Reduce Household Waste (Part 1)

Susan Gentry

Avoid Plastic Bottles

By adding a filter to your refrigerator or your drinking water, you’ll greatly reduce the number of plastic bottles you use.  You’ll also consume far cleaner water, because it will be free from the contaminants that leech in from the plastic.  And, best of all, you won’t have to separate your garbage and recycle as much.

Avoid Plastic Bags

Many stores offer paper bags instead of plastic ones.  These are biodegradable and they have many household uses.  Remember when we used to cover our text books with them?  Our children and pets can play with them without fear of suffocation.  They make excellent fire tinder for your indoor or outdoor fireplace (also for when you go camping).  

The other plastic alternative is a reusable shopping bag.  Most retailers offer these.  Some even offer a discount for using them.  You simply purchase them once and then bring them with you each time you shop.  By reusing these bags for every trip you save on the amount of bags you have to throw away at home.

Recycle Used Electronics and Computers

One of the biggest problems our landfills face is the disposal of electronics and computers.  These are difficult to repurpose at home, so we tend to throw them away when they no longer work.  A better solution is to find an electronics recycling center near you.  These facilities are equipped to break down your used electronics into raw materials.  Then they can recycle the plastic, glass, and metals instead of burying them in a landfill.

Buy Used Items Instead of New Ones Whenever You Can

When you buy something used, you are extending the life of the item.  By using things longer, we can reduce the amount of materials that are thrown away.  Try shopping on eBay and Craig’s List for things that you can repurpose or restore.  It can be a fun hobby and it will extend the life of something used.

Donate or Give Away Items You Don’t Want or Use

Instead of throwing away the things you don’t want or need, why not donate them?  By giving them away to someone who will use them, you can extend the life of these items.  Also, when you donate things to organizations like Goodwill, they will often recycle what they can’t sell.

Replace Disposable Items with Reusable Items

Try to see how often you can replace a disposable item with a reusable one.  When you use mason jars for cups, terra-cotta flower pots, and stainless steel sports bottles you are helping to reduce the amount of throw-away items in your garbage.  

Spend a Little More for Quality, Long-Lasting Products

Consider the lifespan of the products you purchase before you buy them.  In our haste to find the cheapest price for the things we buy, we often settle for lesser quality.  This means that our things wear out faster and end up in the garbage.  The next time you purchase something consider paying a little more for higher quality, especially if it lasts longer.

Cook at Home

For years we have been discovering the huge savings of cooking at home.  However, it isn’t only easier on your wallet, but it’s also easier on your garbage can.  When we cook at home, we save ourselves from having to dispose of all the styrofoam and plastic containers that come with take-out food.  We’re also more likely to eat our leftovers, because we’ve invested not only money, but time and effort in creating them.

Plant a Garden and Use Composted Organic Waste

Planting a garden is rewarding on many levels.  It provides hours of relaxing hobby time and produces fresh food for you to enjoy.  It also provides the opportunity to make use of composted waste created by cooking at home.  The fertilizing value of properly composted waste combined with the reduction of garbage on your curb can make a serious dent in the amount of household waste you produce.

Maintain Your Vehicle Properly

Owning a motor vehicle is a great responsibility, not only on the road, but also in the garage.  By properly maintaining your vehicle through regular oil changes, coolant regulation and exhaust monitoring, you can greatly reduce the total emissions produced by your car or truck.  This helps the environment, increases the life of your vehicle, and reduces the amount of cars in your local junkyard.