11 Ways to Have a Sustainable September

Looking to make a positive impact this September? Dive into our guide on "11 Ways to Have a Sustainable September." Whether you're aiming to reduce waste, conserve energy, or buy secondhand, this month is the perfect time to embrace greener habits. Join us as we explore practical tips and ultimate strategies to help you make this September your most sustainable yet.

1. Decrease your waste

Realistically, it is almost impossible to go completely zero waste; however, taking steps to minimizing your waste is the perfect start!
This can look like anything - from buying secondhand to saying goodbye to single-use plastics. We will talk more on more specific ways to decrease waste below.
We strongly encourage you to think about the amount of waste that you create each day - are there ways to improve it?
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2. Lessen your food waste.

Food is the largest category of items in U.S. landfills, taking up 24%.
That means that roughly 30-40% of America's food supply is wasted!

There are several ways to decrease your food waste.

Here are a few ideas:

• Plan Your Meals: Create a weekly meal plan and shopping list to avoid buying items you don’t need. Stick to the list to prevent impulse purchases that may go unused.
• Practice FIFO (First In, First Out): Arrange your pantry and fridge so that older items are at the front and newer items are at the back. This ensures that you use up what you have before it goes bad.
• Proper Storage: Store fruits, vegetables, and leftovers properly to extend their shelf life. For instance, some produce should be kept in the fridge, while others do better at room temperature.
• Use Leftovers Creatively: Transform leftovers into new dishes. For example, roast vegetables can become a soup, or leftover chicken can be used in a casserole or salad.
• Freeze Excess Food: If you have more food than you can use in time, freeze it. Many items, like bread, meat, and even some fruits and vegetables, freeze well.
• Understand Expiry Dates: Know the difference between "sell by," "use by," and "best before" dates. Many items are still safe to eat after these dates have passed, so use your senses to check for spoilage.
• Portion Control: Serve smaller portions to avoid leftovers. You can always go back for more if you're still hungry.
• Repurpose Ingredients: Use food scraps and trimmings in new ways. For instance, vegetable scraps can be used to make broth, and stale bread can be turned into croutons.
• Educate Yourself: Learn about which foods have the longest shelf life and how to preserve them effectively. Knowledge about food storage can help reduce waste.

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By implementing these practices, you can significantly cut down on the amount of food that goes to waste in your home.
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3. Compost.

Above we talked about decreasing waste, and more specifically, decreasing food waste. One way that you can lessen the amount of food that you send to the landfill is by composting!

Here are just a few of the benefits of composting:

• Waste Reduction: It reduces the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, which helps decrease landfill use and methane emissions.
  
• Soil Health: Compost enriches soil with nutrients and improves its structure, leading to better water retention and healthier plant growth.
  
• Environmental Impact: Composting decreases greenhouse gas emissions and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
  
• Cost Savings: It can lower waste disposal costs and reduce the need to buy soil amendments and fertilizers.
  
• Resource Conservation: Composting recycles organic materials, turning them into valuable resources rather than discarding them.

Overall, composting supports sustainable waste management and contributes to healthier ecosystems.
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4. Use green cleaning products.

Did you know that even the cleaning products that you choose can have a significant effect on the earth?

Green cleaning products are designed to clean effectively while minimizing environmental and health impacts.
Here are some key aspects:

• Natural Ingredients: They use biodegradable and non-toxic ingredients derived from natural sources, avoiding harmful chemicals like chlorine, ammonia, and synthetic fragrances.
• Reduced Pollution: These products are formulated to minimize indoor air pollution and reduce the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful to respiratory health.
• Environmental Safety: They often feature eco-friendly packaging and are made from sustainable resources, reducing waste and environmental footprint.
• Health Benefits: By avoiding harsh chemicals, green cleaning products can reduce the risk of allergic reactions and sensitivities, promoting a healthier living environment.
• Efficiency: Many green cleaning products are just as effective as conventional cleaners, offering a safe and powerful alternative for maintaining cleanliness.

Using green cleaning products helps support environmental sustainability while protecting human health.
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5. Recycle your electronics.

​Recycling electronics is crucial for several reasons, impacting both the environment and human health:

• Environmental Protection: Electronics contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. When these devices end up in landfills, these substances can leach into the soil and water, leading to contamination. Recycling helps to prevent this pollution by ensuring these materials are safely managed.
• Resource Conservation: Electronics are made from valuable resources, including rare metals like gold, silver, and palladium. Recycling allows these materials to be recovered and reused, reducing the need for new raw materials and the environmental impact of mining.
• Energy Savings: Recycling electronic components often requires less energy compared to producing new ones from raw materials. This can lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to combating climate change.
• Reduction of Electronic Waste: E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. Proper recycling helps manage and reduce the volume of discarded electronics, alleviating the strain on landfills and reducing the potential for harmful emissions from decomposing devices.
• Economic Benefits: The recycling industry creates jobs and supports economic growth. It fosters a circular economy by turning waste into resources and promoting sustainable practices.
• Regulatory Compliance: Many regions (including Indiana) have laws and regulations governing the disposal and recycling of electronics. Complying with these regulations helps avoid legal issues and potential fines.

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Overall, recycling electronics helps to protect natural resources, reduce pollution, conserve energy, and support sustainable development.

If you are a resident or business in Kosciusko County, you can bring your electronics to the KC Recycling Depot anytime we are open for recycle. If you are not a resident or business, check with your local Household Hazardous Waste Facility! 
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6. Conserve water.

This seems like an obvious one, but not always an easy one!
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Here are effective ways to conserve water:

• Fix Leaks: Repair dripping faucets, leaking toilets, and other water leaks promptly.
• Use Efficient Fixtures: Install low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
• Shorten Showers: Limit shower time to reduce water use.
• Turn Off Taps: Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes.
• Full Loads Only: Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
• Water Lawns Wisely: Water gardens and lawns during cooler parts of the day to minimize evaporation.
• Collect Rainwater: Use rain barrels to collect and reuse rainwater for gardening.
• Mulch Gardens: Use mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce the need for frequent watering.

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7. Buy secondhand.

Buying secondhand offers several benefits:

• Cost Savings: Secondhand items are typically much cheaper than new ones, allowing you to save money.
• Environmental Impact: Purchasing secondhand reduces waste and the need for new resources, which helps lessen your environmental footprint.
• Unique Finds: You can discover unique or vintage items that aren’t available in stores.
• Quality: Many secondhand items, especially older ones, were built to last and may offer superior quality compared to some modern products.
• Reduced Manufacturing: Buying secondhand means less demand for new products, which reduces the energy and resources used in manufacturing.
• Support Local Economy: Thrift stores and secondhand shops often support local charities or small businesses.

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8. Conserve energy.

Conserving energy is crucial for the environment for several reasons.
These include: decreasing air pollution, preserving natural resources, and even mitigating climate change!

You've heard the typical ways to conserve energy - turning off lights, unplugging electronics and appliances when not in use, wash only full loads of dishes and laundry, etc.

These simple habits can make a HUGE difference!
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9. Recycle lightbulbs properly.

Recycling lightbulbs is crucial because they often contain hazardous materials like mercury, which can contaminate soil and water if disposed of improperly. Proper recycling helps prevent these toxins from entering the environment and ensures the safe recovery of valuable materials.

The only type of lightbulbs that can be thrown in the trash is incandescent bulbs - all others should be recycled properly at your local Hazardous Household Waste Facility (not in the curbside recycling bin)!
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10. Recycle paint.

Recycling paint is important for several reasons:

• Environmental Protection: Paint often contains hazardous chemicals that can be harmful if they end up in landfills or are improperly disposed of. By recycling paint, these chemicals are managed safely, reducing the risk of pollution and contamination of soil and water sources.
• Resource Conservation: Paint is made from valuable raw materials. Recycling paint helps conserve these resources by allowing unused paint to be processed and reused rather than discarded. This can reduce the demand for new raw materials and lower the overall environmental impact of paint production.
• Waste Reduction: Paint is a common household and industrial waste. Proper recycling helps minimize the volume of waste sent to landfills and reduces the strain on waste management systems. This contributes to more efficient waste management and a reduction in the overall environmental footprint.
• Economic Benefits: Recycling paint can lead to cost savings for disposal and potentially create new products or paint formulations from the recycled material. This can also support local recycling industries and create job opportunities.
• Health and Safety: Proper disposal and recycling of paint ensure that potentially toxic substances are handled in a controlled manner, reducing risks to public health and safety.

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11. Recycle batteries properly.

Recycling batteries is a key practice for environmental stewardship, resource conservation, and public health, and it supports sustainable waste management practices.

Batteries contain toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into soil and water if disposed of improperly. Recycling helps prevent these hazardous materials from contaminating the environment and posing risks to wildlife and ecosystems.

Batteries contain valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Recycling allows these materials to be recovered and reused, reducing the need for new mining and minimizing the environmental impact associated with extracting and processing raw materials.

​Please take these to your local HHW facility to be recycled!
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Final Thoughts

As September draws to a close, remember that every small action counts towards a more sustainable future. By implementing these 11 strategies, you’re not only making a difference this month but also setting the stage for lasting change. Keep exploring and adapting these practices to fit your lifestyle, and continue to embrace sustainability beyond September. Your efforts contribute to a healthier planet and a brighter future for all.