Part of living like we give a damn is reducing our own impact. As our planet is facing environmental challenges, it is essential to make changes in our daily habits, and reducing waste is a great place to start.
By adopting a few simple habits, reducing your waste can be cost-effective and can have a positive impact on the environment.
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A List of 10 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Waste at Home & Live More Sustainably
Here are ten easy ways to reduce waste and encourage you to live more sustainably.
Avoid Single Use Items
Single-use items like tissue papers, plastic wrap, and disposable plates can be easily avoided. Choosing reusable alternatives like cloth napkins, beeswax wraps, and reusable plates and utensils can make a big impact.
Join Buy Nothing Groups
Consider joining a Buy Nothing group for your neighborhood. This helps unwanted items find a new home instead of ending up in a landfill. Plus, it’s a great way to save money and look for new items for your home!
Compost
Food scraps, paper products, and yard waste can be composted instead of being thrown away, reducing waste and providing your plants with the nourishment they need.
I know everyones ability to compost depends on where they live. There are a few different options worth looking into such as backyard compost, city composting services, and indoor compost machines.
Indoor compost machines are great for people who live in small spaces. When I was living in an apartment I used the FoodCycler and LOVED it!
Backyard composting is a good option for people who have a good amount of space and time. And city composting services can be hard to find, but make composting easy.
I’m lucky to live in an area with city composting services. They pick up our compost curbside along with our trash. You can also look for other third party services that pick up compost!
Choose Refillable Products
If you’re able to choose refillable soaps, cleaning supplies, or food options, this is a great way to reduce packaging waste. You might even consider looking for zero waste stores in your neighborhood. These stores usually allow you the opportunity to purchase in bulk and refill.
Grow Your Own Herbs
Herbs are often sold in plastic packaging. To reduce this consider growing your own! This can be a fun activity to do with kids too! You can grow herbs indoors or outdoors.
Learn to Sew
Sewing is a great skill to have for sustainable living. You can easily pick up sewing by watching some YouTube videos. With these skills you can repair your clothes, linens, and other items around the house. This will extend the life of your possessions while reducing waste.
Avoid Plastic Food Packaging
A lot of our food comes in plastic packaging. Produce is usually wrapped in plastic bags or containers. Spices come in plastic bottles.
If you’re able to take your own produce bags or shop at the local farmers market, these can be ways to reduce packaging.
If you’re given the option to purchase bulk spices or spices that come in a glass bottle, this can be smart too! Plastic is not only bad for the environment, but can also leach into our food.
Switch to Zero Waste Bathroom Products
When we think of our bathroom routines, there can be a lot of plastic waste associated with this. Think of shampoo bottles, soap bottles, and other products wrapped in plastic. Consider explore zero waste shampoo bars, bar soap, and other sustainable swaps to reduce the amount of plastic in your bathroom.
Limit Food Waste
Plan your meals in advance and buy only what you need. When meal planning each week I try to choose a few recipes with similar ingredients, so I am able to purchase my produce mindfully and use it all before it goes bad.
Also, be sure to keep leftovers and eat later! This helps reduce food waste AND saves money on meals.
Say No to Plastic Bags
Invest in reusable shopping bags made of canvas, jute, or other materials. Carry them with you whenever you go shopping for groceries or other essentials. This will reduce the amount of plastic bags you have to throw away.
Reducing waste in your home is not that hard, but it requires a change in mindset. By adopting a few simple habits, you can make a difference in the world and live a sustainable lifestyle.
These ten easy ways to reduce waste in your home can help you be more mindful of your environmental impact and contribute to a healthier planet. Every little bit counts, so start today and make a difference!