Carbon Calculator Action Key

Life Below Water and on Land

• Composting leftover food after your meal helps reduce methane gases from entering the atmosphere. Whether that is using your backyard composter or curbside compost collection program, avoiding food waste from entering the landfill or incinerator will help us reduce our methane gas emissions.
• E-waste recycling is a conscious way to recycle technology, like computers and cell phones. Cell phones include rare earth minerals and computers contain precious metals and chemicals that are harmful if improperly disposed.
• Purchasing (eco-pro companies, eco-friendly companies, seasonal and organic foods) is a way to vote with your dollar by sending a message to the market that the people put value in companies that support their values and ethics. It’s the product, market, demand model if you vote with your $1 you will begin guide companies to put people and the planet in the forefront of their operation because that will be where they earn their profit, instead of the other way around.
• Recycling (glass bottles, metal cans, paper, plastic bottles) is one of the basic ways to reduce emissions, save energy and prevent the demand to extract virgin resources from the planet. Extracted materials can stay in the circular economy.
• Refusing single-use disposable items (bags, napkins, plates, cups, bowls, straws, utensils) is a way to begin to prevent excess waste. Reducing waste before it is created is the best way to reduce impacts to wildlife and reduce our reliance on landfills and incinerators.
• Reusable (bags, napkins, plates, cups, bowls, straws, utensils) items are a way to prevent waste and participate in a sustainable lifestyle. Reuse is better than recycling because products can be used in their original form.
• Up-cycling is repurposing clothing, furniture, or anything in a creative way to keep those items new life and keep them out of the landfill.

The United States consumes a majority of the world natural resources and generates a majority of the world’s waste. This means the U.S. is the driving force behind the depletion of the planet’s natural habitats and the main cause for the trashing of the planet. By being a conscious consumer, you will be choosing to step away from the culture of over consumption and waste.

• Food share This is a special feature for a school’s food recovery program. Children are required to take a certain amount of food from the hot lunch programs at school and they may not want or eat the food. To prevent whole edible non-allergenic foods from being wasted, students can place unopened packaged food or unbitten whole fruit in the school’s food share cart to be donated or redistributed for consumption.

If food waste was a country it would be the third-largest emission emitter after China and the US. According to an article in The Guardian, food waste accounts for 8% of the global climate, (more than India and Russia).

• Greywater (tip: you can help save water in your tub or sink by collecting the cold water into a jug as it heats up. You can reuse bathwater by redistributing it to water your garden and plants.)
• Planting native plants (Here are some benefits of planting native plants: 1. Do not require fertilizer 2. require less water than lawns 3. Reduce air pollution 4.provide shelter and food for wildlife)
• Sustainable gardening (Here are a few practices when participating in sustainable gardening: 1. Integrated pest management 2. Companion planting 3. Beneficial insects 4. composting)