Reducing Household Waste and Helping the Environment

Reducing household waste is everyone's responsibility. By reducing waste, you'll reduce your environmental impact, influence the people around you to do the same and improve the planet as a whole.

 

Here are a few ways you can quickly cut down your household waste.

 

Compost Instead of Throwing Out Foods

 

Did you know that compostable foods account for as much as 25% of our solid waste?

 

Instead of throwing away those carrot peels and orange peels, learn to compost them. It's not difficult. All you need to do is save up your compostable foods in a separate bin, then throw them into the dirt to compost.

 

It'll enrich your soil while simultaneously reducing your waste.

 

Bring Your Own Bags and Cups

 

Whenever you go shopping, bring your own bag(s) to avoid having to use a plastic bag. If you get your whole family in the habit of doing this, you'll save over a hundred plastic bags per year.

 

When you go out for coffee, make it a habit to bring your own cup. Often times coffee shops will even give you a discount or a larger portion if you bring your own cup.

 

If you swing by Starbucks every morning, that's 30 cups a month, 365 cups a year that you're saving the environment.

 

Buy Recyclable and Recycle

 

Check to see if the products you're buying are made out of recyclable materials before you buy them. If there's a choice between buying recyclable and non-recyclable, go with the recyclable materials every time.

 

Set up your own recycling bin and make sure your neighborhood recycles. If they don't, see what you can do about getting a recycling program set up.

 

Buy Whole Foods

 

Instead of buying pre-packaged foods, opt to buy whole foods instead.

 

For example, instead of buying canned tomatoes, buy whole tomatoes. You instantly save yourself a can.

 

Avoid canned fish, pre-packaged mushrooms, fruit packages, etc. and opt for their whole food counterparts instead.

 

Donate or Sell Old Stuff

 

Instead of throwing out things that have been collecting dust, make it a habit of donating them or selling them off.

 

Something that you might have no interest in anymore may be worth something to someone else at a garage sale or on eBay. 

 

If you have things that aren't really suitable for sale, donate them to Goodwill or your local charity instead.

 

Buy in Large Quantities

 

A lot of things in the household will take less packaging if you buy in larger quantities.

 

For example, instead of buying many containers of small detergent boxes, buy one big box.

 

Whenever you see a choice between buying bigger or smaller, try to pick the bigger (provided that you will eventually use it all). You'll also usually be paying less per ounce.

 

These are a few of the many ways you can reduce your household waste and help the environment. Remember: the environment is everyone's responsibility. By reducing your waste, you're doing your part to help the planet.