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If, like us, you live in a rural area without municipal trash collection or (or “and”) want to live more sustainably and reduce your household’s environmental impact—also like us—you might be thinking about ways to minimize the trash you generate. We are, too.
According to the EPA, the largest component of household trash in the United States is typically paper and paperboard, which make up about 23.1% of municipal solid waste (MSW). Food waste follows closely, making up about 21.6% of MSW. Plastics and yard trimmings account for about 12% each, followed by metals at nearly 9%.
Obviously, reducing those and other kinds of household waste is not only beneficial for the environment but also for our wallets. For those of us who don’t live in a place with curbside pickup, we have the added cost of taking our trash (in our case, more than 50 miles round-trip) to the landfill to dispose of properly, so the less waste we have to haul, the better.
In this post, we’ll brainstorm as many ways as we can to reduce trash, considering that even small changes in our daily habits can collectively make a significant impact.
Here are some practical ways to minimize household and yard waste. Can you add more?
General Trash-Reduction Lifestyle Tips
Adopt a minimalist lifestyle by decluttering and only purchasing items you truly need. This will reduce overall consumption and waste, not to mention save money.
Practice mindful consumption. Make thoughtful purchasing decisions to reduce overall consumption and waste.
Invest in durable products that last longer and reduce the need for replacements.
Support sustainable brands by choosing products from companies that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly practices and packaging.
Get organized. When items, including food and leftover hardware, for example, are well-organized and accessible, you can easily see what you have. This prevents overbuying and reduces the chances of food or other perishables going to waste.
How To Reduce Household Trash
Compost organic waste to convert food scraps and yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves, and pine needles, into nutrient-rich soil to use for gardening or spread on the lawn or around trees and plants. (Can you compost pine needles? Yes.)
Use reusable shopping bags to reduce the need for single-use plastic bags. Keep some in each vehicle and the small stuff-sack kind in your purse or pockets so you always have some on hand.
Choose products with minimal packaging when possible, including zero-waste products, to reduce trash.
Instead of buying single-use plastic bottles, use durable, reusable products, such as BPA-free water bottles. Refill bottles to keep in your fridge and vehicles.
Switch to reusable cloth napkins and towels instead of disposable paper ones for meals and cleaning.
Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
Use soap nuts or detergent sheets for laundry to reduce plastic waste.
Repair items when possible instead of discarding them to extend their lifespan.
Recycle electronic items that can’t be reused. Some companies, like Best Buy, Staples, and Walmart, accept a variety of items for recycling and sometimes give you cash back, store credit, or rewards points in return.
Avoid single-use items like plastic cutlery. If getting takeout food, for example, be sure to ask the provider not to put plastic utensils in the bag. Keep reusable utensils in your glove box or camping cutlery set in your pocket or purse instead.
Use digital methods for bills, receipts, and tickets to reduce waste. Some companies offer discounts for customers who opt for electronic statements.
Use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning for natural and eco-friendly cleaning solutions and reduce plastic waste.
Opt for e-books, audiobooks, and other digital formats for reading to reduce paper waste.
Repurpose glass jars for storage or DIY projects instead of discarding them.
Upcycle old clothing and transform it into new items or repurpose it as cleaning rags.
Use recyclables or leftovers to create art and functional items. Reusing pallets is one example.
Give away or sell useful leftover items, such as construction materials. Post these items on social media and other sites like Craiglist and Ebay.
Ways To Reduce Kitchen Waste
Buy items in bulk to reduce packaging waste. You can also save money by splitting bulk items with friends and neighbors.
Practice mindful eating and plan meals carefully to minimize food waste. Use up ingredients before they spoil, and incorporate leftovers into new dishes.
Support local farmers by purchasing produce from local farmers' markets or joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program to reduce packing waste and the environmental impact of food transportation.
Create a weekly meal plan to avoid overbuying. Make a shopping list based on your planned meals.
Check your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before shopping to prevent purchasing items you already have. Buy only what you expect to use to reduce the chances of food going to waste.
Cook the right amount of food to prevent leftovers from ending up in the trash.
Get creative with leftovers. Transform them into new meals or freeze them for later consumption.
Repurpose food scraps. Vegetable peels, stems, and other scraps can be used to make flavorful stocks or broths, and spent coffee grounds can also be reused.
Pickle, dry, can, ferment, freeze, or cure perishable food you buy in bulk to extend its shelf life.
Designate a “use it up” shelf in your fridge and pantry for foods that need to be consumed soon. Prioritize using these items to prevent them from going to waste.
Use reusable containers for storing food, including leftovers and snacks, to reduce reliance on disposable packaging.
Make your own bread and tortillas to reduce packaging waste from store-bought products.
Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic wraps for food storage.
Brew loose-leaf tea instead of using tea bags to reduce waste or compost used tea bags.
Make your own yogurt to avoid disposable plastic containers.
Use a popcorn maker instead of single-use microwave popcorn bags.
Utilize food scraps for DIY beauty products, including leftover fruit peels, coffee grounds, and other natural ingredients. You can create homemade skincare products like scrubs and masks.
Ways To Reduce Trash from Personal Care and Hygiene
Use a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one.
Use a reusable razor instead of disposable ones.
Use reusable sponges or rags instead of disposable paper towels when cleaning. If you do use paper towels, compost them when possible.
Make your own personal care products, including deodorant and skincare products, to reduce packaging waste.
Use reusable silicone baking mats instead of parchment paper or foil.
Save soap bits to make a new bar of soap from the leftovers.
Grow medicinal herbs at home and learn to make herbal teas, tinctures, and salves, reducing reliance on packaged over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.
Reducing Waste in Landscaping and Gardening
Opt for natural pest control methods like companion planting (carrots love tomatoes, you know?) to control pests without harmful chemicals and reduce packaging trash from store-bought products.
Compost leaves, pine needles, and grass clippings instead of bagging them up and sending them to the landfill.
Ways To Support Sustainability and Community Initiatives
Host a community composting initiative to collaborate with neighbors to compost organic waste and reduce landfill contributions.
Donate or sell usable items you no longer need to extend their life cycle.
Host clothing swap parties to exchange clothing items and give them a new life.
Participate in local recycling programs to properly dispose of recyclable materials.
Start a swap meet to exchange items and reduce waste.
Host repair workshops in your community to teach basic repair skills for common household items like clothing, appliances, and electronics.
Join a repair café to fix broken items and reduce waste.
Start a community seed exchange to share seeds with others to promote biodiversity and reduce packaging waste.
Small, Sustainable Steps Can Lead to a Big, Positive Impact
Reducing household waste isn't just about environmental responsibility; it's also about embracing a lifestyle that's mindful of our planet's limited resources. By implementing even just a few of the suggestions listed above, we can significantly reduce both the amount of trash our households generate and our ecological footprint. Every action counts, no matter how small it may seem.
As we strive to live more sustainably, let's continue to explore innovative ways to minimize waste generation, reuse what we can, and recycle responsibly. Together, we can make a meaningful difference. If you have other suggestions for ways to reduce trash at home—and we welcome out-of-the-box ideas—please add them to the comments below. Thanks!
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