Going green is rapidly becoming a priority for businesses and homeowners alike. While regular recycling will help reduce your environmental impact, there’s more to going green than separating out items meant for landfill from recyclable goods. Incorporating green and environmentally friendly practices into your daily life is easier than it seems. Here are a few simple ways to make a difference every day.

4 Ways to Help the Environment

1. Take Shorter Showers

 On average, most people use between 80 and 100 gallons of water each day. While drinking and cooking are certainly part of the water usage, the greatest amount of water consumption comes from taking showers. A single ten minute shower can use up to 25 gallons of water. Multiply that by each member of your family using the shower once a day or more, and you have hundreds of gallons of water going down the drain each week. Instead, try cutting your showers a few minutes short. Shaving off just a minute or two can save well over 20 gallons a week.

2. Use Reusable Bags

Plastic grocery bags are convenient, but they end up in landfills, oceans, and waterways easily. This puts wildlife at risk and can lower water quality. Instead, start using reusable grocery bags. Get in the habit of leaving a few in the car so you always have them on hand. Don’t want to go to the expense of buying reusable bags? Reuse those plastic grocery bags from your last trip. This will still reduce your carbon footprint and keep dangerous plastics out of the landfill and away from nature.

3. Buy Locally

Instead of relying solely on the supermarket for your groceries, start shopping at the local farmer’s market. These small businesses have to travel shorter distances to deliver their products, reducing the amount of fossil fuels used each day. Best of all, you’ll be supporting local businesses and keeping your money in the community where it can do the most good.

4. Salvage Scrap Metal

Scrap metal has a way of popping up around the house, whether you’re demolishing an old storage shed or picking up soda cans after your kids’ slumber party. Instead of tossing it in the trash, bring it to a scrap metal recycling facility. The material will then get reused for new products, keeping metal out of the landfill. Best of all, you can get cash for the metal you bring in.

Ready to take the next step in your home recycling? Contact David Hirshberg Steel & Recycling Center in Cincinnati, OH. Their dedicated team will help you safely dispose of and recycle unwanted metal around your house. Learn more about their services by visiting their website. For information on current payment rates, call (513) 821-0514.