Trash has a huge impact on the planet. Not only the plastics that don’t break down but also the space needed for landfills and the emissions released into the environment. One very simple way to help lower the impact on the planet is to reduce the amount of trash going into landfills. Though it may seem like an easy thing to do, it can get a bit overwhelming when you aren’t sure where to start. Today, we’ll be going over some simple ways to cut back on the trash you’re sending to the landfill.
1) Skip the bottled water
An easy way to reduce the amount of plastic used each day is to avoid one-use water bottles. Instead, grab a reusable one that you can refill throughout the day. Plus it’s always fun to add a sticker or two to personalize.
2) No single-use towels
Items like paper towels, napkins, and tissues can all be replaced with reusable. Even the sponges used to wash dishes can be replaced with washable rags. When the fabric napkins and rags get dirty, throw them in the wash rather than throwing them away.
3) Avoid the one-time cups
Many cups, like the plastic ones and even the paper ones because of the inside lining, aren’t recyclable. Meaning they go straight to the landfills. Instead, bring your own mug that you can use multiple times.
4) Head to the thrift shop
Rather than buying new items every time you want a new shirt, check out the local thrift shop. Not only is this keeping product from heading to the landfill, but it’s also giving new use to an item someone else no longer needed.
5) Skip the plastic bags
When you head to the grocery store, remember to grab those reusable bags. Not only can you get ones for all of your purchases, but you can also get ones specifically for your produce. And when you forget to grab the bags, be sure to bring the plastic ones back to the correct recycling bins.
6) Don’t trash your old clothing
Instead of throwing them out, consider donating the clothing you no longer wear. And those that are in too rough of shape to donate, cut them up into cleaning rags to give them a longer life.
7) Pick the food with less packaging
Don’t grab the produce wrapped in plastic and try to avoid individually wrapped items. Both of these add unneeded waste into the landfills and can be avoided in many cases.
8) Say no to the dryer sheets
An easy way to reduce your waste is to skip the dryer sheets altogether. But if you can’t handle the static cling, consider making your own reusable dryer balls with wool yarn. This will also help reduce the time needed to dry clothing as well.
9) Pick a new toothbrush
Though it isn’t something we’d normally think about, throwing out a plastic toothbrush every six months adds up. When it’s time for you to get a new one consider going for a bamboo option which is easier on the environment.
10) Sign up for paperless
Rather than getting a bill in the mail, sign up to go paperless to avoid excess waste. This can also apply to your receipts. Choose to get them sent to your email rather than getting a paper copy.
11) Use all of the food
One of the biggest contributors to landfills is food. So when you go shopping, pick items you’ll use. And if you find you aren’t going to use it in time, see if you can freeze it to extend the life of the produce.
12) Skip the single-use food containers
When you’re packing your lunches, skip the plastic bags and go with something you can reuse. Whether it’s a Tupperware or reusable bag. You can find reusable sandwich bags online.
13) Avoid buying in bulk
While it can seem like a good idea to buy in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging. It can be a double-edged sword. If you aren’t going to be able to finish the product before it expires or goes bad, then opt to not get the item in bulk.
14) Compost the scraps
There is bound to be some food waste that you can’t avoid. One great way to help reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill is to compost it. Be sure to check out our post on how to compost in an apartment.
15) Opt to recycle properly
Sometimes there is just nothing you can do to reduce the waste. But when you do have items that need to be gotten rid of, be sure to dispose of them correctly and into the correct bin. This will help with contamination and from batches having to be taken to landfills.
There are so many great ways to help reduce the amount of waste going into landfills each day. We’ve hardly covered them all. Let us know which ones you’ve implemented into your daily routine. And which ones are you looking forward to starting soon? Let us know in the comments.
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