PEORIA MAGAZINE June 2023

they used it, it will also do a small part in my garden. Having the compost bin already started has also been an advantage. I’m quickly learning all about what can be composted. Also startling is finding out what can’t be composted and how much I use of those materials in my everyday life, like glossy papers and wrappers. INDOOR SUSTAINABILITY In this quest to live more sustainably, I phased out disposable napkins and plates in favor of real dishes and cloth napkins. A small change, but I was going through more paper napkins than one small person deserved in a lifetime. I’ve also consciously used real towels instead of paper towels. In addition, I try to keep up with the

usual things: Only keep the water on while I’m actively washing my hands or brushing my teeth, turn the lights out in rooms I’m not using, take shorter showers, and switch to LED lightbulbs.

and ruthlessly scrubbing stickers off of bottles. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I’M CARING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MY PARENTS HAVE CARED ABOUT FOR YEARS It’s very simple and my efforts are small, but I’m excited to see the sus tainability of my home and my garden grow. Maybe turning into my parents and caring about my new home isn’t so bad after all. Katie Faley is a Peoria native – Notre Dame High, Class of 2013 — who moved away following college but returned with a fuller appreciation of her hometown. She works at OSF HealthCare

It saves money and the planet. MY EFFORTS ARE SMALL, BUT I’M EXCITED TO SEE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MY HOME AND MY GARDEN GROW

And most importantly, I indulge in the small fee and recycle every other week. I try to pay close attention to what can be recycled. I try to recycle absolutely everything that can possibly be recycled, which sometimes means taking tiny little staples out of miscellaneous mail

JUNE 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 83