If you pay attention to what's going on in the world, you know that our planet is in trouble. Every year, over 2.12 billion tons of waste is dumped into the ocean. This affects plants, animals, and even people. While the news sounds disheartening, there are ways you can step up and make a difference by reducing your carbon footprint. Check out these suggestions and see how you can start implementing them today. 

1. Make Your Own Cleaners or Use Green Products

Toxic chemicals are a turn-off for many people, from the overpowering smell to the effect they can have on the ecosystem. Even after a bottle of bleach is used, throwing it away means trace amounts can be dumped out and have a negative impact on the plants and animals around it. Instead, find out how you can make your own cleaners with more natural products, and save on unnecessary packaging and waste. 

2. Recycle Items When Possible 

In many cities and villages, recycling is required. Check out where you live and find out if there are any local laws pertaining to how to handle recycling. You can get started by having a recycling bin and putting everything that can be placed in there. This often includes various types of plastics, glass, and other items. You can always check for the recycle logo on the bottom of something if you aren't sure what can be done with it. 

3. Donate What You Don't Need

It's not uncommon for clothing, furniture, and other large items to end up in the trash when people think there is no longer a use for them. You can avoid this altogether by donating what you no longer need. Did your children outgrow their clothes? Donate them to a charity or a friend who might benefit from them. What about if you upgraded your current couch for something better? Find a charity that could sell it consider offering it for free online, and have someone come to pick it up.

If items are truly in unusable condition, find other ways to recycle them. You could use old baby clothes that have been cleaned as rags, allowing them to be repurposed into something else. Following a pattern of reducing waste and reusing as much as possible can be helpful if you find something is in such bad condition that it cannot be donated. 

4.  Reduce Paper Waste 

Even with the advances of smartphones and computers, there is still a lot of paper waste present today. You can do your part to cut down on it by only printing items when necessary. Avoid printing an email if you don't need it. Consider getting rid of bills and only getting notifications via email. You could even try Velocity banking as a way to pay off bills in a lump sum, rather than using checks. The less paper you find yourself printing out, the more money you can save, and the better it is for the planet.

Incorporating a green lifestyle can seem challenging at first, but it's easy enough to get started. Try making your own cleaners and remember to recycle when possible. Donate what you no longer need or wear it down until it has been thoroughly used. Finally, cut back on paper waste, both at home and in the office. These small suggestions can make a major difference.