There is only so much we as individuals can do to lower our waste and impact, but we can increase our influence by working outside of ourselves.
Are there ways in life where you could encourage change on a larger scale? Perhaps you could encourage your work to start a recycling program. Or ask your company management to purchase only recycled paper going forward. What about helping to make paperless transactions a reality for customers who want it?
One way I extend my environmental impact is by bringing reusable cutlery to large gatherings where disposable utensils would typically be used. I got several dozen reusable eating utensils from thrift shops, along with a container to display the clean utensils and a separate lidded container to store the dirty utensils once used. I realized that I could take reusable cutlery for myself to use, but it wasn’t much more work to take reusable cutlery for the entire gathering to use. In just a few months of doing this I have caused hundreds of utensils to not be used and discarded. Plus, it’s possible that these little actions will inspire someone to reevaluate some type of disposable item they use in a different aspect of their life.
Sometimes we must do the work needed to create and encourage the change we wish to see. If we are physically, mentally, and emotionally able to do the work, we can make great things come to pass, and improve our communities in innumerable ways.