Zero Tolerance: 21 Ways to Waste Less at Home
From food to appliances, we are throwing out more each year, but we can save money and be healthier by throwing less away
Liz Durnan
6 November 2014
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety of magazines and websites in London, New York and Sydney. Now I live in the Blue Mountains bush in a strawbale house that we built from scratch. I write about my passions – mainly books and sustainable housing – while writing a book and attempting a permaculture garden.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety... More
I’ll never forget an episode of a Nigella Lawson cooking show where she pours the leftover wine from her guests’ glasses and freezes it for later use – to throw into a stock or sauce. I just loved how she did this with no thought for whether anyone might have left their germs on the glass. Whether you find that repulsive or just resourceful, no-one could disagree that the amount of stuff we throw out today – especially food – is absurd, but there are some easy ways we can waste less. The campaign Foodwise estimates that the average Australian household throws out more than $1000 worth of food each year.
Celebrity chefs, such as Nigella and Jamie Oliver, have been good at making us more aware of food waste. And some of us will have learned from parents who endured war or post-war shortages and have long been thrifty with waste of all kinds. Here are 21 ways you can do your part to minimise waste, from food to clothing and more.
Celebrity chefs, such as Nigella and Jamie Oliver, have been good at making us more aware of food waste. And some of us will have learned from parents who endured war or post-war shortages and have long been thrifty with waste of all kinds. Here are 21 ways you can do your part to minimise waste, from food to clothing and more.
1. Decide what’s for dinner?
Do you ever find yourself in the supermarket randomly picking up things you would quite like to eat but with no real thought as to what you’re going to cook? I do, but I know that if I think ahead and plan each meal in advance, I’ll be more likely to buy only what I need. Later on in the week, I’ll be much less likely to rush out for takeaway.
Do you ever find yourself in the supermarket randomly picking up things you would quite like to eat but with no real thought as to what you’re going to cook? I do, but I know that if I think ahead and plan each meal in advance, I’ll be more likely to buy only what I need. Later on in the week, I’ll be much less likely to rush out for takeaway.
2. Avoid over-shopping
Attempting to shop less – or shop smarter – can be applied to food and other things, from shoes to handbags to kitchen appliances.
Of course, it’s hard because many of us have shopping addiction hardwired into our brains, and I know only too well how much fun shopping can be. But to reduce waste, really think about everything you bring into your home. If you think it’s an impulse buy, stop and return for it next trip. By the time you go back, the impulse might have gone.
And don’t forget, don’t go to the supermarket hungry. I reckon I can easily add another $50 to my shopping bill every time I do this – I want to buy everything!
Attempting to shop less – or shop smarter – can be applied to food and other things, from shoes to handbags to kitchen appliances.
Of course, it’s hard because many of us have shopping addiction hardwired into our brains, and I know only too well how much fun shopping can be. But to reduce waste, really think about everything you bring into your home. If you think it’s an impulse buy, stop and return for it next trip. By the time you go back, the impulse might have gone.
And don’t forget, don’t go to the supermarket hungry. I reckon I can easily add another $50 to my shopping bill every time I do this – I want to buy everything!
3. Cook from scratch
Sometimes it’s the last thing you feel like doing at the end of a busy day, but the more we can cook from scratch, the healthier we’ll be and the less we will waste.
It’s just as easy to cook a lot as a little, so save time by doubling up. When cooking say, a bolognese or a curry, make more than you need and freeze extra portions for later use. Then, when you have a busy day ahead, you can just reach into the freezer for a ready-made, homecooked meal for dinner.
Sometimes it’s the last thing you feel like doing at the end of a busy day, but the more we can cook from scratch, the healthier we’ll be and the less we will waste.
It’s just as easy to cook a lot as a little, so save time by doubling up. When cooking say, a bolognese or a curry, make more than you need and freeze extra portions for later use. Then, when you have a busy day ahead, you can just reach into the freezer for a ready-made, homecooked meal for dinner.
4. Utilise leftovers
One of the best ways to cut down on food waste is to get creative with leftovers, but we have become so concerned about bacteria that we are throwing away more food than necessary.
However, provided you follow strict hygiene rules, it’s okay to save most foods for the next day. Refrigerate or freeze anything you want to save straight after cooling, checking that your fridges and freezers are set to the right temperatures. Either eat leftovers cold or reheat thoroughly. Many meals are perfect for lunches the next day, at home or at work.
One of the best ways to cut down on food waste is to get creative with leftovers, but we have become so concerned about bacteria that we are throwing away more food than necessary.
However, provided you follow strict hygiene rules, it’s okay to save most foods for the next day. Refrigerate or freeze anything you want to save straight after cooling, checking that your fridges and freezers are set to the right temperatures. Either eat leftovers cold or reheat thoroughly. Many meals are perfect for lunches the next day, at home or at work.
5. Get fruity
Once fruit is on the turn, before you throw it away, consider adding it to a juice or a smoothie or add it to muffins – overripe bananas and berries are great for this. If you have a glut of lemons or limes, freeze the juice in ice-cube trays for use later on.
Once fruit is on the turn, before you throw it away, consider adding it to a juice or a smoothie or add it to muffins – overripe bananas and berries are great for this. If you have a glut of lemons or limes, freeze the juice in ice-cube trays for use later on.
6. Reserve wine
I don’t go quite as far as Nigella and drain the dregs of my guests’ wineglasses but there’s no need to throw away not-quite-empty bottles of wine – I can’t bear to think of good wine going down the drain. Put them back in the fridge for the next few days or freeze for a flavour-boost to sauces and stocks – ice-cube trays are useful once again.
I don’t go quite as far as Nigella and drain the dregs of my guests’ wineglasses but there’s no need to throw away not-quite-empty bottles of wine – I can’t bear to think of good wine going down the drain. Put them back in the fridge for the next few days or freeze for a flavour-boost to sauces and stocks – ice-cube trays are useful once again.
7. Freeze it
A good-sized freezer is one of the best ways to help you save food and leftovers. Invest in a size that’s appropriate for the size of your family when purchasing a fridge/freezer or buy a standalone one if you think you will use it. Always ensure it’s set to be cold enough.
A good-sized freezer is one of the best ways to help you save food and leftovers. Invest in a size that’s appropriate for the size of your family when purchasing a fridge/freezer or buy a standalone one if you think you will use it. Always ensure it’s set to be cold enough.
8. Get organised
Organising your food cupboards and kitchen pantry is a good way to stop wasting food. There’s a reason there is such a jar craze happening right now – they are so useful. Buy or recycle airtight storage jars and have everything visible so you’re not doubling up.
More: 10 Ways to Take Control of Your Kitchen Pantry
Organising your food cupboards and kitchen pantry is a good way to stop wasting food. There’s a reason there is such a jar craze happening right now – they are so useful. Buy or recycle airtight storage jars and have everything visible so you’re not doubling up.
More: 10 Ways to Take Control of Your Kitchen Pantry
9. Avoid packaging
So much of our waste comes from the packaging our food comes in. Some of it can be avoided by shopping at markets or food co-ops where you can take your own bags and jars for food. It’s a little extra work, but worth it.
So much of our waste comes from the packaging our food comes in. Some of it can be avoided by shopping at markets or food co-ops where you can take your own bags and jars for food. It’s a little extra work, but worth it.
10. Give it to the chickens
Of course, not everyone has the space for chooks, but if you do, they’re a great way of recycling food – you feed them scraps, they give you food back. How good is that?
Of course, not everyone has the space for chooks, but if you do, they’re a great way of recycling food – you feed them scraps, they give you food back. How good is that?
11. Or give it to the worms
Worm farms are so useful because you don’t need as much space as for chickens or compost. Worms can be fed lots of different organic waste and those clever little critters will, in turn, give you back one of nature’s richest fertilisers – in liquid form and in nutrient-rich castings.
Worm farms are so useful because you don’t need as much space as for chickens or compost. Worms can be fed lots of different organic waste and those clever little critters will, in turn, give you back one of nature’s richest fertilisers – in liquid form and in nutrient-rich castings.
12. Get growing
With all those rich castings, you’ll want to be potting up some homegrown vegetables – even if you don’t have lots of space. If, like me, you’re not a natural gardener, start with growing some easier vegetables such as spinach. Do some research, find out what will work for your climate and location, and you’ll feel duly rewarded once you have the pleasure of eating at least some food you grew yourself.
With all those rich castings, you’ll want to be potting up some homegrown vegetables – even if you don’t have lots of space. If, like me, you’re not a natural gardener, start with growing some easier vegetables such as spinach. Do some research, find out what will work for your climate and location, and you’ll feel duly rewarded once you have the pleasure of eating at least some food you grew yourself.
13. Enlist help
Get the whole family involved in the waste reduction drive. Start them growing food early and being aware of the natural life cycle and it will become part of the daily routine.
Get the whole family involved in the waste reduction drive. Start them growing food early and being aware of the natural life cycle and it will become part of the daily routine.
14. Grow herbs
Wasting herbs? I plead guilty as charged; I don’t know how many times I’ve found them rotting at the bottom of my fridge, but less so now that I’ve got a few herb gardens and pots happening.
Herbs are great things to have on hand to reduce waste as you often only require a snippet here and there, rather than a whole packaged bunch from the supermarket. They can also be grown by anyone because it’s possible to have a small herb garden, or pots, on a windowsill in a small apartment. I find parsley, rosemary and mint particularly easy, but it all depends on the individual conditions, especially heat and light. You may easily grow what I can consider to be more difficult herbs such as basil and coriander.
Wasting herbs? I plead guilty as charged; I don’t know how many times I’ve found them rotting at the bottom of my fridge, but less so now that I’ve got a few herb gardens and pots happening.
Herbs are great things to have on hand to reduce waste as you often only require a snippet here and there, rather than a whole packaged bunch from the supermarket. They can also be grown by anyone because it’s possible to have a small herb garden, or pots, on a windowsill in a small apartment. I find parsley, rosemary and mint particularly easy, but it all depends on the individual conditions, especially heat and light. You may easily grow what I can consider to be more difficult herbs such as basil and coriander.
15. Compost
Having a good composting system will mean you can recycle all manner of kitchen waste and, in turn, you can keep your vegie garden well fertilised – and that’s one less thing to buy.
Having a good composting system will mean you can recycle all manner of kitchen waste and, in turn, you can keep your vegie garden well fertilised – and that’s one less thing to buy.
16. Sort your waste
Modern day pull-out bins have all kinds of systems to organise your waste. As well as helping you to sort between recycling and normal waste, many of them now have a different bin for things such as compost and chicken feed.
More: 10 Clever Tricks to Hide Garbage in the Kitchen
Modern day pull-out bins have all kinds of systems to organise your waste. As well as helping you to sort between recycling and normal waste, many of them now have a different bin for things such as compost and chicken feed.
More: 10 Clever Tricks to Hide Garbage in the Kitchen
17. Compost your own waste
Perhaps the ultimate in saving – or converting – waste is the compost toilet. They’re not for everyone but if you’re building from scratch, especially in a rural area, they’re a great idea to break down waste in the most natural way possible. This one even manages to look pretty glam.
Perhaps the ultimate in saving – or converting – waste is the compost toilet. They’re not for everyone but if you’re building from scratch, especially in a rural area, they’re a great idea to break down waste in the most natural way possible. This one even manages to look pretty glam.
18. Upcycle
Find ways to use things around the home rather than throw them out. This one is a great example – old 1950s newspapers found at this home became wallpaper, and an old dresser became the bathroom vanity.
There are thousands of ways we can repurpose things – I got sick of buying new wrapping paper for my children’s friends’ birthday presents so I started wrapping them in the more brightly coloured pages of old magazines. Who cares if the parents think I’m too mean to buy wrapping paper?
More: Nifty Thrifting: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
Find ways to use things around the home rather than throw them out. This one is a great example – old 1950s newspapers found at this home became wallpaper, and an old dresser became the bathroom vanity.
There are thousands of ways we can repurpose things – I got sick of buying new wrapping paper for my children’s friends’ birthday presents so I started wrapping them in the more brightly coloured pages of old magazines. Who cares if the parents think I’m too mean to buy wrapping paper?
More: Nifty Thrifting: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
19. Turn old clothes into chairs
For anyone good with their hands, or people who can sew (sadly, not me), saving old fabric is a really useful way to reduce waste. These ingenious chairs were reupholstered with old children’s clothes.
More: Give an Old Chair a New Lease of Life with Upholstery
For anyone good with their hands, or people who can sew (sadly, not me), saving old fabric is a really useful way to reduce waste. These ingenious chairs were reupholstered with old children’s clothes.
More: Give an Old Chair a New Lease of Life with Upholstery
20. Buy longlasting
When purchasing new things, it’s often a good idea to heed the adage: ‘Buy well, buy once’. It can pay to buy the best you can afford rather than buying cheap things that may break down and, because things often cost more to repair than to replace, end up being thrown in the bin. Check the guarantee of a product before you buy it – if it has a five- or ten-year guarantee, chances are, it might actually last that long.
More: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Any Kitchen Appliance
When purchasing new things, it’s often a good idea to heed the adage: ‘Buy well, buy once’. It can pay to buy the best you can afford rather than buying cheap things that may break down and, because things often cost more to repair than to replace, end up being thrown in the bin. Check the guarantee of a product before you buy it – if it has a five- or ten-year guarantee, chances are, it might actually last that long.
More: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Any Kitchen Appliance
21. Sort out your wardrobe
The same principles as sorting out our kitchen cupboards can be applied to our clothes – if we regularly take stock, de-clutter and know what we have, then we will be more likely to buy only what we need.
TELL US
Do you have any tricks for reducing waste around the home? We’d love to hear about them in the comments section.
MORE
Easy Ways to Declutter and Organise Your Wardrobe
11 Ways to Save Water (and a Little Money While You’re at It) at Home
11 Tricks to Save Energy … and Money
10 Money-Saving Habits Sure to Perk Up Your Bank Balance
The same principles as sorting out our kitchen cupboards can be applied to our clothes – if we regularly take stock, de-clutter and know what we have, then we will be more likely to buy only what we need.
TELL US
Do you have any tricks for reducing waste around the home? We’d love to hear about them in the comments section.
MORE
Easy Ways to Declutter and Organise Your Wardrobe
11 Ways to Save Water (and a Little Money While You’re at It) at Home
11 Tricks to Save Energy … and Money
10 Money-Saving Habits Sure to Perk Up Your Bank Balance
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Good advice, but already implementing it all. Solar power and hot water, 3 bin composting system, chickens and worms. My biggest gripe is with urban authorities and developers who neglect passive solar orientation and design in new builds. The orientation and design of my house was what sold it to me. I would never rent or buy a property that did not have most of its orientation facing north and a minimum of windows to the south in Australia. The opposite would be true if I lived in the Northern hemisphere. It saves so much energy and heating!