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By: Ashlan Andrews. Ashland works at Blackbaud, and moved to Charleston 3 years ago for grad school. She loves being outside, reading, and traveling.
Charleston is a wonderful place. Anyone lucky enough to live here knows that. There is a slight problem that comes with being the ‘Greatest City on Earth”, though. Charleston has experienced tremendous growth over the past ten years; some good, some bad. I think most people can agree that it’s astonishing to see what this small city can produce; yet it’s also worrying because the city is getting a bit too crowded.
I can’t say too much about the subject of moving here, though. I’m an expat myself, born and raised in Columbia, S.C. I came down here for graduate school three years ago and haven’t left. How can you leave Charleston once you’ve experienced the Lowcountry way of life?
Something I’ve been thinking about lately is how we, as Charlestonians, can ensure this city lasts for generations to come. Regardless of how you feel about global warming, I think most of us can agree we should all strive to reduce our waste and carbon footprint. It’s better for everyone, and reducing waste by buying reusable materials saves SO much money over time – so it’s a win-win!
I know it can seem daunting to try to figure out ways to cut back on waste. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of trash I accumulate daily. So as not to overwhelm y’all, I’ve thought of ten simple, efficient, money-saving and environmentally friendly tactics we can all do to reduce our waste and cut back on our carbon footprint!
- Buy a reusable grocery bag. I know that is probably thrown in everyone’s face ALL the time, but not only are they a great way to cut back on plastic, they’re also a great way to fix that dreaded trip from your car to your front door when you’re carrying 20 plastic bags and refuse to leave any bag behind. Reusable bags are bigger and sturdier, making it easier to carry all your groceries inside!
- Take a five-minute shower. We really should be more conscious about water waste, and taking a quicker shower is such a simple way to do that.
- Likewise, turn your sink off when you are brushing your teeth. There’s no need to have the water running until you’re ready to rinse. Bonus: this will also cut back on your water bill!
- We don’t need to wash anything in hot water. Laundry detergent is there to kill the germs, so try to wash everything in cold water – cold water uses less electricity than hot, therefore cutting back on carbon emissions.
- This one’s for the ladies reading this: buy a diva cup. They are $30. I did the math, and if you add up how much women spend on tampons and pads over the course of the year, a diva cup saves you anywhere from $120-$200. Such a simple way to reduce waste and give you that extra spending money for Sunday brunch… #mimosasallday.
- Use. Less. Plastic. Look, in my opinion plastic is the single worst thing on this planet; trumping cock roaches by a mile. Invest in better alternatives, such as reusable glass, steel, and silicone containers.
- Bring your lunch to work, along with reusable silverware. No need to use a plastic spoon and fork when you have good silverware in your kitchen drawer.
- Buy a plastic-free reusable water bottle, like a glass or copper one. I’m surprised plastic water bottles are still a thing, but they are; even though the water doesn’t taste any different and is probably worse for you due to the fact it’s been marinating in plastic for who knows how long.
- Plant more trees! Trees absorb carbon dioxide, helping combat global warming.
- If you have the means, look into installing solar panels – they are more energy efficient and save money in the long run!
There are more all of us can be doing, of course, but these simple things are a great way we can all work to treat Mother Earth the way she deserves to be treated.