Happy Earth Day Everyone!!! To honor this special occasion I put together this list of simple ways you can reduce waste throughout your home. Think about living your life with 100% zero waste! Sounds incredible right? I so agree and I long to be able to do that one day. As of now I personally have not reached that goal (shout out to anyone who has!) but I have found some simple ways that can greatly reduce the plastic waste in your home, and doesn’t require an entire lifestyle overhaul. With every change we make we are one step closer to a greener, healthier planet Earth.
1. Trash Bags
I know many people (myself included) use plastic grocery bags for trash bags, but guess what?? They make reusable trash bags! I currently have two; one for trash and one for recycling. We got ours from a company called Planet Wise and they come in different sizes so you can easily find one that fits your trash can. The best part is they are water resistant, anti microbial and machine washable. You also won’t have to worry about your trash bag splitting on your way out the door. These bags are very durable and stretchy!
2. Water Bottles
A lot of plastic that ends up in the landfills or the ocean comes from plastic water bottles. A good alternative is a water filter pitcher. I have currently been using the Brita Water Pitcher with the long last filter and I love it! The filter lasts such a long time and there is an indicator light that lets you know when the filter needs changed. The best part is I no longer have to lug those heavy water bottle cases up to the apartment. We can just filter our water right in our own home. It’s a win win 🙂
3. Sandwich Bags
Reduce plastic waste at home by skipping those plastic baggies and opting for reusable sandwich bags instead. We love to bring snacks on long road trips and these little baggies are perfect for apple slices, nuts and the classic PB&J. Best of all they are super easy to clean and can be reused again and again.
4. Shopping Bags
Plastic grocery bags are very convenient, but sadly so many end up in parks, forests, ponds and oceans. An easy switch is to simply bring your own and avoid the plastic bags all together. And have you ever noticed just how quickly you accumulate those little plastic bags? I found myself stuffing them into little cubbies or drawers in the kitchen. I didn’t need or want all of these little bags taking up space. Bringing my own shopping bags has not only cut down at-home waste, but has also helped save space since I am no longer hoarding plastic grocery bags. I also love how strong canvas bags are. I don’t have to worry about those thin plastic bags splitting and spilling milk everywhere.
5. Food Storage Containers
Plastic food containers contain chemicals and overtime as the plastic breakdowns those chemical leak into your food which is terrifying to say the least. Instead opt for glass food storage containers. They will keep your food fresh and safe plus they are super easy to throw into the dishwasher. If you don’t want to invest much money into a product like this you can always save glass jars from things like pasta sauce or salsa. Clean them out and reuse them again and again.
6. K Cup Coffee Pods
This next tip is for my coffee drinkers out there. I absolutely love coffee! Sometimes just the thought of a hot cup of joe is what makes me get out of bed in the mornings. My Keurig has poured a lot of coffee for me over the years, but unfortunately those k cup pods are killer on the planet. But don’t worry, I am not going to tell you to give up coffee (I shiver at the thought), instead you can purchase a reusable k cup pod. This little guy has become my best friend and it’s great because you will no longer be limited to coffee that is only available in k cup pods. I enjoy trying different types of coffee and these little reusable pods have made this so much easier. You can purchase these at Amazon here.
7. Soap
In order to help reduce our plastic at home we decided to switch to bar soap instead of bottled body wash. Most bar soaps come wrapped in paper or in a thin cardboard box that can easily be recycled. It’s also easier to find bar soaps with fewer, more natural ingredients. Our favorites are Beessential and Dr. Bronners soaps.
8. Tampons
Realizing I forgot to replenish my stash of tampons is seriously my worst nightmare. [Insert me frantically searching through purses and backpacks in hopes of finding a stray]. There had to be something better out there. After doing a bit of research I found it! I came across the menstrual cup and let me tell you, this is a gamer changer!
The cup is reusable so no more hunting down tampons! Yay!! The cup also lasts for up to 10 years! Just think about all the plastic and cardboard you could save. You just clean it between uses, pop it back in and you are all set. The one I have is from Saalt, but there are several other brands out there. It does take some time to get use to and to get it inserted correctly so I recommend using some light panty liners for at least that first week until you get the hang of it, but it is so worth it. I will never go back to tampons. End. Of. Story.
Those are my biggest tips that have worked really well for me on my quest to go green and reduce plastic waste at home. They save time, money and the environment. It just doesn’t get any better than that!
Happy Earth Day Everyone!
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