Waste seems to be that never-ending thing that just never stops piling up. It seems as though every time I turn around, there is more trash for me to clean up! After all, pretty much every product you buy these days has SOME type of paper or plastic that you’ll have to dispose of.
While waste is inevitable, there are steps you can implement to help you cut down on how much garbage your household produces. Below is a list of 4 EASY ways you can reduce waste in your home!
Use a reusable bottle / cup for beverages on the go
You may already own a reusable bottle…but is it something you use regularly? Or do you opt for plastic bottles or purchase more expensive beverages while you’re out and about? By taking your own water with yo while you’re out will not only help you reduce waste, but also may save you some money along the way.
Use reusable grocery bags – and NOT just for groceries!
Many think to use their reusable bags for their groceries, but don’t think about using them for ALL their shopping excursions. Next time you go to go thrift shopping, or take a trip to the mall – consider bringing your reusable bags with you. (Pro Tip: keep your bags in the backseat or the trunk so you don’t have to remember to grab them everytime!)
Buy items secondhand and donate old items
Next time you need something, consider checking out your local thrift store or facebook marketplace instead of buying it new! Not only will this save you money, but it will also benefit your local community AND keep items from ending up in the dump. Donating your old items to your local thrift stores also helps keep those items from ending up in the dump.
Reduce unwanted mail
Your mailbox is a GREAT place to start to reduce waste in your home. You can begin by opting into online billing for all your bills (many business offer discounts or incentives for going “paperless”!). If you have magazine subscriptions, consider looking into if they have a digital copy you can subscribe to instead. Digital copies are often cheaper than the physical copies, as well!
Waste accumulation is a constant issue, with everyday products contributing to the problem. However, there are simple strategies to reduce household waste in your home. Following the above steps will not only make a difference in the amount of waste your home produces, but will also help the environment in the long run (and may save you some money along the way!)