8 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste at Home

Earth Day is this coming Tuesday, April 22nd, and it always gets me thinking about how Jake and I can reduce our impact on the planet. In my opinion, the best place to start is in our home! There are so many things in your day-to-day life that you may not think about when it comes to waste that is produced at home. My goal is to get us into habits that are better for us and better for the environment. So, in celebration of Earth Day, I want to share 8 ways you can reduce waste at home too!

Switch to Reusable Grocery and Produce Bags

We have tons of reusable grocery bags in our pantry, and a few years ago, I bought reusable produce bags as well! This is the most straightforward swap of them all; the only trick is to get into the habit of remembering them when you go to the store! I like to keep at least one in the back seat of each of our cars. They’re great for things other than groceries as well. I bring mine to the craft store and the thrift store! We also use them to pack various stuff if we go camping! So versatile and a great swap!

Switch to Reusable Water Bottles and Coffee Cups

I can’t remember the last time I bought a bottle of water. It’s the habit I have been able to stick with the most when it comes to reducing waste. I always have my reusable tumbler or water bottle with me in the car or at work. A lot of places are getting water bottle filling stations too, which is excellent. When it comes to coffee cups, I usually just make a cuppa at home to take with me, but I believe that most coffee shops will allow you to use your reusable cup when ordering your favorite beverages!

Buy in Bulk

We only recently discovered the delights of the bulk bins at our local WinCo. They have everything from nuts, seeds, beans, and dried fruit to cereals, pasta, every kind of flour you could need, and even spices! They offer plastic bags for you to fill, but you could easily bring a container or bag or reuse an old one from before. You’re paying by the pound, and I know some places will take into consideration how much a jar weighs, so it would be good to have this information with you!

Buying in bulk helps you reduce how much plastic you’re bringing into your home and helps you control how much you are buying. You’ll also save some money as the cost for bulk goods is lower than that of its prepackaged counterparts. I encourage you to check out the bulk bins at your local grocery store!

Opt into Paperless Billing, E-Subscriptions, & Opt out of Junk Mailing

How often have you gotten your mail, and most of it is junk mail? You bring it in and end up recycling most of it. But, did you know there are ways to opt out of getting junk mail? I also recommend opting into paperless billing for as much as you can and also turn to e-subscriptions of your favorite publications to reduce the waste coming into your home!

Buy Secondhand & Repair What You Can

The fast fashion industry is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions, textile waste, and about 20% of global wastewater.* The average US consumer throws away 81.5 lbs of clothes every year.* In a society that encourages you to overconsume to always have the next best thing, this is having a devastating impact on our planet. While I believe buying less is the best way to combat these effects, I also love the idea of giving secondhand items a new life. Thrifting has always been something I love to do!

I’m also a big fan of repairing items of clothing I already own. Buttons are easy to reattach, and there are tons of resources online to teach you basic stitches to repair holes and such. This article from Sew4Home gives a bunch of info on hand sewing basics!

*SOURCE*: Earth.org

Avoid Produce Wrapped in Plastic

This is pretty straightforward: opt for the loose produce at the grocery store instead of prepackaged. Be sure to also give the “last chance” veggie section at your grocery store a browse. These “ugly” vegetables are cheaper, and you’re saving them from getting thrown in the landfill. Better yet, head to the farmers market or join a local CSA. This not only supports local farmers, but you’re putting money back into the local economy instead of a corporation.

Master Meal Planning

Meal planning is the best way to prevent you from over buying groceries thus cutting down on your food waste. In the US alone, approximately 60 million tons of food is wasted every year. When it eventually ends up in landfills, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Mastering meal planning is a great way to reduce your food waste at home but it will also end up saving you money in the long run! Below is a free download of a simple weekly meal planner to make things easy for you!

Weekly Meal Planner Download

Eat More Plants

Now I’m not saying you need to go totally vegan but adding more vegetables and plant-based protiens to your diet never hurt anyone. Consider a meatless Monday for your family. Plant-based meals can be really satisfying, and there are tons of blogs out there for inspiration as well! One of my favorites is called Love & Lemons!

8 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste at Home

8 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste at Home

Switch to Reusable Grocery and Produce Bags