Small Habits, Big Impact: My Eco-Friendly Routine

Our environment is an important part of our lives and existence, and that's why it's one thing we mustn't joke with or handle with levity, because it's the core of our lives that gives us a lot, from the water we drink to the air we breathe to the soil we plant on, amongst many others. The way we handle our environment will either make or mar our lives now and in the future, and that's why I personally always take proactive steps towards ensuring I indulge in sustainable habits that'll not only keep my environment safe but also have a lasting positive impact on lives. So in light of that, I'd be sharing a few tips on the environmentally sustainable routine I indulge in regularly.

A few years ago I got to learn about the 3Rs core during an environmental seminar I attended, the Rs standing for REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE ♻️. I got to learn about the tons of damages many of these one-time, or should I call them disposable, items cause to not just our environment but also our health as individuals, and since then, I have made it an integral part of me to make sure I adopt the 3Rs in my daily habits so as to ensure a safer, eco-friendly society that doesn't pose danger to plants, animals, sea creatures, and our planet at large. So I'm sure you'll be wondering how I incorporate the 3Rs into my habit. Well, they're as stated below.

Firstly, I made sure to stop or drastically reduce the amount of disposable items I use. Disposable items such as straws, plastic, nylon, and the like are items I keep and use very often and even disposed of without taking any cautionary steps in the past, but since the enlightenment, I make sure to avoid any one-time-use items that usually go on to pile up in our environment or in the ocean, endangering the lives of animals and humans and blocking drainage systems and causing floods. Although they seem easy to use and do come in handy, I have to take the difficult part of stopping their usage for the greater good. I also try as much as possible to sensitize friends and family about the same; after all, the change must stay with me and in my household.

Still on my habit of ensuring a safer environment, I make sure to either dispose of plastic responsibly or recycle it to be useful in other areas. Take for instance, rather than throw away plastic, I use some as ways to transplant some flowers that can't withstand too much sun, so using them for that makes it easier for me to move the flowers around when the sun is at its peak. Soda plastic that would have been thrown away is what I've encouraged my students to use as pen holders in school, among many other things.

Still on recycling, when it comes to disposing of dirt and other waste I've had around, I make sure to separate glass and plastic from other waste so it'll be easier for the waste disposal company when they come around. Many people around me, due to their unwillingness to pay for waste disposal, would prefer to burn their waste, not knowing that the smoke releases toxic gas into our atmosphere, affects the soil negatively, and the like. On my path, I try to sensitize them, but that's about all I can do, and I also make sure to lead by example of disposing of waste through the right channel.

The routine I'm most proud of that I embark on to ensure we've a clean and safer environment in my neighborhood is introducing all my neighbors to how they can monetize their waste. Since I told a few of them this and showed them a website where they can sell plastic waste and in return get cash, they've gone on to tell others, and my particular street is having a new look that was shaped thanks to my desire for change and sensitization of my neighbors, not just about the dangers of inappropriate waste disposal, but also opening their eyes to the reward of doing that.

All photos are taken and edited on canva.