As the year draws to a close, all eyes turn towards the future with great hope. Once the holiday gifts have all been opened, and we begin mulling our New Year’s Resolutions, consider looking beyond the coming year into the distant future. If your focus is on self-improvement, your friends at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful believe that some sustainability-focused additions will not only aid your efforts to be the best YOU you can be, but will also go a long way toward making your community and local environment the best they can be. After all, as Sir Francis Bacon put forth roughly 400 years ago… “We rise to great heights by a winding staircase of small steps.”
But why should we all embrace sustainability?
According to Earth.org, 2024 was the hottest year on record – with 2025 on track to be the second or third – lending credence to the Global Warming debate. Greenhouse gas concentrations – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide – are also on the rise. 6% of those greenhouse gases are attributed to food waste – whether lost in supply chains or through consumer waste. A third of the food intended for human consumption is wasted or lost. That’s roughly 1.3 billion tons – enough to feed 3 billion people. That’s BILLION with a B! Declines in wildlife populations, plastic pollution, deforestation, air pollution, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, soil degradation, and more all signal the need for systemic change – which can begin right at home. Here are five sustainable resolutions to help you get started on the road to minimizing your own carbon footprint…
- Recycle More, Waste Less
Pledge to be more intentional in your food consumption and recycling practices. Start paying attention to portions and which dishes are hits with your family members and guests (and which are not). Purchase only what you need and eat any leftovers, so less food winds up in the trash. Also, consider starting a compost pile and learning which food items can go in it vs. the garbage bin. At the same time, brush up on your recycling knowledge. Everything that can be recycled curbside should go in the recycling bin. If you don’t have a recycling bin, but are a current customer receiving trash services, you may request a free 65-gallon wheeled cart by contacting Solid Waste Management at 770.822.7141. Those glass jars and bottles can be dropped off at any one of 15 collection sites throughout Gwinnett. For other hard-to-recycle items, either mark your calendar for an upcoming Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful recycling event or visit our Recycling page to learn about companies or organizations that accept them year-round.
- Become More Involved in the Community Through Adopt-A-Road or Adopt-A-Stream Programs
Adopt-A-Road has become an invaluable program in Gwinnett County – minimizing the blight on our roadways through volunteer action. The same can be said about our Adopt-A-Stream program, which helps us monitor the health of our local water sources through bacteria and chemical testing. There are also multiple cleanup and recycling events throughout the year for which we are always in need of volunteers. And our Great American Cleanup year-round initiative offers several impactful ways for our neighbors to give back to the community that they love. If you have the desire to help, but not the time or physical ability, monetary contributions help fund our programs – like the pick-up sticks, gloves, reflective vests, and trash bags used for cleanups.
- Plant Food and Pollinator Gardens or Shop Farmers’ Markets
Another sustainable practice that’s enjoying a renaissance is the practice of planting and harvesting your own produce – whether in your own backyard, in a container garden on your apartment balcony, or at a local community garden. Beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, and okra are all well-suited for our Southern climate. For a comprehensive list of vegetable crops to consider, the University of Georgia Extension is an invaluable resource. Nothing tastes better than food you’ve grown yourself. To aid the success of your garden AND the planet, please also consider planting a pollinator garden or adding pollinator-attracting plants to your existing landscaping. Best for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your yard, look for Cosmos, Salvia, Coneflower, Lavender, Zinnia, and more. HomesteadandChill.com shares not only a list of 23 pollinator-friendly plants to introduce to your garden and the best way to care for them, but also the WHY behind it. Pollinators are responsible for one-third of all food that humans consume, and they need our support as their populations are dwindling. If your green thumb leans more brown or black, you may want to leave the planting to the professionals. You can still support sustainable practices and your local farmers by shopping at a variety of farmers’ markets in your area.
- Use Mass Transit – or Alternative Modes of Transportation – Whenever Possible
The next time you’re in the car, look around and notice how many people are single riders in the cars around you. According to the American Public Transportation Association, using public transit can reduce each passenger’s carbon footprint by 45%. It can also prove a very cost-effective, wallet-friendly practice – reducing the amount of money needed for car payments, insurance, fuel, and maintenance. Ride Gwinnett has been our go-to for commuter express bus, local bus, and paratransit services in Gwinnett County since 2001. Through this program, the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation maintains 48 transit buses serving 10 local routes and three commuter routes, along with 25 microtransit (rideshare) and paratransit vehicles. If you live close enough to work or school, you may opt to walk or cycle as an alternative mode of transportation.
- Encourage Others in Your Life to Pursue Sustainable Practices
Just as powerful as adopting sustainable practices in your own life is encouraging them in others. That is particularly true of families with children. By fostering an up-and-coming generation that values nature and the environment, you could be affecting impactful change for years to come. Teach your children the importance of not being wasteful, of taking meaningful action to care for the planet, of being active members of their community through volunteerism, and so much more. If their school is not already a Green & Healthy School, petition their principal to become one. If you have a rising high school student, motivate them to join the Green Youth Advisory Council, where they will contribute to and inform Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful on projects that address local and global environmental challenges, while serving as ambassadors and leaders for youth service in their communities. As an adult, if you are finding true value in any of the sustainable practices outlined above, inspire others in your sphere of influence to join you in making a difference for the good of our community, our environment, and our world.
We know you can do it! These are resolutions worth sticking to – and not just for a month or even a year, but for a lifetime. From all of us at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, we wish you and yours a Happy Holiday Season and all the very best in the New Year!
Sources: https://earth.org/the-biggest-environmental-problems-of-our-lifetime/
https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/C1326/best-garden-vegetable-varieties-for-georgia/ https://homesteadandchill.com/top-23-plants-for-pollinators/