33 Ways to Reduce Waste in Your Home

Over the last few years, we’ve seen a substantial push towards renewable energy and recycling. The idea is to reduce CO emissions and avoid damage to the environment – a noble cause.

People have taken to keeping and/or reusing certain things (i.e. plastic bottles, aluminum cans, etc.) and preventing the accumulation of waste. This is something that is particularly great for reducing waste at home.

With that in mind, let’s look at ways to reduce waste at home.

30 EASY WAYS REDUCE YOUR WASTE | My Top Tips & Hacks For Beginners!

Why Should I Reduce My Waste?

Landfills emit greenhouse gasses, poison groundwater, and contaminate the surrounding soil. There are countless statistics about plastic in the ocean and how it’s destroying wildlife.

We’re constantly reminded that we’re running out of vital resources, but we keep producing at larger and larger rates. But the most important reason: it’s better for you.

You’ll be saving money, you’ll be learning new skills, you’ll know exactly what’s going into your body, and as a bonus – you don’t have to take the trash out as often.

People who focus on experiences rather than things live happier, more fulfilled lives.

You’ll eat healthier, you’ll be happier, and you can pat yourself on the back for helping out the sea turtles.

Reduce, Reuse, Re-purpose, Recycle, Refuse

Reduce

Reduce means that you buy products with less packaging.

For example, instead of buying the boxed cereal with the plastic liner, you buy the pre packaged cereal that is only in the plastic bag.

It can also be not putting your produce in a plastic produce bag at the store. Easy enough, right?

Some ways to maximize this are carrying your own produce bags with you. (get them here from my affiliate partner).

Buying produce without packaging at all, and allowing your bananas and broccoli to sit together in your cloth shopping bag works just as well.

They won’t fight, I promise. Another way to reduce is to rethink “wants vs. needs”.

Reuse

Reuse means that if you have plastic shopping bags, you take them to the store with you a second time, or use them as trash bags.

Washing that plastic disposable flatware from the party to use at the next party, instead of buying another box.

I also like to call storing your leftovers in an old yogurt container, or making milk jugs into scoops or mini greenhouses for your garden reusing, although others would consider this re-purposing.

This also would be if you bought a bottle of soy sauce and when it was empty, added your own homemade soy sauce to it.

Another great way to reuse is to check out garage sales or thrift stores for an item vs. buying it new.

When you don’t buy something new, an “order” isn’t placed for another one. Clothing is a great example of this.

Repurposing

Repurposing can be about the same as reusing.

You are making the plastic milk jug into a mini-green house, making those plastic shopping bags into a carry-all, or using k cups from your keurig as seed starters.

Also, repurposing would be if you turned an old dresser into an entertainment stand or kitchen island.

The easiest way to repurpose something is to think outside the box.

Yogurt containers? Great for storing hair ties or barrettes. Ketchup or mustard bottles are a lot of fun in the bathtub as toys.

When my kids were younger, I would take carefully washed out bottles and jugs and that was what they used to play “store” with.

Recycling

This one is fairly self explanatory, as it usually refers to paper, cardboard and many plastics either being picked up or being taken down to a center for breakdown and being rebuilt into something else.

You usually have to separate the paper from the cardboard, clear glass from colored glass and try to remember what plastics can be recycled.

You usually have to separate the paper from the cardboard, clear glass from colored glass and try and remember what plastics can be recycled.

Setting up recycling in your home CAN be done, and once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to do.

For a list of most commonly recycled items, check with your garbage service, or refer to this list.

Wait, didn’t I say there would be FIVE items?? Well, a lot of people don’t realize there should be a 5th “R”. and that is REFUSE.

Refuse

Who knew, right? Refuse to buy new clothing, shop at thrift or consignment stores.

Refuse to use plastic anything, and only purchase things in bulk bins and bring your own glass mason jars.

Refuse those plastic grocery shopping bags, and bring your own.

You can attach some to your purse or belt loop to help you remember them always.

Eco bags sells some cute chico bags here. Refuse to buy plastic flatware and paper plates for entertaining, and just wash dishes when you are done.

Refuse to use paper napkins, and use cloth instead. Refuse to buy pre packed foods and learn to make your own (see my post on 5 things to stop buying and start making here)

The best way to get started with this is to find some mason jars at a thrift store, and weigh them at the customer service counter when you get to the store.

Write the tear weight down on a piece of masking tape with a sharpie so that you can remember to take that off when you check out.

You may come across a confused cashier at first, so be patient.

The best things to buy in bulk bins that I have found are oats, granola, rice, beans, and some stores sell loose tea and spices in bulk.

64 Tips To Reduce Waste

1) First In, First Out

This is essentially stock rotation. You move all the older stuff to the front and the newer stuff to the back of the shelves or fridge.

This means you use the older stuff before it expires thereby avoiding having wasted food in your kitchen.

2) Switch to Paperless Billing

Switching from paper billing to electronic billing means you don’t have bits of scrap paper lying all over the place and your billing is better organized.

Set it up so that it goes through to your emails and just mark each one off as you pay them.

3) Reuse Old Toothbrushes

If you’ve got a lot of old toothbrushes lying around, keep them for cleaning jobs around the house.

Apart from reusing the plastic toothbrushes you have, you can also switch to a compostable / biodegradable toothbrush to prevent waste around your home and the environment.

4) Purchase Second-hand Clothing

Buying second-hand clothing reduces textile waste – especially for children’s clothing. If that’s something that you struggle with, then this is a good way to reduce waste at home.

I know many people who used to buy second-hand clothes as a budget-friendly option when they needed to buy clothes.

5) Use a Questionable Bin

If you have things that you’re not sure about, it’s best to keep them separate from the other recyclables.

This makes it easier to dispose of things properly and you can chuck everything together to be dealt with at a later time.

6) Sustainable Takeout

We all like to treat ourselves to a burger and fries every now and then, but there’s always a chance you’ll end up with containers you can’t recycle.

With that in mind, look into supporting places with biodegradable / compostable containers.

7) Use a Travel Mug

Using a travel mug (either a steel or ceramic mug) will reduce the number of non-bio-degradable cups you end up using every day.

You also don’t have to worry about getting any weird, nasty chemicals in your body.

8) Yard Sales and Buy and Sell Groups

Another good way to reduce waste at home is to get rid of the stuff you don’t need anymore.

Some of these things can be sold at yard sales or in certain groups and can give you a nifty little side income.

9) No More Puree Baggies

The little puree / baby food sachets may be convenient, but sadly they aren’t recyclable, so you’re going to end up with a lot of these in your trash.

You can avoid this by sticking with soft, flavorful fruits like bananas.

10) Mending Damaged Clothing

There’s a lot of recycling going on in this list but, if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.

Why would you spend money on something you don’t necessarily need when you’ve got the resources to improvise?

Instead of buying brand new jeans (which is becoming pricier every year), just grab a needle and thread and stitch the tear closed.

11) Use All of the Veggies / Produce

How many of us use a whole potato or cucumber – skin and all – in a meal?

Most of the time, we’ll remove the peel / skin, and throw it away. This is a waste as that’s where you find an awful lot of fiber and nutrients.

In fact, the peel is where the bulk of those nutrients are found. So, the bottom line is use everything when it comes to fruit and veg as much as possible.

12) Do a REGULAR Stock Take

What is a stock take? It’s exactly what it sounds like; you look at what you have and in what quantities.

This allows you to move things around so that you use the older stuff before you use the new stuff. It also allows you to dispose of anything that needs to be thrown away.

A stock take is one of, if not your absolute best friends because being able to organize what you have and throw away anything that needs to be thrown away prevents any potential health problems.

This is something my maternal grandmother learned the hard way.

She used to buy food, pack it away and forget about it for months; this led to an incident involving tacos that had expired some 4 years previously – yuck.

Bad food equals food poisoning which equals, in some cases, a hospital trip…something to keep in mind, no?

13) Lunch Box

If you need to grab lunch while on the go, and you don’t want to end up using the disposable cutlery and non-recyclable containers from the restaurant, pack a lunch box – complete with cutlery.

It’s a simple solution that many people don’t really think about, but it works.

14) Bulk Purchases

How many of you lovely readers remember the stores running out of practically everything when the pandemic started?

Every now and then, toilet paper became a rare item on store shelves and later the subject to numerous jokes and memes – whenever people start to panic as a result of a large-scale disaster.

How much money do you think the people who made those bulk purchases saved on toilet paper and everything else they panic-bought?

Buying supplies in bulk reduces the amount of excess packaging in your home and the number of trips you have to make to get them. As an added bonus, you can save quite a chunk on necessities.

15) Avoid Useless Purchases

Something that I’ve noticed recently is that our local newspaper is mostly junk mail nowadays.

You can put up markers to prevent people from loading your mailbox with rubbish – this applies to your emails too.

How many subscriptions send newsletters and promos through to your inbox every week?

Impulsive buying can lead to unnecessary clutter which is just irritating, and you don’t want to deal with that at all.

16) Use Reusable Shopping Bags

Have you noticed how the quality of plastic shopping bags has decreased?

We used to collect the plastic bags and reuse them as often as possible but, unfortunately, they’ve gotten progressively weaker over the last few years.

This has made reusable canvas shopping bags very popular. They’re easy to store, and you don’t end up adding more plastic to the local landfills.

17) Clear Your Plate at Dinner

“No dessert if you don’t eat your greens!”

How many of us grew up hearing this?

I know I heard it many times as a kid; my grandparents were particularly stern about this because they hated seeing good food go to waste.

Wasting food is just…pointless and even as a kid I couldn’t understand it. Of course, it helped that most, if not all the food was good, and we all learned to cook at an early age.

18) Use Reusable Cloths / Rags for Cleaning

No more sheets of paper towels, tissues, and napkins in the trash!

Using washcloths and rags (you can even use old, raggedy t-shirts) for cleaning reduces the paper waste in the house.

You just chuck them in the washing machine when you’re done with them.

19) Reusable Containers for Food Storage

Instead of filling your deep freezer to the brim with plastic Ziploc bags, cling wrap, and tin foil, use reusable containers to store your food.

This way you cut back on unnecessary clutter, save some storage space, and have an eco-friendlier storage solution!

20) No More Straws

Paper or disposable straws might be more environmentally friendly, but they’re a pain in the neck! They last all of two or three minutes in your drink and then they start to fall apart.

If you keep straws in your home – it’s a better option to just go without them or, if you must have straws, there are aluminum straws that you can reuse.

21) Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

You know all those plastic soda bottles and aluminum cans you’ve got lying around the house? Why not make some interesting toys or a stationary organizer to neaten up your desk?

For one thing, a stationary organizer out of old soda cans is a great conversation starter but you’re also making use of something that would usually be thrown away.

22) Meal Plans

This one goes back to what I was saying earlier about eating everything on your plate at dinner.

Obviously, your stomach can only hold so much and if your plate is piled high there’s a chance of a lot of that food being wasted.

Meal plans which include the exact (or as exact as possible) portions you need will reduce the amount of wasted food in your house.

23) Composting

Start a compost heap in your backyard, this will give you a use for fruit peels and leftover food – among other biodegradable trash – and provide the earth in your yard with extra nutrients.

All those broken eggshells, fruit peels, and other bits and pieces are looking a lot more useful now, aren’t they?

24) Learn Basic Repairs

Being able to fix something that’s broken is going to save you a lot of money on having to replace it.

You also reduce the amount of broken junk lying around the house.

We’ve all got a drawer somewhere full of old electronics manuals, various batteries of dubious reliability, keys from who knows where!

25) Turning Off the Lights

This is something that has come to irritate me over the last few years, seeing lights turned on in rooms where they’re not needed.

Your electricity bill’s already going to make your wallet cry, leaving your lights turned on will cause the bill to skyrocket Turn off the lights you don’t need!

26) Eat Leftovers

I know leftovers might not be the most appetizing meal, but if it’s safe to eat them then you should eat them.

It’s a shame to see good ol’ cottage pie or mac and cheese go to waste – especially as they can still taste good out of the microwave. If you’re not eating your leftovers, you should be.

27) Leftover Experiments

Leftovers aren’t always pleasant to eat, but they save you a lot of time; you can just heat the food in the microwave instead of cooking.

With that in mind, do some experimenting with the leftovers in your fridge and see what you can do with them. You may surprise yourself with the results and you’re avoiding wasted food.

28) Make a List

Making a list of necessities can help to limit the amount of waste in your home. Your list will help you limit your purchases to only what you need.

Now, a few luxury items won’t hurt from time to time, but the idea is that you don’t buy things you don’t need. If you want to avoid unnecessary waste in your house, a list may be the way to go.

29) No More Disposables

Paper cups and plates, sandwich bags, paper towels, and napkins can only be used once or twice before you need to throw them away.

These things have a tendency to clutter up your kitchen and pantry.

How do you avoid this? Well, you use up what you’ve got, for starters, and then refrain from buying more to replace them.

30) Little to No Packaging on Purchases

We talked about using reusable shopping bags instead of plastic ones before, now let’s talk about one of the biggest nuisances of shopping – packaging!

Yes, the packaging is one of the most frustrating things when it comes to shopping because you don’t know what to do with it half the time.

We’ve got almost 100 or so plastic shopping bags stored in a kitchen cupboard which are only ever used to remove animal carcasses from the house (the joys of living with four cats, am I right?)

Other than that, we don’t use them for shopping, we do sometimes use them for trash disposal, but that’s about it.

So, why keep them? The same problem occurs with certain types of packaging (i.e. tins, bottles, etc.) where you think of all the things you can use it for and it ends up cluttering the house.

How do we avoid this? Purchase items with little or no packaging wherever possible.

Things like fruit and veg can often be bought loose so you can use your reusable shopping bags and, maybe, a thin plastic bag from the fruit and veggie section of the shop.

This makes getting the packaging off much easier and since it can’t be reused in its current state, you can send it to a recycler to have it turned into something useful.

31) Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Make your own cleaning products from things found in your pantry. Curb dangerous chemicals from entering your home.

Not only do I find these products to be superior in grease-fighting power, but I feel safe with my friends’ kids and my dogs running around and licking the floor.

32) Make your Own Beauty Products

Switch up your beauty routine. Avoid harsh chemicals by making your own products. Your skin and hair will thank you.

It’s so easy to make makeup, lotion, and deodorant. You’ll have less packaging, less chemicals, a happier body, and a happier wallet.

33) Look for Products that Have a Variety of Uses

Look for products that can pull double duty.

You can switch to castile soap for almost anything. It’s great for dishes, laundry, skin, body, and hair.

A couple of drops mixed in a spray bottle with water makes for a great all purpose cleaner.

34) Get Some Cloth Produce Bags

Not only are plastic bags bad for the environment, but they also clog up landfills and pose a danger to wildlife. One way to reduce the amount of trash you produce is to switch to cloth produce bags.

These reusable bags can be used over and over again, eliminating the need for disposable plastic bags. Cloth produce bags are also sturdier than plastic bags, so they’re less likely to rip and spill your groceries.

In addition, many cloth produce bags are made from organic materials like cotton or hemp, making them even more eco-friendly.

So next time you’re at the grocery store, ditch the plastic and pick up some cloth produce bags instead.

35) Don’t Buy Plastic-Wrapped Produce

When it comes to reducing our trash and minimizing our impact on the environment, one of the biggest changes we can make is to avoid buying produce wrapped in plastic.

This single-use material is one of the most common forms of waste generated in modern society, with millions of pounds of it filling up landfills each year.

By opting for loose fruits and vegetables instead of those that have been pre-wrapped in plastic, we can significantly reduce our contribution to this problem.

Not only does this help minimize the amount of trash we produce as individuals, but it also sends a powerful message to food producers and retailers who collaborate together to create these disposable packaging materials.

36) Buy From Local Farms

One way to reduce the amount of trash produced each year is to buy food from local farms. Local farms typically use less packaging than large commercial operations, and they are often able to sell fruits and vegetables in bulk.

In addition, many local farms use sustainable practices that minimize waste and protect the environment.

For example, some farmers use cover crops to prevent soil erosion, while others utilize crop rotation to help improve soil quality.

By buying from local farms, you can help to reduce the amount of trash produced each year while also supporting sustainable agriculture.

37) Stop Buying Tea Bags

One simple way to reduce the amount of trash we produce is to stop using disposable tea bags.

Every year, billions of tea bags are thrown away, and many of them end up in landfill. Not only does this create unnecessary waste, but it also takes a toll on the environment.

Tea bags are typically made from plastic or other synthetic materials, which can take centuries to break down.

Moreover, the manufacturing process often uses harmful chemicals, which can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater.

By switching to loose leaf tea, we can all do our part to reduce the amount of trash produced each year.

38) Opt For Digital Subscriptions

In today’s modern, digital landscape, there are so many opportunities to reduce waste and improve our impact on the environment.

One easy way to do this is to stop subscribing to physical magazines and newspapers, and start getting your news from digital sources instead. The same goes for switching to paperless billing!

Not only does this reduce the amount of paper being produced and thrown away every day, but it also helps save energy by cutting out the need for fuel to be used in transporting physical publications.

39) Learn How to Cook With Food Scraps

Instead of throwing these scraps in the trash, there are a number of ways to reduce your waste and save money by using them to cook.

For example, vegetable scraps can be used to make homemade vegetable stock. Coffee grinds can be used as a rub for meats or added to your compost pile. And stale bread can be used to make croutons or bread pudding.

By learning how to cook with food scraps, you can reduce your trash output and save money on your grocery bill.

40) Buy Electronics Secondhand

In today’s world, it seems like we are constantly upgrading our electronics. Every time a new phone comes out, or a new version of our favorite software is released, we feel the need to buy the latest and greatest.

However, this constant cycle of consumption is not only bad for our wallets, but it’s also bad for the environment.

The manufacturing of electronics requires a lot of rare earth metals and other natural resources, and the dumping of old electronics contributes to a growing e-waste problem.

So what can we do to break this cycle? One solution is to buy second hand electronics.

By doing so, we can save money and resources. When it comes time to upgrade again, we can sell our old electronics instead of throwing them away.

41) Do a Spending Fast

One way to reduce the amount of trash you produce is to do a spending fast. For a set period of time, you refuse to buy any new items, instead relying on what you already have. This can be a difficult challenge, but it can also be eye-opening.

Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be forced to think creatively about how to use the things you already have. You may find that you don’t need as much stuff as you thought you did.

And when the spending fast is over, you’ll be more mindful about what you buy, helping to reduce the amount of waste you create.

42) Buy Milk in Glass Bottles

One way to reduce the amount of plastic trash we produce is by buying milk in glass bottles.

Unlike most plastic containers, glass can be easily recycled and reused without losing its original quality. What’s more, using glass helps conserve resources: it takes less energy to melt down discarded glass than to create new plastics from scratch.

43) Return Egg and Berry Cartons

While it may seem like an insignificant step, recycling egg and berry cartons can help to reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills.

Cartons are made from a variety of materials, including paper, plastic, and foil, all of which can be recycled.

And because they are often used to package perishable items, they are often discarded soon after being used. However, by recycling them, we can give them a second life.

Egg and berry cartons can be used to start seedlings, line planters, or simply reused to store other food items.

44) Start a Produce Buying Club

A produce buying club is a group of people who join together to buy fruits and vegetables in bulk from a local farmer or distributor.

By pooling their resources, members of a produce buying club can get access to fresh, seasonal produce at a fraction of the price they would pay at the grocery store.

In addition, produce buying clubs often have the option to customize their order, so members can choose to receive only the types of fruits and vegetables they actually want.

Finally, produce buying clubs are a great way to build community and support local farmers. If you’re interested in reducing your trash output, start a produce buying club in your neighborhood today!

45) Join a CSA

One way to reduce the amount of trash your household produces is to join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.

In a CSA, members of the community purchase a share of a farmer’s crop in advance. This allows farmers to know how much food they need to grow and helps to reduce food waste.

In addition, CSAs typically use organic growing practices, which are better for the environment. Furthermore, most CSAs deliver their produce directly to members’ homes, which reduces packaging waste.

By joining a CSA, you can help to reduce food waste, support sustainable agriculture, and reduce your environmental impact.

46) Read eBooks

There are some simple steps we can all take to help reduce the amount of trash we produce. One way to do this is to switch to digital media.

Rather than buying physical books, opt for an e-reader instead. Not only will this save trees, but it will also help to reduce the amount of packaging waste.

47) Use Both Sides of a Paper

There are actually many ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce simply by using both sides of a piece of paper. For example, you can use the back side for taking notes or for drawing.

If you’re feeling really creative, you can even use it for origami! The possibilities are endless.

Not only will you be saving paper and reducing your carbon footprint, but you’ll also be getting more use out of each sheet of paper.

48) Skip Disposable Plastic Razors

One way we can reduce our plastic waste is by skipping disposable plastic razors and opting for a reusable option instead.

Disposable razors are made from a variety of materials, including plastic, metal and ceramic. They are also often packaged in plastic packaging, which adds to the waste stream.

Reusable razors, on the other hand, are made from sustainable materials like bamboo or stainless steel. They last longer and don’t require packaging, making them a more eco-friendly choice.

Plus, they provide a closer shave, so you can feel good about your decision to ditch disposable razors!

49) Rethink Feminine Hygiene Products

For many women, managing their monthly period can be a time-consuming and often unpleasant experience.

Between the constant need to stock up on tampons or pads and the fact that these products are often not environmentally friendly, it can be difficult to navigate this part of our lives in a healthy and sustainable way.

However, there is one simple solution that can make all the difference: using reusable feminine hygiene products like menstrual cups and washable cloth pads instead of those made from disposable materials.

Not only are these products better for the environment by reducing landfill waste, but they also tend to be more comfortable and reliable than disposable products.

By making the switch today, you can help reduce your personal trash output while simultaneously conserving resources and supporting a more sustainable future.

50) Try the Family Cloth

For those who are not familiar, family cloth is simply a reusable alternative to toilet paper.

It’s more comfortable and economical – and while it takes some getting used to, it’s far better for the environment.

51) DIY Toothpaste and Shampoo

Not only does making your own toiletries help to minimize waste, but it can also be more cost-effective than buying name-brand products at the store.

Additionally, many natural ingredients like coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils have numerous healing properties that can help keep your hair and teeth healthy and clean.

52) Give Cloth Diapers a Try

It’s no secret that our planet is in trouble. Trash is polluting our waterways, filling up our landfills, and littering our streets. The good news is that each of us can make a difference by reducing the amount of waste we produce.

One way to do this is to switch from disposable diapers to cloth diapers.

Cloth diapers are reusable and can be washed and reused again and again. In addition, they’re made from natural materials like cotton, which decompose more quickly than plastic.

As a result, using cloth diapers can help to reduce the amount of trash in our landfills. Plus, it’s cheaper in the long run and better for your baby’s skin!

53) Stop Using Kleenex

Anyone who has ever had a cold or allergies knows just how quickly tissues and paper napkins can pile up.

In fact, many people find themselves having to take out the trash even on a regular basis due to all the waste they are generating.

Clearly, this is an unsustainable and wasteful way of living, but thankfully there is an easy solution: using reusable handkerchiefs instead of disposable tissues.

These cloth handkerchiefs are just as absorbent as disposable tissues, and they have the added benefit of being much easier to clean and reuse over and over again.

Plus, by reducing our reliance on single-use products like disposable tissues, we can greatly reduce our impact on the environment and help to reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills.

54) Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners

Culling through a sea of commercial cleaners at the store can be overwhelming and frustrating – how are you supposed to know which products are safe for your home and which may contain hazardous chemicals?

The good news is that it is actually quite easy to make your own non-toxic cleaners using natural, earth-friendly ingredients.

These green cleaning solutions don’t just keep your home chemical-free; they also cut down on the amount of trash we generate, since you won’t need disposable wipes or bottles.

So if you’re looking for a simple way to reduce your impact on the environment and keep your home sparkling clean, consider making your own non-toxic cleaners using common household items like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and essential oils.

55) Don’t Use Trash Bags

Rather than using plastic bags or containers, it is best to simply throw our waste directly into the trash bin.

By cutting down on unnecessary waste packaging and other materials, we can help to reduce strain on landfills and lessen our impact on the planet overall.

56) Have a “No Trash” Game with the Kids

As any parent knows, kids can be notoriously messy! But there is a simple solution that helps to reduce our growing trash problem: a “No Trash” game with the kids.

This means setting rules around limiting unnecessary waste and getting kids on board with responsible disposal. For example, you may decide that no snacks can be eaten while watching TV or that everyone must throw away their own trash before the show ends.

By involving kids in this process and challenging them to become more mindful of their personal contribution to waste, we can all work together to help keep our planet healthy and beautiful for years to come.

57) Use FIFO

The first in, first out (FIFO) method is a simple way to keep your garbage under control. Use items that came in first before you use the new ones – that way, you won’t find yourself with tons of expired goods cluttering up your pantry or cupboards.

58) Buy Funny Produce

When you go to the grocery store, have you ever noticed the perfectly-shaped fruits and vegetables in the produce section?

They may look good, but often these “perfect” specimens are discarded simply because they don’t meet cosmetic standards.

In fact, an estimated 20% of fruits and vegetables are wasted due to their size or appearance. That’s a lot of perfectly good food going to waste!

One way to reduce food waste is to buy funny looking produce. These “imperfect” items are often just as delicious as their perfectly-shaped counterparts, but they cost less because stores can’t sell them for full price.

Plus, by buying funny looking produce, you’ll be helping to reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills.

So next time you’re at the store, don’t be afraid to choose the misshapen apple or the oddly-shaped squash. You’ll be doing your part to reduce food waste and save money at the same time!

59) Use Dryer Balls

Dryer sheets are a common product used to reduce static and add scent to laundry, but they are single-use and end up in the landfill. Dryer balls are a more sustainable alternative, as they can be reused over and over again.

Made from materials like wool or plastic, dryer balls help to reduce static and soften clothes without the need for any disposable products.

They also speed up the drying process, so you’ll save energy as well as reducing your impact on the environment.

60) Ask for Hand Me Downs

One way to combat this trash issue is by asking for hand me downs instead of purchasing new items.

By opting for used clothing, appliances, furniture, and other consumer products, we can reduce the amount of stuff that ends up in landfills and help to preserve our natural resources.

And not only does this help protect the environment, but it also saves us money and gives us access to a wider range of goods at lower prices. Don’t be afraid to ask!

61) Become BFFs With Your Freezer

One of the most underutilized spaces for storing food is the freezer. A well stocked freezer not only saves money by reducing impulse purchases of pre-packaged foods, but it also reduces waste by extending the shelf life of fresh produce.

Whether you’re freezing dinner leftovers or stocking up on seasonal fruits and veggies before they go out of season, becoming BFFs with your freezer can help reduce your trash output while saving you money and time in the kitchen.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and get friendly with that freezer!

62) Use Silicone Mats Instead of Foil or Parchment Paper

Silicone mats are a great alternative to using traditional foil or parchment paper to prevent food from sticking to your baking dishes.

These flexible, durable mats are made from non-toxic silicone and can withstand high temperatures, making them ideal for use in the oven.

In addition to providing an effective non-stick surface, silicone mats are reusable and easy to clean, meaning that they can help you reduce your reliance on single-use food packaging while also reducing waste.

So if you’re looking for a simple way to get more out of your cooking, consider swapping out your old foil and parchment paper for some high-quality silicone baking mats. They may just become your go-to kitchen staple!

63) Learn to Build Your Own Furniture

One way to reduce the amount of waste that you produce is by learning to build your own furniture. Not only will this help to reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills, but it can also be a fun and rewarding hobby.

By taking the time to learn how to build your own furniture, you’ll be able to create pieces that are unique and personal to you. Plus, you’ll be doing your part to help reduce the amount of waste that is produced each year.

64) Grow Your Own Food

Finally, grow your own food. By cultivating your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you can cut down on the need for pre-packaged goods and take-out meals.

Not only will this reduce the amount of trash you create, but it will also give you access to healthier, fresher food that is free from chemicals and other harmful additives.

Waste Not, Want Not

Wastage around your house is frustrating in any form, and it can cause serious problems in terms of storage space in your fridge, pantry, or freezer.

There are also certain health-risks associated with waste around your house – if you’ve seen the show Hoarders, then you probably know what some of these risks and problems are.

So, as the old adage goes:

“Waste not, want not.”

These are just some of the ways you can reduce waste in your homes to make life so much easier.

I hope you all enjoyed the article and that it helps you out in some small way. As always, thanks for reading everyone, I really appreciate it.

last update: 04/28/2022