A lone individual may be inspired to do his or her part in contributing to protecting and/or nourishing the Earth. They would discover that instant methods for helping the environment can ultimately be boiled down to the three Rs of the Environment taught in schools nationwide and globally: “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” 

By focusing on reducing trash, people can choose to either deliberately reuse items to prevent waste and avoid throwing things such as plastic utensils or containers after single usage. Using less of what one usually consumes in regards to daily items can range from using less paper towels in public bathrooms to printing as little as possible. By simply changing one’s typeface to a more print-saving font and changing from double-space to single-space, the office worker does a favor to both his wallet and the environment!

Reusing trash can be achieved either through a practical lens such as the previous example or by donating worn clothes or furniture, but also through artistic means for the rubbish that appear irredeemable, such as empty egg cartons or damaged swimming pool noodles used in preschool and elementary art classes for painting and crafts. Recycling can be achieved by organizing one’s reusable trash into the right containers for weekly pickups by their community. If this is not possible, buying products that indicate they are made from recycled products is a quick and easy way to support a green and renewable lifestyle.

At home, turning off lights in the house can save hundreds in dollars and wattage. One of the most simple preventative measures an individual can be doing outside is to not empty their pockets or trash unto the streets where they walk. No matter how strong the temptation it may be to let scatter the gas station receipts or toothpicks into the wind, a simple glance is all it takes to observe the effects of accumulated trash from inconsiderate diners or pedestrians by the roadside. It’s especially important to be aware for such people to “switch on” to this mindset during a hike near nature trials or beaches, where discarded plastic can find their way into animal biomes or even strangle unwilling/curious animals.