Every day, homes across the country generate tons of waste. From cardboard boxes to packaging materials and food scraps, it’s easy for our trash to accumulate quickly. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to reduce our part in that. Here are just a few simple ways to reduce household waste.
Buy in Bulk
Purchasing items like cereals, snacks, pasta, and other dry goods in bulk reduces the amount of packaging waste created by purchasing these products off the grocery store shelves. Plus, bulk products are often much less expensive and easier to store.
Compost to Reduce Household Waste
Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste in your home. All you need is a compost bin, some soil, and organic materials like food scraps from your kitchen and grass clippings from the yard. Composting helps enrich the soil in your garden and reduces the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills. If you have space in your yard, build a larger compost heap, but if space is limited, there are plenty of small-scale compost options.
Reuse Containers and Bags
When possible, choose reusable containers and bags to store items rather than buy new packaging. You can reuse glass jars, plastic tubs, canvas bags for grocery shopping, and even paper bags. Not only will you be saving the energy used to produce new containers, but you’ll also save for your household.
Recycle to Reduce Household Waste
Recycle any items that can be recycled in your area. This includes paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum. If you don’t have a curbside recycling service in your neighborhood, find a nearby recycling center where you can take materials for processing.
Buy Reusable Products
Look for products that can be reused over and over, such as cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, and reusable shopping bags. Additionally, try to purchase items like beverage containers, plasticware sets, and toys made from durable materials so they don’t have to be replaced as often.
Reduce Food Waste
When grocery shopping, plan your meals and make sure to only purchase what you need. Additionally, take advantage of leftovers by planning meals you can freeze for later. Eating seasonally and locally also reduces the amount of food waste in your home, as food is often transported from far away, creating more waste.
Shop Secondhand to Reduce Household Waste
Shopping secondhand for clothing and other items reduces the number of new materials that need to be produced. It takes energy to create new things, and many of the materials used are made with non-renewable resources. Shopping secondhand also keeps clothing and other items out of landfills as they are reused by others.
Reduce Packaging Waste
Choose products that have minimal packaging or eco-friendly packaging when possible. Additionally, find stores that offer bulk options for items like laundry detergent and dish soap so that less packaging waste is created.
By taking these simple steps, we can do our part to reduce the amount of waste generated in our homes. Not only does it help to protect the environment, but it also saves money and reduces clutter. Implement a few of these ideas this week, and your household will produce less trash.
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