Products made from 100% recycled paper require much less water in their manufacturing than do those made from virgin paper. If your family goes through four rolls of paper towels a week, choosing recycled reduces waste significantly. Your one-year effect: 637 gallons of water saved. The effect if every household in the U.S. did it for one year: more than the amount of water that cascades over Niagara Falls in a day.

If you irrigate in the middle of the day, evaporation prevents 14% of the water from reaching the plants’ roots. Watering the lawn in the early morning or evening can save the typical homeowner 87 gallons a week. Your one-year effect: 4,524 gallons of water saved. The effect if every household in the U.S. did it for one year: equal to nine times the annual rainfall in Seattle.

Turn off the Faucet While Brushing Your Teeth - Why it’s worth the effort: Brushing your teeth seems like a quick job, but before you know it, four gallons of water may have slipped down the drain. Your one-year effect: 2,880 gallons of water saved. The effect if every household in the U.S. did it for one year: more than four times the Mississippi River’s annual flow of water.

Brushing your teeth seems like a quick job, but before you know it, four gallons of water may have slipped down the drain. Your one-year effect: 2,880 gallons of water saved. The effect if every household in the U.S. did it for one year: more than four times the Mississippi River’s annual flow of water.

Before you get into the shower, start playing a song on your phone and challenge yourself to finish showering before the song ends. No cheating by using “American Pie” or “Bohemian Rhapsody”!

Garbage disposals can be good for the environment in that they save your food scraps from the landfill, but they also use quite a bit of water, which means disposals should be used sparingly during a drought. Instead, make your own compost bin!

Professional car washes use less water than you will with a hose at home. Look for an eco-friendly service center that recycles its water. A few here in the Coachella Valley are:

Elephant Car Wash

Desert Express Car Wash

La Quinta Car Wash

For information on restoring the Salton Sea, go to: EcoMediaCompass.org.

Click on Salton Sea Restoration and Water Imports.

One of the keyways to reduce plastic use is to think ahead. When you show up to a picnic without utensils or the local market without a reusable bag, you’re essentially forced to resort to single-use plastic products. To avoid this type of situation, keep a zero-waste kit on you: A reusable water bottle, a cloth shoulder bag, a stainless-steel straw or purchase a box of straws, a set of travel utensils, a reusable coffee/drinking cup. With these five items, you can effectively eliminate any need for single-use plastics. Keep your zero-waste kit in your car, in your bike basket, or on your person to ensure it’s always handy whenever you need it.

If you want to reduce plastic use, it’s important to think about alternatives. Cardboard is an excellent substitute that is sturdy and more eco-friendly. It’s easier to recycle cardboard than plastic. Given that paper products tend to biodegrade more easily, cardboard is much kinder to the earth post-recycle. Forgo the plastic packets and opt for boxed pasta or boxed laundry detergent to reduce the amount of plastic you purchase and have in your home.

For many households across the globe, most of the plastic waste generated is in the kitchen. Whether you are a frequent food shopper with a hungry family or living single and buying based on need, the best ways to reduce plastic use is by cutting back on the amount of packaging you consume. Bags and boxes make quick waste, so it is always better to buy in bulk where possible and appropriate.

You have likely seen the triangle-shaped recycling symbol on the bottom of cans or on recyclable boxes, but have you noticed the numbers inside the recognizable triple-arrows? Recyclables are rated using the ASTM International Resin Identification Coding System. The classifications range from 1 to 7, each number indicating the plastic resin out of which the product is made. Most recycling centers will collect #1, 2 and 5 plastics such as water bottles, milk jugs and food containers. Plastics classified as #3, 4 and 6 such as PVC pipes, tubing and Styrofoam are moderately recyclable. Products categorized as #7, such as nylon, acrylic and polycarbonate are virtually impossible to recycle.

Shopping at your local farmers market and small grocer is a win-win for everyone involved. You’re directly supporting business owners in your community, while likely reducing your plastic use by opting out of mass-produced goods. As always, when shopping, be sure to bring your own bag and container to avoid any need for a plastic bag.

Replace plastic storage containers for glass or steel containers. When hanging out wash use wooden pegs instead of plastic ones. Most chewing gum currently on the market contains plastic. Try to buy less chewing gum and throw it in the correct recycling container. You can also opt for natural and organic chewing gums. Avoid using cosmetics that use micro-plastics, buy a biodegradable brush, and wear natural fabrics.