By Cindy Soler, Edited by Rachel Petersen
As more and more headlines speak to the growing climate crisis, we’re often left wondering, “what am I supposed to do?” With the whirlwind of information on the effect of rising temperatures on a global scale, little information is shared on what consumers can do in order to curb their carbon footprint.

One of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions is fast fashion, the practice of mass-market retailers rapidly producing clothing in response to constantly evolving trends. With the pressure to continuously update your closet, older items quickly become forgotten and discarded, eventually destined for landfills. The average person throws away about 70 pounds of clothing per year, which adds up to 21 billion pounds of clothing waste annually when, in reality, nearly all textiles are recyclable. Recycling used clothing helps curb the enormous waste footprint left by unused garments.
Shopping second hand gives new life to clothing destined for landfills, reduces the number of resources and emissions used on making new garments and minimizes the strain on precious resources. Hanover Flea Market is home to booths offering one-of-a-kind and second-hand items. You’ll be doing your part while shopping, even though it may seem small, to keep the earth a greener and healthier place. You may even find the perfect sweater for next week’s dinner.