The news about climate change and plastic pollution in the ocean is grim, but don't feel hopeless. The truth is that every little bit helps and what you do on a daily basis can improve the environment.

Bike and Walk More

Most of the time, car owners hop in their vehicles without thinking. When the destination is nearby, consider walking or biking there instead of driving.

Getting more exercise will not only benefit the environment but you as well. If you have ever filled out a form to get online health insurance quotes,  you know that people who don't smoke and who exercise get better insurance rates.

Electric Cars

If you live far away from where you work, you can help the environment by trading in your gas-guzzling machine for an electric one. 

Electricity is clean and will not pollute the environment. Petroleum products, on the other hand, are a bad idea from start to finish. They need to be mined which affects the ecosystem. They often spill while being transported either into the ocean or onto the land. Both are disastrous for wildlife. Finally, burning them released toxins into the atmosphere.

Electricity is a much smarter choice, especially when the electricity is generated by solar or wind power. If you own a home, consider investing in solar panels. Most communities have incentive programs to make installation cheaper. Solar generators can store power from the panels and can be used, among other things, to charge your electric vehicles.

If you live in an apartment or for some other reason can't install solar panels, you can still request that your power company supply your electricity from solar or wind power, not fossil fuels.

Plastic Alternatives

Recycle as much as you can. What gets recycled does not end up in the ocean. 

Even more important than recycling, though, is to stop buying and using plastic in the first place. Many communities have banned plastic water bottles and plastic shopping bags. Make a habit of always carrying a glass or steel water bottle with you so you will not need to buy any single-use plastic bottles.

Rather than bringing home plastic bags when you buy something in a shop, always carry your own reusable bags. Those flimsy bags usually only survive one use and can't be recycled. In fact, when people try to recycle them, they often get stuck in the machinery at the recycling plant causing delays and expensive repairs.

Instead of accepting plastic items like straws when you get takeout, bring your own clean ceramic or metal containers to be filled. Buy a set of metal, glass or bamboo straws and bring your own reusable or recyclable forks and spoons. 

Watch What You Eat

The meat industry is damaging the ozone layer and contributing to global warming with its factory farms and poor practices. Overcrowding and feeding improper food to cattle produce gases that are harmful to the atmosphere. If you eat meat, consider eating less of it or buying only grass-fed beef.

Likewise, try to buy organic produce when possible. Non-organic vegetables and fruits are usually treated with pesticides that are harmful when ingested as well as endangering beneficial insects like honey bees and butterflies.

A little thought and a few changes can go a long way towards healing the planet.