Regardless of what you pick up each day, the great thing about #OneADayInMay is that it is an incredibly easy way to start a positive anti-litter habit. And lots of people carrying out little habits like this can make a big difference across the board.
However, I recently overheard someone comment “I don’t care about being green” when approached with suggestions for environmental improvements in Chippenham. I found it an odd statement. Implicit in it is, “I don’t care about clean water or clean air. I don’t care about the Earth’s finite resources. I don’t care what type of world my children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews will inherit. I don’t care. Full stop.”
I completely recognise that not everyone will share my passion for litter and that’s absolutely fine. But “being green” or taking steps towards sustainability needn’t be hard or expensive or even require a massive change in lifestyle. You don’t need to go vegan, give up your car, or wear nothing but clothes made out of bamboo or hemp. After all, there are so many ways to make a positive change … and most are good for your pocket too!
- Ditch single use items. Re-usable carrier bags, coffee cups, and water bottles are a helpful addition to any household. Stay tuned for some exciting news about a new project one of our fantastic volunteers is leading to help make this easier to do in Chippenham.
- Turn it off. Turn off lights when you leave a room, turn off water when brushing your teeth, and close the refrigerator when cooking to help reduce energy and water use. Simply turning your thermostat down by one degree can help save energy and reduce your bills.
- Recycle. Just over a decade ago, England had one of the worst recycling rates in Europe. This has improved dramatically in that time, but more can always be done to help manage our resources.
- Don’t litter. Obviously.
“Being green” isn’t about making people feel guilty if they have their latte in a disposable cup or use the wrong recycling bin. It’s about all of us simply trying to do our best to live a little lighter on the planet. And that seems worth caring about.
