Talking Trash: 7 Small Changes That Can Greatly Reduce Landfill
It's the little habits at home that can make a big difference to the amount of trash you bring to the environment
Would you like to decrease your family’s environmental impact, but don’t know where to start? Although reducing the impact of climate change is a huge challenge, small, everyday changes can make all the difference. Here are seven inexpensive, innovative ideas to get you started.
2. It’s in the bag
While growing your own vegetables is a great ultimate aim, the occasional trip to the supermarket is inevitable for most families. You probably already take larger reusable bags to the supermarket, but the smaller plastic bags we use to separate and transport our fruit and vegetables are part of the problem as well. Eliminate the need for plastic bags entirely by investing in nifty reusable produce bags in both small and large sizes.
10 easy edibles for first-time gardeners
While growing your own vegetables is a great ultimate aim, the occasional trip to the supermarket is inevitable for most families. You probably already take larger reusable bags to the supermarket, but the smaller plastic bags we use to separate and transport our fruit and vegetables are part of the problem as well. Eliminate the need for plastic bags entirely by investing in nifty reusable produce bags in both small and large sizes.
10 easy edibles for first-time gardeners
3. Clever shot
Investing in a machine and making your coffee at home is a great, green alternative to the plague of disposable coffee cups. If you find yourself hankering after a barista-made brew though, venture out to your local cafe armed with your own environmentally friendly Keep Cup. Step up your green credentials a notch by carrying a collapsible, reusable cup in your car or handbag at all times.
Tip: Coffee plungers, such as a french press or Aeropress, and stovetop percolators produce less landfill than their pod-based counterparts.
Investing in a machine and making your coffee at home is a great, green alternative to the plague of disposable coffee cups. If you find yourself hankering after a barista-made brew though, venture out to your local cafe armed with your own environmentally friendly Keep Cup. Step up your green credentials a notch by carrying a collapsible, reusable cup in your car or handbag at all times.
Tip: Coffee plungers, such as a french press or Aeropress, and stovetop percolators produce less landfill than their pod-based counterparts.
4. Don’t bottle it up
While single-use plastic bags jump out as being obviously bad for the environment, have you considered the impact of the plastic shampoo bottles you regularly dispose of? Although most plastic bottles can be recycled, it’s better not to create waste in the first place. Shampoo bars are an innovative idea that eliminate the need for plastic packaging altogether. Moving away from shower gels and back to good old-fashioned soap bars is an easy and effective move, too.
While single-use plastic bags jump out as being obviously bad for the environment, have you considered the impact of the plastic shampoo bottles you regularly dispose of? Although most plastic bottles can be recycled, it’s better not to create waste in the first place. Shampoo bars are an innovative idea that eliminate the need for plastic packaging altogether. Moving away from shower gels and back to good old-fashioned soap bars is an easy and effective move, too.
5. The bee’s knees
Plastic sandwich wrap or cling film is convenient and has a multitude of uses, but the good news is that beeswax wraps are just as functional and make a perfect alternative choice. Buy wraps in several sizes to make sure you’re well covered for every occasion.
Tip: If you’re feeling creative, here’s how to make your own.
Plastic sandwich wrap or cling film is convenient and has a multitude of uses, but the good news is that beeswax wraps are just as functional and make a perfect alternative choice. Buy wraps in several sizes to make sure you’re well covered for every occasion.
Tip: If you’re feeling creative, here’s how to make your own.
6. Your daily bread
Homemade and bakery breads are much nicer than their mass-produced supermarket counterparts, but they don’t always stay as fresh for long. If you’re having this problem, it’s time to invest in some reusable bread bags. Some bread bags are double-lined for easy freezing and many are made from recycled PET drink bottles, making them an even better option.
11 ingredients to get your kitchen “Bake Off” ready
Homemade and bakery breads are much nicer than their mass-produced supermarket counterparts, but they don’t always stay as fresh for long. If you’re having this problem, it’s time to invest in some reusable bread bags. Some bread bags are double-lined for easy freezing and many are made from recycled PET drink bottles, making them an even better option.
11 ingredients to get your kitchen “Bake Off” ready
7. Suck on it
Single-use plastic straws are reportedly one of the top 10 items picked up on beach clean-ups, posing a considerable risk to wildlife as well as unnecessarily adding to landfill.
Ditching straws altogether is an effective choice, but if you’d like to continue using them on special occasions, consider stainless steel or bamboo straws. There’s a huge range available these days, meaning you can have your cocktail and sip it, too. After all, you deserve a reward after all the environmentally friendly changes you’ve made!
TELL US
Are there any other innovative products you’ve discovered that help cut down on landfill? Share your tips in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it and save the images.
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Read more sustainable lifestyle stories
Single-use plastic straws are reportedly one of the top 10 items picked up on beach clean-ups, posing a considerable risk to wildlife as well as unnecessarily adding to landfill.
Ditching straws altogether is an effective choice, but if you’d like to continue using them on special occasions, consider stainless steel or bamboo straws. There’s a huge range available these days, meaning you can have your cocktail and sip it, too. After all, you deserve a reward after all the environmentally friendly changes you’ve made!
TELL US
Are there any other innovative products you’ve discovered that help cut down on landfill? Share your tips in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it and save the images.
MORE
Read more sustainable lifestyle stories
Dental experts recommend we change our toothbrushes every three to four months which contributes to million of toothbrushes ending up in landfills each year. To eliminate unnecessary plastic waste, consider brushing your teeth with eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes instead, such as The Environmental Toothbrush, designed by a Brisbane dentist. Made from bamboo, the handles are biodegradable, environmentally sustainable, and will not pollute the environment.