By Lindsey Shay | Contributor
Every day in our homes, we create more waste than meets the eye. Most of our daily habits inherently produce waste that eventually end up in our already overflown landfills. Fear not – there are small steps you can take to reduce your waste output drastically.
Shop with reusable bags. Using reusable grocery bags for your grocery store runs reduces the numbers of plastic bags riddling our landfills drastically.
It is estimated that with ONE reusable grocery bag, you replace upwards of 500 single-use plastic bags.
Ditch the disposables. As incredibly convenient as plastic wrap, tin foil, paper towels and plastic zip bags may be, they create a lot of waste. In place of tinfoil or parchment paper, try using silicone baking mats. When cleaning, swap out paper towels and single-use wipes for microfiber cloths you can wash and reuse time and time again. Using reusable lunch containers and washable snack bags will keep your food just as fresh and will minimize the amount of trash coming from your household on a day-to-day basis.
Bulk up! Instead of single-use smaller items – such as snack packs, coffee pods, and plasticware – buy in bulk, saving both your money and the environment.
Reduce food waste. Meal prepping and paying close attention the expiration dates on your food can help reduce the amount of food that gets tossed at the end of the week. Moreover, at-home composting bins have become readily available and are super easy to use. Composting transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich soil.
Give your unwanted items a second chance. Second-hand stores can help you sell that blender you never use, the clothes your family no longer wears, and that artwork collecting dust in the attic. Or, donate your old clothing and household items to your favorite charitable organization.
Go paperless. Paper statements not only riddle our mailboxes, but eventually our landfills too. Paying your bills can be easier, faster, and completely paper-free. Bonus: You can set up auto-payments so you’ll never forget to pay a bill on time.
By making these small changes, you can play a big part of reducing waste in our environment.
