A Word From Our West Army Partners

How to be an ‘Imperfect Environmentalist’ by Hailey Dunn, Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Imperfect environmentalism means you care about the planet, you’re conscious of how your actions impact the earth, and you do your best to reduce that impact. “Your best” will look different for everyone. It’s taking the actions that make sense for your life and leaving the ones that don’t

Environmentalism doesn’t have to be an unattainable lifestyle. It can be normalized in small, everyday actions Start by slightly altering your daily routine Take small steps to achieve big goals and do what works for you. Sustainable living should be sustainable for you.

Reusable alternatives are a great place to start Choose a low waste alternative when buying new. Switching from plastic water bottles to a reusable water bottle or bringing a reusable bag when you go to the grocery store can reduce your environmental footprint. Do you usually use paper towel or a bleach wipe when you clean? Try using a reusable rag or towel instead.

Repurposing products you already have is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. Consider upcycling old candles into new containers to store things. All that is needed is to put the old candle jar into the freezer for a couple of hours to free any remaining candle wax bits left in the bottom of the container (Save and use those small bits of leftover candle in your wax melt.) Once you have the remaining candle out of the container just wash and you have a new container for whatever you need to store!

Embrace being an environmental imperfectionist –your road toward sustainability may be a bumpy road and fall short of your expectations but if you embrace your mistakes and your journey, smooth sailing will find you. Small sustainable steps do matter, and every effort matters even more if we all do them.

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