Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. #EverydayEffect

You may be asking, what is the Everyday Effect in the title all about?  Well, I was chosen to participate in The P&G Everyday Effect Program sponsored by SheSpeaks/P&G.  The challenge was to incorporate something in the everyday life of my family that helps us reduce, reuse and/or recycle.  If everyone of us takes little steps, then it will have a giant impact on our carbon footprint.  With 3 children, I see that the things  we do and the actions we take everyday will effect their future.  The things they learn and implement starting now, will carry on to what actions they take and their mindset for the future as well.  So, I think it is important to start early...teach kids starting at very young ages to reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible.  I can't say that I've done a great job at having a "green" household, but I hope that with every little change I make, and every fact I share with my kids, it will have an impact. I've always taught them to turn lights off when not in use, to close outside doors when they go in or out, to not leave the water running when they are brushing their teeth...but what else could we do?

We had started halfway recycling our plastics before the challenge.  But with the challenge, I felt we really needed to make a better effort.  We shouldn't just remember to recycle drink bottles and milk cartons...but all of our plastic products.  Now, we have a large garbage can in the garage that is set up just for plastics, AND, since that would require walking a few extra steps (and we are terrible about doing that), I have set up a smaller place in the laundry room for bottles, etc.  When the inside bag is full, someone dumps it into the large trashcan in the garage.  This has worked out much better for us. Once the outdoor trash is full, my husband takes it off to the recycling center (we don't have trash pick up).

Take a look at this little video, starring my oldest daughter, sharing the little things we are doing to have an 'Everyday Effect' on the environment...


This challenge has been good for us, because it made us focus on a goal (recycling our plastics), but also caused us to think about all the other things we can do to help protect our planet.  It also reinforced to my children why some of the things we have been doing are important...like reusable lunch containers and pouches for school lunches, rechargeable batteries, and buying items in bulk instead of the little individual pouches.

Not only is SheSpeaks working with P&G to raise awareness for Earth Day (and every day!), they are also having an awesome Pin to Win Giveaway for a brand new washing machine! Enter the P&G #EverydayEffect Pinterest Giveaway by filling out the form here!

What little ways are you having an #EverydayEffect on our planet? Feel free to share!


This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G but all content and opinions are my own.