With the start of any New Year, there’s often a desire within each of us to become the best versions of ourselves. Cue the New Year’s Resolutions! Not every change has to be monumental. Sometimes, even small changes can pay big dividends. If your community, the environment, and sustainability matter to you, consider incorporating one or all of the following simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint over the coming months. Your friends at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful stand at the ready to help you…

1. Educate yourself on what can be recycled and where, including curbside, at glass recycling sites, at recycling events, and at various organizations throughout Metro Atlanta. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful offers a recycling search tool on our website to help simplify the process. This limits the impact on our local landfills.
2. Conserve water by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
3. Turn off lights when you leave a room and unplug appliances when not in use to reduce your household’s energy consumption.
4. Pledge to become more sustainable by embracing the practice of REUSE. It’s easier than you think – by swapping plastic grocery bags and water bottles for reusable shopping bags and insulated beverage containers.
5. Reduce food waste by becoming more intentional when shopping and buying only what you need.
6. Volunteer for community-focused cleanups and recycling events. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County Government host several of these events throughout the year, and we rely on volunteers to ensure they run smoothly.
7. Make the switch to environmentally-friendly cleaning products at home and work. Either make your own using natural ingredients such as white vinegar and baking soda, or purchase from green manufacturers such as Mrs. Meyers, ECOS, and Seventh Generation.
8. Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags when placing them in your recycling cart to prevent cross-contamination.
9. Opt for locally sourced food – like that you’ll find at a local farmer’s market or butcher – to limit vehicle emissions.
10. Encourage your company, church, neighborhood, interest group, or child’s school to become an Adopt-A-Road partner to help reduce litter on our roadways.
11. Limit your water usage by taking shorter showers or filling your bathtub halfway.
12. Do your research to ensure that you’re storing fruits, vegetables, and perishables properly to keep them fresh longer.
13. Notice a significant jump in your water bill? Call a plumber to locate the leak and repair any leaking faucets or pipes.
14. Rinse cans and containers before placing them in your recycling cart to ensure they can be properly recycled.
15. Limit food waste by repurposing or refrigerating leftover meals instead of throwing them in the trash. Some of that food waste can be transformed into nutrient-rich fertilizer through composting.
16. Conserve water by running your dishwasher and washing machine only when full.
17. Do you have a high school student at home? Please encourage them to join the Green Youth Advisory Council. It’s a unique, hands-on opportunity for high school students from diverse backgrounds to participate in an environmental and sustainability service-learning and leadership-development program. Participants will contribute to and inform Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful on projects addressing local and global ecological challenges while serving as ambassadors and leaders for youth service in their communities.
18. Save water by watering your lawn only when needed, not on a fixed schedule. If you have it on a timer, turn it off after a rainstorm.
19. Take your pick of projects in our year-round Great American Cleanup Program. You may opt to beautify your community with a Groom and Bloom project, reduce blight in an area near you with a Litter League project, or dial-a-dumpster to remove illegal dumping or invasive plants in your area.
20. Is it time to upgrade your appliances in 2026? Be sure to choose models with the Energy Star label for better energy efficiency!
21. Adopt-A-Stream near home or work to help monitor water quality. In partnership with Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, we’ll provide you with the supplies you’ll need as well as training and certifications in chemical, bacterial, and macroinvertebrate testing through regularly scheduled workshops.
22. Consider solar power installation on your roof to make the switch from fossil fuels to a renewable energy source to help power your home.
23. Make a pledge to drive your gas-powered car less by either discussing the option to work from home on select days with your employer or taking mass transit to the office. If you live close to your workplace, consider whether walking or cycling is a viable alternative. 
24. Become a Stormwater Protector and mark storm drains with medallions we’ll provide, along with educational materials to share with neighbors nearby.
25. Ask your child’s school if they are a part of the Green & Healthy School Program. If not, encourage them to join.
26. Make a donation to show support for an environmental nonprofit, such as Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. Each donation helps support our programs and mission of Connecting People & Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett.

For additional tips and information about our programs, be sure to visit Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful online at www.GwinnettCB.org. If you have any questions or suggestions, please call us at (770) 822-5187 or email us at gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org.