The generation of household waste is increasing year by year in our country, but fortunately, many people are passionate about protecting the environment and strive to reduce the amount of waste generated in their own households. In this article, we have brought you 10 tips that can help you reduce the amount of waste produced in your home in the long run. This way, not only will your home be more environmentally friendly, but you will also free yourself from the constant need for garbage disposal, as the less waste you generate, the fewer times you need to take out the trash.
In the kitchen:
- Stop using paper napkins and paper towels in the kitchen, and instead, use reusable cloth napkins and kitchen towels. Reusable cloth napkins are made of fine fabric and can be used multiple times, they are machine washable, but they are significantly thinner, finer, and more decorative than kitchen towels. It is worth getting kitchen towels and cloth napkins that are made of environmentally friendly materials.
- Use cloth dishcloths instead of plastic sponges.
- Use glass or metal containers for storing food instead of plastic containers.
- When hosting guests or throwing a party, avoid disposable products and opt for reusable, environmentally friendly, and washable items, such as bamboo cups and utensils.
- Avoid using coffee machines and capsules, and instead, choose a classic coffee maker and use ground coffee. You can compost the used coffee grounds in your garden or balcony, thus replacing synthetic fertilizers and providing nutrient-rich soil for your plants.
While shopping:
- Don’t buy new plastic bags when shopping, instead, bring reusable cloth shopping bags with you. This way, you can reduce the use of single-use plastic bags.
- Purchase products in larger sizes to use less packaging and generate less waste.
- If possible, choose products that are packaged in recyclable packaging.
During cleaning:
- Make your own cleaning products at home to reduce the use of chemicals and their packaging. You can make cleaning products using baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice.
- If you are unable to make your own cleaning products, choose environmentally friendly and organic cleaning products.
- Replace disposable dust bags with textile vacuum cleaner bags that can be used for a long time with regular emptying and cleaning.
- Separate and recycle waste at home, and always separate recyclable and non-recyclable materials.
For families with young children:
- Use washable cloth diapers instead of disposable ones if you have a baby in the family.
- Replace disposable wet wipes with washable cloth wipes.
- Buy baby clothes made from recycled or organic materials.
- Pass on baby clothes to the next child in the family or donate outgrown clothes to charitable causes. For very stretched or outgrown clothes, you can cut them with scissors and make them into cleaning rags that you can use for a long time.
- Instead of plastic toys, choose toys made from environmentally friendly materials, such as wooden toys from reputable manufacturers. Avoid easily broken, unusable plastic toys that only take up space in the room until you throw them away.
And finally, but not least, stop browsing through paper newspapers and magazines, and opt for online magazines. 🙂
