.com/kacey_mya; https://www.pinterest.com/kaceymya/, https://www.instagram.com/thedriftercollective/
How do you plan to recycle/reuse for an eco-friendly Summer?
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These are fantastic ways to reduce waste and live more mindfully any time of year! Thank you.
Great ideas and so important!
These are wonderful ideas, thank you!
Thanks for the ideas! I need to get a glass water bottle so I might go get myself one for mothers day. 😛 Thanks for sharing with #wastelesswednesday!!
I love the idea of patching pool toys. So many people just junk them, but they can be repaired! Thanks for sharing on the #WasteLessWednesday blog hop!
These are great ideas! We are big fans of the library. This would make a great addition to my weekly Be Clean Be Green With Kids link up. http://www.honestlymodern.com/category/blog-101/be-clean-be-green-with-kids-link-up/ Thanks for sharing!f
Hi Jen,
I’m so glad you found this useful. Thank you for inviting me. I will hop by and participate.
Excellent recycling and reusing tips. I use stainless steel water bottle – which is also great – I am always worried about breaking a glass one. Congratulations on being feature on #WasteLessWednesday. Thanks for sharing you valuable information. Pinned & tweeted. Have a healthy happy & blessed week.