How one Superhost is becoming more eco-friendly

The word “sustainable” seems so daunting. But it really isn't.

I've just adopted everyday practices that any normal person can take on. Composting is a sustainable habit that probably comes to mind for many people. If you can do it, great! But I don't do that. There are plenty of easy and budget-friendly ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Dryer balls have saved me 10 to 15 minutes a load—it’s a big deal when I have back-to-back bookings. Not only do they reduce energy consumption, but they're a more environmentally-friendly reusable option over single-use dryer sheets. Both reasons end up saving you money.

I use a lot of vintage pieces. Why buy a mass-produced new item when there are plenty of unique, reusable items out there that are better made and have more character? Just recovering a chair cushion or adding a new shade to a lamp collecting dust in your garage makes a big difference.

We’re surrounded by agriculture, so I love giving guests fruits and vegetables from local farmers. It helps support our community, lightens our carbon footprint by shopping locally, and raises our guests' awareness of the abundance that Oxnard, California, has to offer.

The Beach Lodge is two blocks from a farmer’s market and a five-minute car ride from farm stands, so I leave reusable bags for guests to use while they’re out shopping.

We are 50 steps from a top-rated clean beach. Unfortunately, more and more new beach-goers are leaving trash that ends up polluting the ocean. I want to make sure people staying at our house aren’t adding to that. That's why we provide reusable cups and storage containers.

You see a lot of Hosts upping their game by providing wine—but I think sustainable hosting is another way of providing a special touch. Choosing environmentally-friendly practices will not only be good for the planet, but it can also promote sustainability with your guests.

We're trying to balance things. While we're reducing our paper use with cloth towels, we still leave a roll of paper towels to give guests a choice. However, we make sure both paper towels and toilet paper are made of bamboo, recycled paper, or PEFC-certified paper.

Sustainable trash bags are great in theory, but my research has found that plant-based bags tend to leak and rip from certain trash. I can't risk doing that with guests because I don't know what they're putting in the trash. Our kitchen is on the third floor, so I’d hate for the bags to fall apart before a guest makes it to the bins on the ground floor. Although the biodegradable trash bags don’t work for my situation, it’s great if you can make it work.

Guests often leave unopened food that can be donated to local food banks. It's an easy way to help those in need in your community. Yeah, you have to drive it to the food bank, but look at the positive impact it can have.

My goal this year is to show my Instagram followers all this stuff is doable—and it's sustainable. Hopefully, not only will incoming guests appreciate the thought behind our sustainable practices, but Hosts who are following us will also understand the impact sustainability can make in their homes.

NEXT: How Hosts on Airbnb are making their homes more sustainable

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