7 Easy Ways To Reduce Waste In Your Home

We are living in an age of ecological crisis which has largely been fueled by our consumption. Unfortunately, many people view the issue as a large, far-off problem that cannot be comprehensively addressed.

That is far from the truth. Each and every one of us can do their bit to preserve the environment and ensure a more habitable planet for us and future generations.

One thing everyone can do is to reduce the waste they generate in their homes. Proper disposal of waste is just as crucial in aiding ecological preservation.

The following are seven easy ways for you to reduce the waste in your home:

1. Reuse

An easy yet powerfully effective way to reduce waste in your home is to develop a habit of reusing things. It is a practice that has a lot of benefits not only to the environment but also to you personally.

Of the waste that we do generate in our homes every day, there is much of it that we can reuse. Whether it is plastic containers, water bottles or packaging of various other items, if it is still in good condition after its first use, you should reuse it.

Reusing will include a significant amount of responsibility. Bottles will have to be washed and many other things soaked & cleaned. However, if you can commit to reusing, you should reduce the amount of waste in your home significantly.

2. Recycle

Recycling is another habit that anyone who wants to reduce the amount of waste they generate should develop. The difference between reusing and recycling is that in the latter, items are transformed into raw materials before they can be used again.

Despite the extra step, recycling is still an excellent way to reduce the overall amount of waste in your home. Though it will still be produced, you can be certain that it will be transformed into something useful once more.

Therefore, you should have separate bins in your home for recycling, organic material and other types of waste. The more you recycle, the less waste you will be contributing to the ecosystem.

3. Garbage collection service

There are many people who take it upon themselves to dispose of their own garbage. Considering the type of waste produced in a typical home, that can be very difficult to do.

It is much better to hire a local garbage collection service to help you get rid of the waste in your house. For example, if you live around Port Jackson, hire a company for rubbish collection in Sydney – It will ensure that your waste is quickly discarded. Such garbage collection services will collect waste from your property every week on average. Therefore, there will be less chance of waste accumulation on your property. The fee you will pay for the service is much less than what you pay for having a waste-filled property.

4. Composting

We still consume a large number of organic materials in our homes, even for those families that rarely cook. Such waste is being discarded improperly every day which can lead to the accumulation of waste on and off your property.

Therefore, if possible, you should select a bin or part of your property and start composting. You could then have materials that you can easily and generously feed to your garden and promote growth.

Composting is much easier than most people assume but it does require a great deal of discipline. However, if you can consistently compost your organic waste, both your garden and the planet will be better for it.

5. Meal Plan

Keeping with the above point of organic waste, there is a lot of food that is thrown away in modern homes. One way to reduce the amount of organic waste you produce is to have a meal plan.

You should evaluate how much you and your family consume on a weekly basis. Buy the food that will be necessary and measure it appropriately. If you have to store it in the form of measured and labeled meals, so be it.

You should buy all the ingredients in advance so that you will have exactly what you need. Moreover, you will be saving much in terms of food costs. If meals are already prepared, there is less inclination to consume foods that are not in the meal plan.

6. Repair not Discard

We have developed a culture of throwing away things instead of repairing them when even slightly damaged. It has led to the production of a lot more waste than was previously done.

If you want to produce less waste, then you should repair damaged items instead of simply throwing them away. Having quality items that you can use for the long term is always a better strategy than using cheap & disposable ones for both your home and the planet.

Repair costs may seem expensive but in the long run, it is much more economical than repeatedly buying new things. It is especially so if you are quite handy and enjoy making repairs by yourself.

A well repaired house will have more value in the real estate market. Furthermore, repairing things is a marketable skill that you can use to increase your income.

7. Buy in Bulk

The economy of scale is a popular concept well understood by those without an interest in economics. However, very few people actually put the concept to practical use.

If you want to consume less and in effect generate less waste, then it is a good idea to buy your household items in bulk. Buying household items in bulk is something that is beneficial both economically and ecologically.

All the packages discarded as a result of buying goods in small quantities represent a significant portion of the waste generated in most homes. It also means more economic activity to produce them such as transportation and production which further hurts the environment. 

There is much we can all do to produce less waste in our commercial and residential spaces. The seven above are only the tip of a very large iceberg. Even the smallest action counts when it comes to ecological preservation. Just do your part and the rest will take care of itself.