With the growing concern over global warming and the movement by many to become environmentally friendly, many people often wonder what they can do to help make their mark in the battle against pollution and waste. While there is no ironclad blueprint of things to do, here is a general list of some things we can all do to make the world a better place to live in.

First, even if your state or territory isn’t that big on recycling, try separating your garbage and recycling yourself. Some states, like Florida, don’t require any kind of deposit on bottles and cans, which means that most of the state doesn’t bother to recycle anything at all. You can help make a difference by recycling bottles, cans and even things like pasta sauce jars or aluminum cans that vegetables come in. Every little bit helps.

Install low flow shower heads in your bathroom to help conserve water every time you bathe. A low flow shower head can make a huge difference over the long term. The same can be said for controlling dripping faucets. If you have a dripping faucet, don’t put off fixing it. Every day you do, you’re wasting water.

Finally, if you have your own washing machine, try to switch to low phosphorus detergents. One of the biggest problems in the environment today is too much soap and phosphorus getting into the water table and making rivers, lakes and streams unusable.