By Kate Turkelaub
With each new season comes new responsibilities, all of which have environmental impacts. Whether you have been incorporating sustainability measures into your routine for years or you’re new to the scene, it’s never too late to try something new. This summer is on track to be the hottest on record; take responsibility to slow the degradation of our planet so that future generations get to enjoy nature at its fullest.
Here are some easy switches that can help Greenwich stay on track this summer.
Invest in eco-friendly sunscreen: While the chemicals used to formulate sunscreen protect your skin, they also pose increasingly dangerous disturbances to aquatic environments. Most big-name spray sunscreens contain avobenzone, homosalate, and oxybenzone, which are chemicals that react with the sun to pollute ecosystems once released from airborne aerosol sprays. A quick switch in your routine this summer will help protect the marine life and vegetation that supports our coastal productivity while lessening your chemical exposure.
Long Island Sound is an estuary, which is an ecosystem typically deemed amongst the most productive on earth. Here, saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean mixes with freshwater from rivers, and the area acts as a nursery for species that will later populate the open ocean.
Designated by the U.S. Congress as an Estuary of National Significance in 1987, its importance is obvious. So, next time you venture down to Tod’s Point for a quick dip, make sure to pack your eco-friendly sunscreen to protect yourself and our ocean.
Refresh your recycling habits
When done correctly, recycling is an amazing opportunity to limit your waste and help reduce pollution and contamination. But, once contaminated, entire collections of recycling are forced to be improperly disposed of. This summer, make sure to refresh your knowledge of recycling in order to ensure proper disposal and the most effective waste collection possible.
For a quick refresher, here are some basic rules to follow to amplify your sustainability.
Plastic bags, shredded paper, and styrofoam are not recyclable. Instead, throw away styrofoam, bring shredded paper to Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility, and clean plastic bags and bring them to stores that will repurpose them.
Additionally, paper towels, tissues, napkins, foil, paint cans, scrap metal, and take-out food containers are non-recyclable due to contamination.
Only bottles, jars, and drinking glasses are acceptable for glass recycling.
The town of Greenwich provides an entire recycling guide for the public on their website, which can be found at greenwichct.gov. The site also has a feature called Waste Wizard, where you can enter any item you are curious about to see how and where it may be recycled or properly disposed of.
Shop second hand
It feels as though no season is truly complete without a new wardrobe. Yet, seasonal fashion typically perpetuates a cycle of fast-fashion and over consumption that causes more and more waste in coming years. As of 2019, about 85 percent of textile waste in the United States goes to landfills or is incinerated, and 60 percent of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels (NY Times). The textile industry not only encourages the overproduction of goods, but also frequently utilizes unethical labor practices and neglects the needs of our planet.
When sprucing up your closet this season, check out the local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Old Greenwich’s thrift store, The Rummage Room. Trendy summer staples such as a striped button down or linen pants are easily found, allowing you to sustainably replicate fashion trends while spending less and preserving more.
Social media apps such as Depop and Poshmark are also great alternatives, where you can find discounted items and give them a second life. And, if you’re feeling up for it, you can even sell your own clothing on these platforms, allowing others to find a treasure of their own.
Use a reusable water bottle and tupperware
Although this may seem like a given, plenty of people still drink exclusively out of plastic, disposable bottles and eat out of to-go containers and non-recyclable tinfoil.
If you make sure to carry around your own reusable water bottle, you won’t be tempted to buy plastic when you’re out and about. My personal favorite is the 32-ounce Hydro Flask, which keeps your water cool for hours. You’ll be able to stay hydrated and healthy while playing your part in reducing plastic waste.
Overtime, specifically when left in heat, the chemicals used to produce plastic bottles can leach into the water, which puts you at risk of ingesting microplastics and toxic chemicals. Although these are typically found in low quantities, the concentration will increase over time, so get ahead of your health and put a stop to that nasty habit.
While you’re working on incorporating a reusable water bottle into your routine, try to wake up a few minutes early to pack yourself a lunch to bring to work in an eco-friendly tupperware that can be reused for years to come. As you learned earlier, take-out food containers are non-recyclable, so save money and your environment by packing lunch.
Shop at the farmers market
Farmer’s markets minimize waste while supporting local farmers and small businesses. Smaller farmers are more likely to use organic practices, which minimize synthetic fertilizers and chemicals released into the environment and used in the food you consume.
The more localized consumption promotes communication from farm to table, helping individuals understand the benefits and drawbacks of farming, and how they can consume goods responsibly.
A farmers market is hosted every Wednesday at 2 p.m. at 38 West End Avenue, Old Greenwich. Select from a beautiful variety of fresh produce, baked goods, and more while talking to local producers about their practices. See how they think you can help, and how your buying practices make a difference.
