Happy New Year! Did you make resolutions for 2017?  The new year is a great opportunity to think about what’s important to you in life – what makes you happy, what keeps you healthy.  Here are some great goals for reducing waste and consumption that will contribute to a happier and healthier planet (and you)!

Think twice before buying new things

Do you really need that new item for school or home? Do you already have something similar that would fill the same need?  Do you have a broken item that could be repaired at an upcoming Repair Time event in King County?

Bring reusable bags and water bottles

Durable items pay off! If you bring a reusable bag with you to the store, you’ll avoid the need for disposable plastic or paper bags and dramatically reduce waste over time.  Many stores also give a small discount for bringing your own bag.
Why shouldn’t we use disposable water bottles? Imagine a plastic bottle filled up a quarter of the way. That’s about how much oil it took to make that bottle. Reduce your carbon footprint and stick to reusable bottles!

Reduce your trips in the car

Plan the errands you need to run before leaving home to best combine and reduce trips. For getting to work or school, King County offers carpooling resources for a variety of needs. Or try planning your trip by bus, bicycle, or even walking!

Share!

Use the sharing economy to give your old things new life. Find things you can borrow rather than buy. Check out your local Buy Nothing group (age 18 and older), your local tool library, and the wonderful library full of books.

Did you make a resolution to reduce waste for the New Year?
We would love to hear about it!