You might not be an environmentalist or ready to join Greenpeace, but every one of us could stand to be a little greener. It isn’t that difficult to make some small changes in our lives that can have a big impact on the environment. Things you may not have even thought about can make a big difference in the world.

For example, when you go shopping, do you think about the packaging of the brands that you are using? Plastic is a material that doesn’t break down, even after thousands of years. Every day, tons of plastic waste is tossed into dumps, so the more we can reuse and recycle, the better. Look for the little triple arrow symbol on the bottom of your plastic containers to see which ones are made from recycled goods and try to support the companies that offer recycling.

Also, you can aim to lessen the environmental impact of your garbage by choosing products that come with a minimum amount of plastic. Some items such as crackers come in individual packets within a larger packet, meaning you are using two different packages. This is really a waste and if you don’t actually need to use the individual packets, opt for a box of crackers instead, with less packaging.

Simply recycling everyday packages can have a major impact on the environment as well. Your cans and bottles are all recyclable. In many areas of the country now, you can simply put all your recyclable items in a blue recycling box and it will be picked up from the curb. Or you could turn your cans and bottles in for a cash refund at a recycling center.

What do you do with your old magazines? Throw them out? They could be used again! Instead of burning them or filling up a trashbag, why not set up a magazine swap and trade magazines with neighbors or friends? If you don’t want to go through the trouble, you could also donate the magazines to your local library where they will be enjoyed by a number of people before being thrown out, which is far better.

Another easy way to make things easier on the environment is to reuse your containers. Yogurt, ice cream and cottage cheese tubs are all perfect for storing leftovers or small toys and craft items. Just wash them out thoroughly before using. This eliminates the need to buy Tupperware or other expensive plastic containers and gives these food containers a second life before being passed on to the dump.

Going green only requires minor changes. There’s no necessity to become a rabid evangelist for the cause, but if you want to try and live a little more eco-friendly, you can do it without going crazy.