Reducing the carbon footprint is not as painful as it might sound. Carbon is one of the most common elements, but by watching how we are using our environment, and what we are throwing away can help immensely with the footprint that we are adding to the earth. Cutting down on driving, or carpooling with others, reducing the number of cars on the road would help with emissions.
Reusing items instead of throwing them away. Even something as eating a cleaner diet, going with more natural options such as fruits and vegetables, and eating what is in season will help with the carbon dioxide that is continually released into the air.
Recycling is a really big one! The United States, China, and some of the larger countries tend to use things less than they are intended for. Plastics can be washed and reused. Paper can be recycled to be made into something else. Glass and plastic items once they are past their usefulness can be recycled according to the laws of your state to be remade into new products.
All of these can reduce the amount of garbage that is left in landfills. Doing some research online can lead to some very useful and insightful tips on reducing the carbon footprint that your household emits. Pets also emit carbon footprints. Researching into their foods and litters can reduce these emissions as well.