Reduce Waste at Home

Reducing waste at home just makes sense! Save money and resources with wise purchasing, recycling and

reusing. Here are some quick ideas:

  • Reuse cups, bags, jars & plastic containers
  • Use cloth towels and napkins to eliminate paper waste
  • Save & reuse boxes
  • Maintain items to reduce repairs and find a fix-it clinic when you need help making a repair
  • Use rechargeable batteries
  • Remove yourself from unwanted mailing lists
  • Pass used goods to family, friends or charities—or have a garage sale
  • Use your own shopping bags
  • Make wise purchases
  • Buy in bulk when practical
  • Buy durable, repairable items
  • Buy returnables & refillables
  • Buy non-hazardous products
  • Buy products without packaging or with packaging made from recyclable materials
  • Borrow, rent or share items instead of purchasing

Pack a Waste Free Lunch

Lunch boxes are a great place to reduce waste. Individually-wrapped cookies, chips, beverages and other snacks can be convenient for busy parents and exciting for kids. These items, however, are more expensive and create an incredible amount of unnecessary waste. According to wastefreelunches.org, it has been estimated that, “on average, a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school.”

You can reduce lunch waste with these simple ideas:

  • Dole out portions from a family size bag or package to reduce waste, while controlling portion sizes for kids. Place chips or cookies in a reusable container that can be refilled every day.
  • Pack sandwiches and fruit in reusable containers instead of disposable bags or cups.
  • Transport beverages in reusable metal or plastic bottles so that new bottles and cans aren’t being used every day.
  • Use lunch boxes or re-usable bags instead of paper and plastic.
  • Pack a reusable cloth napkin instead of paper and stainless-steel forks and spoons  instead of plastic.
  • Food waste can be brought back home for composting instead of filling the trash bins at school.