Most of the waste produced in your home ends up in landfills. Unfortunately, landfills are one of the biggest threats to our environment. They emit greenhouse gases and other harmful toxins into the atmosphere, pollute water sources, and destroy wildlife habitats. A good first step to conserving the environment is reducing the amount of trash in landfills. Below are five simple ways to reduce household waste.
Avoid Single-Use Drink and Food Utensils
Avoid disposable coffee cups, containers, napkins, and straws. When going out to buy coffee, bring a travel mug from home. Also, keep a plate, cup, bowl, and a set of silverware at the office, so you don’t have to use disposable utensils and plates. Avoid straws altogether when having your drinks. And if you must use straws, go for the reusable ones.
Remember, most single-use utensils are plastic, and their destination is in a landfill, even if you have used them once. Minimizing your use of these products will have a significant impact.
Reduce Household Waste with Separate Bins
If you have bulbs or batteries to recycle, put them in a separate bin until you decide how to deal with them. That way, you’ll not mix these items with your other household trash.
Besides, having a separate bin means you can deal with all questionable items in one round instead of disposing of them one by one.
Use Reusable Bags for Your Shopping
Instead of using plastic or paper for your shopping, choose reusable cloth or woven bags. Keep several reusable bags in your car so you always have some available. Over time, you’ll find that plastics and paper are a thing of the past as far as shopping goes.
Plan Your Meals
Make a meal plan before you go shopping and you’ll be less likely to buy excess items that end up in the trash can. You’ll have everything you need in advance, so you don’t have to make several trips to the grocery store. When you buy food, make it a habit to check the expiration dates and finish off everything before it goes bad.
Start Composting to Reduce Household Waste
Did you know that much of the food waste in your home is compostable and doesn’t have to end in the trash can? This includes eggshells, fruit peels, tea bags, coffee grounds, and nutshells. When done properly, composting will eventually give you a pure organic fertilizer to use in your garden.
These are just some of the ways you can reduce household waste while also helping the environment.
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