5 Simple Budget Friendly Ways to Reduce Waste
Reducing your waste and environmental footprint doesn’t need to be difficult. You can start today by making just one of these simple shifts.
These simple changes are easy on the environment and your wallet.
1. Ditch the Paper Towels & Napkins
Using paper towels and napkins daily creates a ton of needless waste. To put this issue in perspective, here is some data from recyclenation.com:
- 40% of U.S. landfill trash is paper products.
- The paper industry is the third-largest contributor to global warming.
- The average American discards 700 pounds or more of paper each year.
For more from Recycle Nation, you can read the article, Going Paper Towel-less, here.
That is a ton of waste we can easily cut out by towel drying instead of reaching for a paper towel. If you need to continue to use paper towels, choose recycled paper towels instead.
Remember those old rags that are sitting in the back of your closet? Use those to wipe down the counters and dry your hands.
To make this easy I keep one small basket under my sink of clean towels, and another by the washing machine. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
2. Reuse
Get creative with how you can reuse things you already have.
That plastic container your lunch came in? Consider packing your lunch in it tomorrow or add it to your collection of food storage containers. Better yet, bake some cookies and send them to a friend in the container.
Before you toss something out, consider how you can make use of it.
3. Say “No Thank You”
When you shop, say no to the plastic bags. Bring reusable bags instead.
Ordering takeout? Say no to the plastic utensils and straws. Keep in mind that you might have to ask in advance for the plastic utensils to be left out.
Say you do end up receiving them: if they are packaged, you can donate them to a local organization that provides food to the community. If they are unpackaged, congratulations, you get to keep them. Reuse them yourself (great for hikes, picnics, & day trips) or add them to your kiddo’s sandbox.
4. Use What You Have
Instead of going out and buying adorable bamboo cleaning brushes and other so-called “sustainable” cleaning, cooking, and household goods — just use what you have.
Utilize what you already have around the house! Clean it, sanitize it and reuse it until you can’t anymore.
For example, turn that old toothbrush into a tool to clean the crevices of your shower or scrub dirty dishes.
5. Be Mindful of the Businesses You Support
Consumer waste is a huge issue that has only grown due to the pandemic. Research the businesses you support. Do you know what their values are? What practices they have in place for their sourcing or how they treat and care for their employees?
In the past year I tried out a new glassware company for our Jean’s Apothecare products. Imagine my surprise when the box the glass came in had hundreds of packing peanuts. Lesson learned — don’t order from them again.
Shopping sustainably and thoughtfully is a great way to reduce waste and support sustainable small businesses. For more on the rise of consumer waste, take a peek at my blog post: Consumer Waste is at an All-Time High — 3 Things You Can Do About It.
So, are you ready to start reducing your waste?
Visit Jean’s Apothecare virtual apothecary to shop sustainably.
Would you like support as you embark on your journey to wellbeing? Join our small Facebook community, Nurturing Your Body & Mind, where Jean’s Apothecare Creator, Casey Jean, provides education, resources, and support.
