7 Most Effective Tactics to Reduce Waste at Home

In an age where taking care of the planet seems more important than ever, many people are looking for ways to do their part. However, between the highly curated zero waste blogs and the expensive knickknacks sold in health food stores, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. Luckily, being kind to the planet doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, being more eco-conscious can actually save you money! Here are 7 effective and simple tips by Paul’s Rubbish Removal to help you reduce your household waste.

Plan your meals

It’s incredible easy to fill your undercounter refrigerator with food during the weekend, only to find yourself eating and take-out at the end of each busy workday. Next thing you know, a good amount of production has rotted, and you have to throw it out. Not only does this result in money going to waste, but it can cause you to eat a less healthy diet.

To combat this, be honest with yourself. Before you buy something, make sure you have a plan to eat it, and don’t buy more than you think you can eat. Creating a meal plan and sticking to only buying the ingredients you need for those dishes will help to keep you on track. Finally, if you find yourself too tired to cook during the workweek, make sure to prep all your food during the weekend. Your future self will thank you.

DIY your cleaning supplies

You’d be surprised how much you can get done with a jug of white vinegar and some baking soda. There are many books and online sources that can help you to create an eco-friendly arsenal of cleaning products for every purpose under the sun. These products have the added benefit of being much cheaper than any brand name cleaners in store, and completely non-toxic.

Buy second hand

With so many incredible second-hand, vintage, and thrift stores, there’s no need to purchase things new. From clothing to toys, and plates to electronics, there’s a way to find pretty much everything second hand. By buying pre-loved items, you are doing the earth a favor by not contributing to the waste and energy that goes into creating a new item. If you are not used to the idea of owning something second hand, remember this: clothing can be washed and everything else can be sanitized.

Say goodbye to liquid soap

Unlike liquid soaps, which come in plastic pump bottles, many brands of bar soap come in paper packaging, or are sold without any packaging at all. Found in many grocery stores and health food shops, bar soaps tend to be cheap and last a very long time. If you a partial to liquid soap and can’t imagine making the change, consider purchasing reusable pumps and buying liquid soap in bulk. You can purchase large jugs of liquid soap at most health food stores.

Bring your own bag

Whether they’re old plastic bags, bags crafted from t-shirts, or a fabric bag purchased from a store, bringing your own bags when going shopping helps reduce the amount of plastic introduced to the environment. To ensure you remember to bring them, leave a couple in your car or purse. Many can fold up to be very small, and they don’t take up much space. This way, you’ll always have a bag on you when you need it.

Tupperware over Take-out containers

Sometimes, it’s nice to go out to a restaurant to eat. You don’t have to wash the dishes, and the portions are large. Rather than accepting the Styrofoam or plastic containers offered to you by the restaurant, bring a couple Tupperware containers from home and fill those up instead.

Ask for less

For families with children, it can be scarily easy to find your house overrun with piles of toys and clothes you children don’t even enjoy. Between birthday, holidays, and doting relatives, children can accumulate an astounding amount of STUFF. To combat this, respectfully ask for a gift alternative, such as having relatives spend quality time with your child instead of purchasing them a gift, or having them donate to the child’s charity of choice.

Conclusion

There are many ways to reduce your household waste, and these 7 tips are a great way to start. While it can be difficult to change, keep in mind that even the smallest amount of effort will make a difference. By making small changes to your daily routine, you can be kinder to yourself, kinder to your wallet, and kinder to the planet.