My new year’s resolutions – helping the environment more

I tend to consider September, with its emphasis on back-to-school new beginnings as more of a new year, however every January I do try to make some new year’s resolutions.

Some studies indicate that by the end of January, a third of people will have broken their new year’s resolutions, and by July more than half will have lapsed.  I try to ensure my resolutions aren’t too grandiose, thereby making them more achievable.

You can set resolutions for many different aspects of your life: family, relationships, health and fitness, food, gardening.  Some of my resolutions for 2013 are to be a bit more environmentally friendly.

I’ll ditch the single serve yogurt cups

Buying yogurt in large tubs (that can go in the Blue Box) is better than single serve yogurt cups (which currently go in the garbage).  I’m picky about which yogurt I like, and admit that I often end up buying the single serve cups.  The good news is that in April 2013, Halton will be adding these cups to its Blue Box. In the meantime, I’m going to make a concentrated effort to buy yogurt I like in the large tubs.

I’ll take part in a neighbourhood litter clean-up

I work in waste management.  I’m always thinking about, talking about, planning about, the waste we all create and what can be done with it. I tend to keep my professional life and personal life separate, and as a result, I’ve never participated in a neighbourhood clean-up. I take great pride in my neighbourhood, have a love of nature, and hate littering.  So this year, I’ll definitely take part in one of the many happening throughout Halton.

I’ll recycle and compost more in the washroom

The washroom is the one room in the house where my waste diversion efforts aren’t as good as they could be.  I put all my empty plastic shampoo and soap bottles, and empty cardboard toothpaste boxes in the Blue Box.  I put cardboard toilet paper rolls in the GreenCart.  But facial tissues that are supposed to go in the GreenCart — so often they end up in the Garbage.  I have a dog that loves facial tissue, so have to hide waste bins inside washroom cupboards, which means I don’t have a lot of space for a separate compost bin and garbage can.  My goal for 2013 is find a suitable set of bins to make my waste diversion easier and more efficient.

I’ll be more active during my commute

I’m lucky.  My drive is only about ten minutes to work.  However I would like to make my commute a bit more active.  During the spring and summer, I hope to walk or run to work at least once a week (and now that Regional Road 25 is getting a sidewalk, I’ll feel a lot safer too).  And on a wintry day, if you see someone snowshoeing down Regional Road 25, that will be me, on my way to work at the Halton Waste Management Site!

I’ll expand my personal knowledge

There are three documentary movies I really want to see in 2013: Trashed (about worldwide waste management issues), Trash Dance (about waste collectors who create a dance performance), and Landfill Harmonic (about an orchestra that plays instruments made from waste).  I anticipate these movies will be shown in Toronto, and I’m making a commitment to make the commute “into the city” to see these important films.

So fingers crossed that I can achieve these new year’s resolutions.  I’ll let you know how I’m doing in the middle of 2013 and at the end of the year.  Hopefully, I’ll have some successes to share.

What new year’s resolutions are you making that will be good for the environment?