A very happy new year to the readers of The Beautiful Blog from the staff at Keep Knoxville Beautiful! As you reflect on the previous year and make plans for the coming year, we hope that you will also consider what new environmental habits you can develop in 2022. Caring for our planet is more important than ever, so consider these ways to show Mother Nature that you appreciate her!

1. Volunteer at a Keep Knoxville Beautiful event or another great environmental non-profit.

From 2020-2021, we picked up 105,879 pounds of litter from Knoxville’s roads, waterways, and parks. Our mission is to create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful Knoxville, so come be a part of that by signing up for one of KKB’s monthly volunteer events or join our Adopt-A-Road program.

East Knoxville Community Cleanup. Photo from KKB.

2. Pick up five pieces of litter a day.

A great habit to develop is picking up a piece of litter you see on the ground, instead of walking past it and hoping someone else will do something about it. Challenge yourself to pick up litter when you see it on the street or sidewalk. Bring a bag with you when going on long walks, or if you see something on the street in front of your home, grab it as you are headed in from work and throw it away.

3. Learn to recycle RIGHT.

Unfortunately, recycling isn’t always as straightforward as we want it to be. Wishcycling, recycling items that aren’t actually recyclable, has the potential to contaminate whole loads of recyclable goods, which will send the whole bundle to the landfill. But the city of Knoxville has a very handy recycling guide to help you know what can and can’t be recycled. You can search by individual items, but remember – when in doubt, throw it out! If you don’t have curbside recycling, find the nearest recycling center to you and double check what they take. Remember to sort your items and don’t bag them!

4. Start composting.

Composting diverts food scraps away from the landfill, where they will be unable to break down properly and create harmful methane gas. Instead, by composting, your food scraps will be able to break down properly, and will turn into nutrient-rich compost that can be used when planting. You can build a compost pile in your backyard, or if you live in an apartment, you can make a smaller one in a bucket. If either of these aren’t the right fit for you, there are compost services that will pick up your food scraps to compost.

5. Plant a pollinator garden.

Spring is just around the corner, and a pollinator garden is a great way to bring color, bees, and butterflies to your garden. Evaluate your garden situation – are you planting in the ground or in pots? Will your garden be shady or sunny? Based on those answers, select native plants that pollinators will love.

6. Water your plants with the water used to cook vegetables or pasta (once it’s cool).

I keep my watering can right by kitchen sink, and I always pour leftover water into it when I’m cooking. It never takes long to fill up, and it’s a great way to save water while still giving your plants the hydration they need.

7. Eat less meat.

Meat is a staple in most diets, but the production and consumption of meat is a huge contributor to climate change. Meat accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gases from food production. If cutting meat from your diet seems too daunting, start with Meatless Mondays or the next time you are at a restaurant, pick one of their meat-free options.

8. Shop locally for foods.

Head to the Farmers’ Market for locally grown or made foods, from vegetables, fruits, eggs, and bread. This supports local farmers while also decreasing the amount of carbon emissions it takes your food to reach you.

Market Square Farmers’ Market. Photo from WATE.

9. Grow your own vegetables.

Although not everyone has the space or time to grow a full blown vegetable garden, starting small with something like herbs or a tomato plant is a great first step. Being able to add your homegrown herbs, vegetables, and fruit to your cooking will add a sense of pride and also makes the food taste so much better!

10. Create less food waste.

40% of food in the United States is never eaten. Food is thrown out because we buy more than we can eat, grocery stores overstock shelves, or fruits and vegetables with blemishes are deemed inedible. Make grocery lists and check your pantry for items that you might already have. Check expiration dates, and remember that the sale by date does not mean that food goes bad after that date. “Sale by” date means that it is freshest until that date, but still safe to eat after that.

11. Use what you already have.

This can be applied to food, clothes, cleaning supplies, and party supplies. Instead of buying new, check first to see what you already have. You might have forgotten about that black sweater hidden in the back of your closet, a drawer of gift bags, or an extra bottle of olive oil in the pantry that you already have in your home. This practice has the added benefit of de-cluttering items you already own, instead of potentially adding more clutter.

12. Say no to fast fashion.

In 2018, 11.3 million tons of textiles were sent to landfills, and with fast fashion brands producing thousands of new items a week, the model relies on this amount of waste continuing. Instead, shop at second hand stores, do clothing swaps with your friends and family, or shop your own closet. Build a time capsule wardrobe that has styles that will last beyond the current trend.

13. Learn how to sew.

So often when our clothes snag or tear, we consider them ruined and throw them out. Learning how to sew gives you the ability to mend your own clothing, so that a tear doesn’t mean an article of clothing is no longer wearable. You might even enjoy it so much that you begin sewing your own clothing!

14. Hang your laundry to dry.

It takes a significant amount of energy to dry your clothes, so buy a drying rack to hang your clothes on. Set it up in a sunny spot in your home, and an added bonus is that the room will smell like fresh laundry!

15. Switch to reusables.

Whether that be swapping paper napkins for cloth napkins, plastic straws to a metal one, or bringing your own shopping bags to the store – there are so many ways to introduce more reusable items into our day-to-day lives.

Reading in the library. Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash.

16. Bring your own reusable containers to restaurants.

If you’re like me and always have leftovers when eating out, get into the habit of bringing your own reusable containers to restaurants. That will decrease the amount of Styrofoam containers that will be going straight to the landfill once you finish your leftovers. Remember to thank your servers for being accommodating to your request!

17. Have bills e-mailed to you.

From medical to electric bills, there is always an option on their website to switch to paperless billing. Not only will it decrease the potential of your bills getting lost in the mail, but it will save paper.

18. Sign up for KUB’s Green Switch Match program.

Through the program, KUB customers can match their monthly electricity consumption with an equivalent amount of renewable energy production. It’s 1 cent per kilowatt hour used, which averages out to $11 a month for the average residential customer.

19. Borrow books from the library instead of always buying new.

Not only does this save money and space, it saves paper and supports your local library! In addition to physical books, Knox County Public Libraries also have e-books and audiobooks, which you can download through the app Libby.

20. Utilize public transport.

If you don’t already utilize KAT’s buses, check out their bus map and see where the closest bus stop is to where you live. Are there trips you could take on the bus instead of the car? As well, when you’re downtown, ride the trolley if you’re not able to walk around. It’s free and they’re charming – so it’s always a great option!

21. Walk more places.

In the US, we tend to drive everywhere – even to the other side of a shopping center. Instead, when you’re in a large shopping center or strip mall, try walking to the stores instead of driving to each one. Often, it takes the same amount of time, but with walking, you’re getting exercise and not emitting carbon for a such a short drive.

Hiking in the Smokies. Photo from National Park Traveling.

22. Spend more time in nature.

Reconnecting with nature is not only known to make you feel healthier, more motivated and more positive, but being amongst natural beauty reminds us why we want to develop these eco-friendly habits to begin with! Go on a walk in a local park, go kayaking along the river, schedule an outdoor picnic with friends or family, or take advantage of being on the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains. Enjoy the benefits of being outdoors and show Mother Nature some love.

22 Environmentally Friendly Habits for the New Year