Go Green and Go Home

Make your tiny corner of the planet more sustainable with a few simple adjustments.

BY HALEY SHAPLEY

ON THE ECO-MINDED WEST COAST, reducing, reusing, and recycling are a way of life, but there’s always room for improvement. Up your upcycle game with these five ideas:

1. Serve coffee to your garden. To fertilize plants that thrive in acidic conditions, like rhododendrons and roses, sprinkle used coffee grounds on the soil, or soak the coffee grounds for a week and water your plants with the caffeinated concoction.

2. Make your glass shine. Get sparkling windows, sans the strong chemicals, with this homemade cleaner: Mix 1 cup of hot water with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol, then whisk in 4 tablespoons of cornstarch. For that freshly cleaned smell, add essential oils of your choice. Spray on windows and wipe well for a streak-free finish.

3. Let the rain drain. Heavy rains can lead to issues including eroding hillsides, overflowing sewers, and polluted streams. You can help by using porous paving options in your driveway that allow rain to soak through to the earth, adding a rain garden to your yard, or installing a cistern, which catches runoff from your roof and slowly releases it into the ground. Many communities offer rebates or other incentives for putting these measures into place, so research the options in your area. 4. Sip smarter. Many drinks are just better with a straw, but there’s nothing sustainable about the plastic variety, and paper ones can get soggy. With an estimated half million straws used every day in the U.S. alone, they add up quickly—and many end up in the ocean, harming sea life. Opt to carry your own stainless steel, glass, or silicone version for guilt-free beverage enjoyment on the go.

5. Watch what you wear. Fast fashion—mass-produced clothing manufactured quickly to capture the latest trends—takes a huge toll on the planet. When adding new items to your wardrobe, look for pieces made from plant-based fibers, such as cotton, bamboo, hemp, and coconut. When you’re ready to part with your clothes, donate what’s wearable, and upcycle or recycle what’s not. Turn old T-shirts into cleaning rags, or look for a textile recycler near you.