5 Easy Ways to Cut Waste

I must admit, and I’m ashamed to say, I have never really thought about how much of a wasteful person I am … until recently. When my kids were little, it was all about easy. Paper plates. Plastic cups. Fast food. Single use water bottles. With four kids at home, we would easily fill up two large trash cans a week, and sometimes even more. I picked my trash company based on how much trash they would haul off for me. If they only took one can, I would use a different company.

Then, recently I started to become more aware of my habits, and I started researching and learning more about waste and the effects on the earth and felt the weight of overwhelm. So many ways I am failing in this area, so many options and and how can one person make a difference? Well, one person cannot, but many people doing more, can. So, I have been taking baby steps on reducing my waste. Below are 5 easy changes I made in the last year to just begin to make a difference.

Tip 1: Reusable Straws – I know, I know! I’ve heard the jokes! It does not seem like you can make a difference by changing from single use straws to reusable straws, but really, every bit helps! This is so easy and a great place to start! I carry reusable straws in my purse. I use them at restaurants, dine in or takeout, and I use them at home! And honestly…they are so much better to drink from than plastic! I prefer stainless steel, because I love how it gets cold and seems to keep my beverage even colder. But you can also get plastic, silicone, and fun collapsible straws in cute containers you can attach to your key ring!

Tip 2: Reducing Paper Towel Usage – I LOVE paper towels! Prior to COVID-19 and the hoarding and subsequent shortage of paper towels, I used them daily and abundantly! Seriously … I was out of control. Silver lining to COVID-19 is my reduced paper towel usage. I found these 3 easy ways to reduce my use of paper towels:

1) Invest in nice kitchen towels and lots of them … because laundry! You would laugh at how few kitchen towels I had prior to the great paper towel shortage of 2020. Who needs towels when you can use a paper towel?

2) I purchased these European Dish Cloths to wipe down my counters that are easily washed in your dishwasher. I really love these and they keep my counters shiny clean!

3) Use cloth napkins rather than paper napkins for meal time. Bonus: It makes even leftover meatloaf or tacos seem fancy!

Tip 3: Shopping Bags and Reducing Plastic Waste – You may already use reusable grocery bags, but right now, many stores do not allow them due to COVID-19 and the potential spread of the virus. A great alternative is to request paper bags. I have been using paper shopping bags since March and was recently able to reuse the paper bags to wrap birthday presents! Bonus points for upcycling!

AND here is a novel idea … if you forget your bags and your shopping trip is small simply SKIP THE BAG altogether! I recently walked out of Target with a pair of pants, some paint brushes, and a can of soup IN MY HANDS! There is absolutely NO RULE saying you have to carry your products out of the store in a bag! Saving the planet one plastic bag at a time!

Let’s talk Ziploc bags. If you don’t love Ziploc bags, are you even human? Did you know you can get reusable silicone storage bags? They come in all sizes from snack size to gallon size. They are easy to clean and great on the environment!

I have also recently switched to refillable glass containers for my dish soap, hand soap and laundry detergent throughout my house. I refill it with liquid soap packaged in pouches that contain 60% less plastic than a comparably sized plastic bottle. I use Grove Collaborative, but there are many options available!

Tip 4: Reusable Cotton Rounds – I can go through cottonballs and cotton rounds like crazy. Between removing eye makeup and nail polish and applying toner, I can fill my little bathroom trash can pretty quickly with these little gems. Then, for Christmas, my super talented sister made a dozen reusable cotton rounds, actually squares, for me. And I fell in love. But, quickly needed more, so I didn’t have to wash them so quickly. If you haven’t realized yet, I am not a fan of doing laundry. I purchased some on Amazon. (Not as great as my sister’s version, but still good!)

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get mascara out of the white ones, so I prefer using black ones. And it’s smart to keep separate ones for make up and nail polish.

Tip 5: Composting – In landfills, food waste decomposition happens very slowly, and the food releases an abundance of methane gas throughout the process. Deprived of oxygen, the food barely breaks down. Organic matter in landfills doesn’t really decompose. It mummifies. So, what’s one way you can reduce food waste in landfills? Why not compost? I have a small compost bin in my kitchen that I put all organic matter in (egg shells, coffee grounds, vegetable & fruit waste. And, no, it does NOT smell! When the bin only contains organic matter, it won’t stink! Once it is full, I put it in my larger compost bin in my backyard, creating nice soil for my garden!

I recently came across the book, 101 Ways to go Zero Waste, by Kathryn Kellogg in my free library audiobook app. I loved it so much, I bought the paperback version. It has taught this gal that a little bit at a time CAN make a difference.

Whats next for me? I will be taking a look at my clothing and reducing waste by investing in a capsule wardrobe and investment pieces rather than cheap, inexpensive and trendy items that eventually end up in the landfill! I have also been looking at how to upcycle old clothing to be useful again. What do you do with your old clothes?

Share your ideas below on how you reduce your waste in your home!