IELTS Speaking · 16

Yes, I try to do a few simple things at home to help the environment. I separate my rubbish into recycling and general waste, and I always switch off lights and appliances when I leave a room. I'm quite careful with water too, so I take shorter showers and turn off the tap while brushing my teeth. My parents taught me these habits when I was little, especially saving electricity, because they were keen to cut the bills. Over time it just became second nature, and now I feel a bit guilty if I waste anything at home.

The environmental habit I'm most proud of is composting all of our kitchen waste at home. Instead of throwing fruit peels, vegetable scraps and coffee grounds into the bin, we collect them in a small container and put them into a compost heap in the garden. I do this every single day, usually after cooking dinner, and it has become a completely natural part of my routine. I started doing it about two years ago, when I read an article explaining how much food waste ends up in landfill and how it produces harmful gases. I was honestly shocked, so I decided to make a change immediately. At first it felt a little messy and inconvenient, but I bought a sealed container to stop any smell, and after a few weeks it became effortless. The reason I'm proud of this habit is that it makes a real, visible difference. We've cut the amount of rubbish we throw out by almost half, and the compost we produce makes our soil incredibly rich. My tomatoes and herbs grow much better now, which feels really rewarding. More importantly, it has encouraged my younger brother to care about waste too, so the habit is spreading. It's a small action, but I genuinely believe small actions add up.

I think many people struggle because eco-friendly habits often seem inconvenient or expensive, and busy lifestyles leave little time to change routines. Governments could help by offering incentives, like cheaper recycling services or rebates for energy-saving appliances, and by running clear awareness campaigns. Personally, I believe individual actions do matter, because when millions of households cut waste or save energy, the combined impact is enormous, and it also pressures companies to act. In the future, I expect smart technology will make it easier, with devices automatically reducing energy use, so being green will feel effortless rather than like a sacrifice.