How to Reduce Your Waste at Home
Are you aware of how much waste your household generates? As you may already know, trash can be a huge problem. You will find them overflowing our landfills, contaminating our water resources, harming our wildlife, and polluting our air. To do our part in protecting the planet, our health, and natural resources for future generations, what we can do is to start reducing waste at home.
Fret not, you don’t need to make overly drastic changes. Start with small steps until you build them into sustainable habits with these tips. Get your family on board, too!
Swap disposable plastic items for reusable alternatives.
Did you know that 79% of our plastic waste is just sitting in landfills and then polluting our natural environment? This includes straws, water bottles, bottle caps, and grocery bags. According to UNEP, one million plastic drinking bottles are being bought every minute, and 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used every year.
It was also mentioned that the amount of plastic waste we have accumulated is now equal to the entire human population. So, now more than ever, we should start reducing waste at home.
Instead of using disposable plastic straws, consider switching to reusable alternatives. Jungle Straws are handcrafted zero-waste straws made from bamboo. These are completely biodegradable and organic. Jungle Straws are customizable too, which makes them a great gift idea!
The next switch that you can make is replacing single-use plastic water bottles with a food-grade stainless steel water bottle. S’well has a triple layer vacuum insulation design that can keep your drink hot or cold for hours. You can choose from three sizes, 12oz, 16oz, and 20z, depending on your needs. S’well also comes in different fun colors and designs.
As for plastic grocery bags, you can replace them with reusable grocery bags. Ecobags offer shopping bags, produce bags, and string bags that may be made from natural cotton, 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, or recycled items. Use it for shopping, buying produce, or even carrying regular items that you need to transport. To reuse, just hand wash, then allow to dry.
Switch to eco-friendly personal care products.
When it comes to beauty, skin care, and personal care products, it’s hard not to associate them with single-use products such as facial tissue, toilet paper, cotton rounds, and sanitary pads, to name a few.
Facial tissues, along with toilet papers and cotton rounds, not only fill our landfills. These also take a lot of resources to make. Additionally, producing cotton rounds use pesticides that add up to environmental pollution.
So, what can you do to reduce waste from disposable personal care products? First, swap out facial tissues for handkerchiefs, which are more sustainable replacements. You probably already have a few at home. If not, consider getting organic cotton handkerchiefs. The Organic Handkerchiefs Company’s products are handmade and free from toxic chemicals. It’s best to reserve disposable ones for when you or a family member is sick.
For toilet paper, you might want to consider switching to using a bidet instead. It’s not only more hygienic, but it will also reduce skin irritations from toilet paper. Bidets are also eco-friendly, as these use less water compared to the amount of water needed to produce paper products.
For skincare, use organic cotton reusable rounds for the face. LastRound functions just like your regular cotton round, and it’s also very soft. It’s plant-based, and every pack contains 7 rounds that are very easy to clean and reuse.
When it’s that time of the month, say goodbye to disposable pads, and say hello to Period Aisle. Choose from mini, maxi, and super pads for your period needs. Their maxi pad is made with breathable cotton that has a capacity of up to 4 tampons. It’s comfortable and is great for days with heavy flow.
Give away items you don’t need anymore.
I firmly believe that waste does not only refer to disposables and trash. If you have extra items at home that are usable but are not serving their purpose, consider giving them away as donations to people or charities who can give those items a new purpose.
For instance, you might have pieces of clothing that have been lying in your closet for ages. It’s time to consider decluttering. To help you out, one of the golden rules of decluttering is to let go of items that you have not used for a year.
Start reducing waste at home.
There are so many ways for you to start reducing waste at home. You can start by focusing on one part of the house— perhaps the most waste-generating one. Remember that waste reduction is a journey, not a race. Starting with small simple steps will yield great results. Your health and the planet will thank you for it!