A Three-Month Report on My Personal Efforts to Reduce Environmental Pollution and the Observed
Results Over the past three months, I have been consistently implementing various eco-friendly habits in my daily life with the goal of reducing environmental pollution. Rather than stopping at good intentions, I kept detailed records and tracked changes to see what measurable effects these actions produced. Although environmental pollution is often discussed on a global scale, I discovered that meaningful progress can still come from small, individual actions. Below is a detailed summary of the activities I undertook over the past three months and the actual environmental benefits I observed.
1. Significant Reduction in Single-Use Plastics — 68% Drop Over Three Months
The first area I focused on was reducing single-use plastics. I utilized a reusable tumbler, carried a shopping bag, and brought my own containers for takeout. I monitored the amount of waste generated monthly, and the figures were clear
Month 1: Approximately 40% reduction
Month 2: Habits stabilized, reaching 60%
Month 3: Maintained consistently, totaling a 68% reduction
As the amount of plastic waste dropped, I found that I needed two fewer $50 \text{L}$ garbage bags each month, and my recycling efficiency improved significantly. Most importantly, I began to understand how much personal plastic consumption contributes to microplastic pollution during the disposal process, which strengthened my motivation to continue.
2. Switching to Public Transportation — 83% Reduction in Driving and Lower CO2 Emissions
My alternative major change involved modifying how I travel.I shifted from driving my car to using public transportation, walking, and biking. I tracked my yearly trip distance and compared it to my former patterns.
Before: About 420 km per month
After: Around 70 km per month
Total Reduction: 83%
This reduction meant I was able to cut over 35 kg of $\text{CO}_2$ emissions each month. This is an unexpectedly significant reduction for just one person.Also, I experienced several unanticipated benefits.
Improved physical fitness from increased walking
Transportation cost savings of about $35–$40 (Assuming currency is USD or change as needed)
Reduced stress from lower time spent driving
These positive changes demonstrated that environmentally friendly choices can also improve overall quality of life.
3. Reducing Food Waste — 52% Less Waste and Noticeable Drop in Odor
Food waste contributes to methane emissions, so I aimed to minimize it through meal planning, buying only what I need, and creatively reusing leftovers.
The results over three months were:
1). 30% reduction in grocery purchases
2). Food waste bags reduced by half (from 4 per month to 2)
3). A more organized refrigerator
4). Significant drop in odors, especially during warm weather
I also used a small home composting caddy for vegetable scraps, which helped cut waste even further. This practice made me realize that unnecessary grocery purchases affect not only the environment but also household finances.
4. Lower Household Electricity Consumption — Average 17% Reduction
To reduce energy consumption, I adopted the following habits
1). Turning off standby power
2). Optimizing the use of automatic temperature controls for heating and cooling
3). Switching to high-efficiency LED lights
Turning off lights immediately in unused rooms
Comparing three months of electric bills showed an average 17% drop in energy consumption. Standby power reduction alone accounted for about 5% of the savings. This not only helped the environment but also lowered monthly charges, making it a sustainable and practical long-term habit.
5. Regular Plogging Activities: Visible Improvements in the Local Environment
Once or twice a week, I practiced plogging — jogging while collecting litter along nearby trails and coasts.
Over three months, I collected roughly $6.3 \text{ kg}$ of trash, mainly cigarette butts, bottles, and plastic wrappers.
But the effects went beyond just picking up litter
1). Local walking paths became noticeably cleaner
2). A small community of people doing similar activities began to form
3). Neighbors became more conscious of littering
Most importantly, I saw a clear reduction in scattered litter compared to three months prior, proving the impact of consistent, community-driven action.
6. What These Three Months Have Taught Me
The biggest lesson from these three months is simple
“Environmental protection doesn't require drastic action. It begins with small changes to daily habits.”
Every practice I adopted was easy, simple, and cost-effective. Yet, those small changes resulted in meaningful and measurable outcomes
1). Large reduction in single-use plastics
2). Major drop in carbon emissions
3). Food waste cut by nearly half
4). Noticeable savings in electricity
5). Cleaner local surroundings
