Hi there,
I have been meaning to write some small actions and things that I find have worked for me to try and make a change in terms of environmental awareness and doing something. Many of the things I try to do may not make a huge impact but I strongly believe in EVERY little action mattering and absolutely refuse to bow down to the doubters who maintain that the little things don't make a difference and only largescale leader-led change is worth doing. Yes, we do need leadership to show us that (and the stinking Tories are not any sort of leadership that I have much faith in) but we all should do things. One person can do something and eventually it can inspire all of us. I may be teaching Grandmother to suck eggs, so forgive me if you do any of these, but I still think someone, somewhere may gain something from sharing ideas.
Be the composter at work:
Food waste and putting food into the regular bin is one way that our Carbon emissions are raised. At my work, I started collecting my used teabags in a small box and I used to bring them home to rip open and put them straight onto my raised bed. I also always bought home all my food waste, no matter how inconvenient it was. This year, I decided to try and offer other staff members the option to put their fruit and veg food waste in my box. I saved one of those large party-size plastic tubs that sweets or chocolate come in and I've invited anyone in the staffroom who I see with banana skins or apple cores or anything they don't finish to put it in the box as well as any teabags. I do also do some bin diving if I see any teabags or banana skins etc. I'm not too proud to do this, nor too prissy. I think DOING something is more important. All I need to do is wash my hands after doing that. It sits in a cupboard above the work top in the staffroom. Then, once a week, I bring it home to put the things into compost bin. I clean the tub and bring it back on a Monday. It's easy and I've got into the habit of doing this. Today, I came home with a box of discarded strawberries from the bin to add to my compost.
Even if you don't want to do food waste, a teabag collection box would be small and easy to manage.
What if you don't have a compost bin? Well, you could still rip open the teabags and put them straight onto the earth in your garden. The worms will soon take it down and deal with it.
If you don't have a compost bin but DO have local food waste, you could put it in that. Obviously, I do have a garden. Don't have a garden? Do you have a large plant or a balcony with plants? Empty the leaves into the plant pot. Don't have a plant? Why not empty the tea leaves into a pot (discard the paper outer) Is there anywhere wild near you where you could empty a tub of tea leaves into the earth?
I don't drive and I carry this with me so it is possible to do this without a car.
Doing repetitive small actions like this is really good for your mental health and sense of well-being. I get such a joy out of making this small difference. I don't want this to seem like virtue-signalling (like me, me, me, I'm so good... PLEASE, I don't want to hear, "You are so good!" in the comments which is what always happens when I share things like this and that's NOT why I do it.)- I just want to share an idea and make a suggestion for something that can make you feel really happy to be doing. I never feel helpless in the face of the climate and plastic crisis because I know I am trying and doing a few things. I only hope I can inspire someone to make a change or say, "Yes, I am willing to do THAT little something." Because, perhaps you might then inspire other people to try it. And that's when things become normalised and attitudes and actions can change on a large scale.
Have a lovely day.
xx