Everyone wants to save the planet. We all have to do our part to ensure that we as a species eliminate our production of waste and reduce our carbon footprint. But, sometimes when you’re on a budget, it can be tough to shop all organic and find eco-friendly products. Here are a few ways that you can reduce waste without spending any extra money.

Composting 

The Nature Conservatory estimates that around 25% of the items in your trash could be composted in your backyard. Meaning if every household in America adopted this practice, we could potentially reduce landfill volume by 25%. Things like old fruit and vegetable scraps, leaves, grass clippings, eggshells, and coffee grounds can be composted. So, if you regularly throw away these types of items, you may want to consider switching up your habits.

Get a Water Bottle

More than 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year – which is shocking considering it takes plastic about 1000 years to biodegrade. Meaning that eventually we have to do something different or there will be more plastic than fish in 30 years. If you are an avid water drinker — as we all should be — you should consider getting a water bottle to fill up from the tap or a pitcher. This can not only help you reduce waste; it will save you money as well.

Visit an Eco Atm 

An ecoATM is a device that is used to recycle old electronics. If you have old electronics sitting around the house collecting dust — such as cell phones, tablets, MP3 players, or any other handheld electronics, you should consider taking them to an ATM. The ATM will scan your device to estimate the value of the parts and pay you whatever it’s worth. Although you shouldn’t expect more than some pocket change, it is a good way to save the planet and make some money at the same time. A quick google search of ecoATMs near me will help you locate the closest one to you.