COMMUNITY If you anticipate having more waste , you can request an extra bin . If you are going out of town , you can request to “ skip ” the week . Once you have composted enough “ weight ” you have the opportunity to get a delivery of compost ( really nice dirt ) or you can donate your compost .
We have been composting for more than five years . CompostNow shares statistics every week to keep you posted on how you have contributed . As of the end of February , my family has diverted 3,151 pounds of food scraps from the land fill , which avoids releasing 328 pounds of methane at the landfill and offsets 9,197 miles driven by a car or like parking the car for 9.6 months . For me , composting is something tangible and makes me feel like I am doing something to help the environment .
After we started composting , we incorporated other changes in various aspects of our lives . Laundry offers several easy options to reduce plastic use and protect our water supply . For example , an easy swap is to stop using liquid laundry detergent ; instead , use laundry sheets ( we use EarthBreeze - Earth Breeze Eco Sheets - Eco Friendly Laundry Detergent Sheets – there are several options available ). Additionally , add a CoraBall to keep microfibers and microplastics from the water stream ( Cora Ball - The Laundry Ball Protecting the Ocean and Your Clothes ). Including wool dryer balls in the drying cycle reduces drying time , reduces wrinkles and reduces static cling such that you may not need dryer sheets at all . Amazon . com : Wool Dryer Balls - Natural
Fabric Softener , Reusable , Reduces Clothing Wrinkles and Saves Drying Time . The Large Dryer Ball is a Better Alternative to Plastic Balls and Liquid Softener . ( Pack of 6 ) : Handy Laundry : Health & Household If you still need dryer sheets , purchase ones that are compostable , like these ones from Method : method | Dryer Sheets , Fresh Air , 80 ct ( methodproducts . com ).
There are also great ways to make the kitchen more environmentally friendly . First , minimize or eliminate single use plastics – water bottles , plastic bags / aluminum foil / plastic wrap , cutlery , straws , grocery bags , etc . Instead of plastic bags , consider Stashers ( https :// www . stasherbag . com /) – they come in various sizes , several shapes and can be used in the freezer . Use compostable cutlery instead of plastic and purchase silicone straws ( they are reusable ) for those drinks that just “ need ” a straw . Purchase reusable grocery bags at your local grocery store and leave them in your car ( s ) so that you always have them handy . Purchase bags for produce as well so as to not use the ones from the grocery store – something like this : Amazon . com : Lotus Produce Bags ( 9pcs ) Reusable Netted Mesh bag - Zero-Waste Non-Plastic , Eco-Friendly , Washable Net & Drawstring for Fresh Vegetable - Reusable Produce Bags . Bolsas Ecologicas Reusables : Home & Kitchen
Second , think about selecting cleaning products that have a lesser impact on the environment . For example , instead of sponges or paper towels , use Swedish dish cloths : Dream Cloths | Who Gives A Crap USA ( there are numerous brands available – this is the one we use ). They are reusable , washable and compostable ! We also use Consider using dishwasher detergent that has a low environmental impact like Dropps ( there are more options listed here : 12 Best Eco Friendly and Zero
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