7 Ways to Reduce Your Waste At Home
It's not too late to do your part in helping bring back the health of our environment
Whether we admit it or not, our environment is in danger, and much of the blame falls on us. Nature provides all our basic needs and more, but unfortunately, humans have abused that just to get what we want. Now, we are experiencing the consequences of those abuses in different ways, and will continue to experience them, unless we make some profound changes.
Thankfully, there are things we can do to do our part in helping Mother Nature regain its healthy state, one of which is by reducing the amount of waste we produce at home. Let these helpful tips guide you towards a more earth-friendly, sustainable lifestyle.
Go plastic-free
Plastic products have been widely used for years and are known for their practicality, but they are also known to be harmful for the environment, as they take too long to decompose, can be perilous when discarded improperly, and only add more waste. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives you can utilize instead of plastic, such as reusable grocery bags, metal straws, and glass jars for your pantry. You will be able to use these items (and many more) for a longer time, too.
Dine in
Instead of ordering in, why not try cooking your own meals at home? Not only do you get to save, but home-cooked meals tend to be healthier options compared to processed food. But if you’re not much for cooking or just want to chill out, try to find places that use recyclable containers to package their meal deliveries.
Choose home-grown food
In this current period when prices on all commodities are on the rise, we need to find ways to be able to acquire quality produce without breaking the bank—which is why having your own vegetable or herb garden at home is such a great idea. Aside from saving money, home-grown produce is also healthier, since you are able to control the kinds of fertilizers and pesticides that come in contact with your crops. Growing your own garden can be a great relaxation tool, too!
Start composting
Instead of simply throwing out those unused fruit, vegetable, and herb trimmings, you can use them to make your garden much better. Composting is the practice of using organic matter like food scraps and garden waste to make soil healthier and more fertile. Composting will do wonders for your garden, as it helps enrich your soil so that your plants and crops grow healthily and with plenty of nutritional value. This practice will also allow you to reduce your carbon footprint.
Recycle items at home
A lot of the items commonly found in the home are not just for singular purposes; they can also be used in other ways. So, instead of buying new stuff which will most likely end up adding to the clutter in your home and to your waste in general, learn how you can recycle the things you have at home, even those which you may think are too old or beyond repair. A bonus: You get to save money!
Learn how to do simple repairs
When your possessions start to fall apart—when your clothes get torn, when the heels of your shoes come off, when the zipper on your jeans stops working—you don’t have to call anyone for help, or worse, throw them out when all they need is a quick repair. A quick online search will teach you what you need to do to bring your stuff back to good condition. However, if you really won’t be using those items anymore, why not sell or donate them instead of chucking them to the trash?
Create your own products
Another thing you’ll find online is thousands of ways to do home-made products, including those for cleaning, for hygiene, and even for beauty. A lot of these recipes are not just easy to do but also cheap. So, instead of spending money buying items you will only be able to use for a certain period of time, make your own products and teach yourself something new!
Source: The Spruce
