Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Take control of your household waste and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. Learn practical strategies for reducing garbage and minimizing your environmental footprint.
Reducing Household Waste Should Be A Priority
Reducing household waste has been at the top of our budget this year because we noticed too much garbage leaving our house each week.
If you stop for a moment and think about ALL of the containers in your kitchen, that should make you want to consider reducing household waste.
I know that’s sort of how it went down for us when we began cleaning out our kitchen using the Konmari method of organization last week.
In every cupboard we opened, we found more and more plastics, containers, bottles, bags, and general junk that couldn’t be recycled and that we knew would end up in our landfill.
What you learn about your way of life is fantastic when you become mindful of what is happening around you.
Too often, we are so busy with work, parents, and life that we race through our day and forget about other things that matter, such as our environment.
This year, we committed ourselves and budget to a no-new shop, so we plan to reduce how many products we buy unless 100% needed.
We also decided that whatever we needed to do, we would always check second-hand shops first to see if we could find the items we needed for less.
Although not everything you find at thrift stores may be a bargain, there are plenty of money-savings, especially when they have 50% off or other promo days.
Buy and Sell Reducing Household Waste
I also believe buying and selling used online is a great way to reduce household waste because you sell what is already out there instead of buying something new.
It may not be good from a business perspective, but if we all do a little to help the environment,nt it’s worth a shot.
You also have to remember that many companies today are offering eco-friendly products and working their way into environmentally mindful for consumers.
This way, they offer the best of both worlds and stay on top of keeping up with consumer demand.
I also think it’s responsible for companies to take charge of worrying about our planet and how they can contribute to a better world now and in the future.
Again, we all must do our part.
In the recent news, you may have been made aware of the pollution caused by plastics all over the photos.
This makes Canadians realize how harmful plastics and other household waste impact our environment.
We should also be avoiding “single-use” products such as water bottles, plastic bags or straws.
They also say that it is our responsibility to recycle all materials properly, and municipalities need to improve their waste-management systems.
Plastics Pollution Global News
Another part of our plan for reducing household waste is to stop buying plastic water bottles and enjoy water from our tap, which is perfectly safe to drink.
Most of us think bottled water is the safest to drink because it comes from natural springs or a factory, but who knows how ‘real’ that is?
Nearly 80% of waste of all waste on our land and in our oceans now consist of plastic debris- Norwex Canada
Plus, just because companies like Nestle Waters Canada offer 100% recyclable water bottles doesn’t mean the bottles end up being recycled.
More and more bottles keep showing up in our water, which should warn consumers that we must rethink our mindset about reducing household waste in Canada.
Reducing Household Waste Is Next Level Generation
More than ever in Canada, we need to consider reducing household waste.
This may seem harsh on the budget initially, but you’ll find that e it’s not as pricey as you may think over time.
I’ve compiled a list of ways we plan to target reducing household waste in our home, and we hope that you will consider adopting some of the same practices.
Keep in mind that reducing household waste is a process so you can’t expect it to happen over night nor are you expected to be perfect at it, nobody is.
As much as someone wants to say they’ve bagged the environment thing from all aspects, I doubt that is a reality.
What is real is doing our part to reduce, reuse, see, and recycle what we have as a community, count, and worldwide.
Let’s have a look at what we came up with. I’m excited and hope you will join us on this journey to reduce household waste.
Straws
We don’t use many straws in our house, but when we do, a massive plastic straw is up in our cupboard. Noanymorere.
We are replacing them with stainless steel straws and biodegradable paper straws.
Reusable Containers
Using reusable food storage containers instead of plastic baggies is a big deal, especially now that our son is in school.
We purchased affordable bento-style lunch boxes from Amazon for our son, which seem to work well and come in various sizes.
We ask him which color he’d like each day. His school asked parents to eliminate sending packages and plastic baggies to school and opt for bento lunch boxes if possible.
There are also reusable silicone baggies you can buy that are reusable options and eliminate them.
Another option is buying glass or stainless bowls with silicone bowl covers to store leftover food or freeze foods for later use.
Just remember you won’t be able to eliminate everything, but sourcing the best options is better than doing nothing for our environment.
You may find over time that what you thought was being mindful is replaced by another product the more you learn about reducing household waste.
Reusable Shopping Bags
You can now buy reusable shopping bags and produce bags that you can bring along with your grocery shopping tip.
What I love about them is that you won’t have plastics to dispose of, and they are cost-effective.
The Mesh Reusable Produce Bags are double-stitched, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking on you.
Beeswax Wrap
I found this brilliant product by Abeeg Wrapap after one of the parents at my son’s school mentioned that she uses it at home instead of plastic wrap.
The best part is that Abeego is self-adhesive, soot uses the pressure and warmth from your hands to shape and mold the product around whatever you are wrapping.
It also comes in various sizes, and although the price point may seem high at first, you have to think long-term with products such as this, as well as what goals you plan to achieve from reducing household waste.
When you finish it, wash it in cold water with biodegradable dish soap and hang it to dry.
Abeego saves honey bees by saving food. Did you know the average household throws 1 in 4 produce items into the trash? Imagine the positive effect we would have on honey bees if we took good care of the fresh food they supply us with.
Abeego is all natural. Every ingredient used comes from the earth and will return to it without a trace.
Abeego is zero waste. “Waste” is actually a resource. From day one we adopted a waste free commitment so we make amazing twist ties and fire starters with the excess.
Abeego lasts. Planned obsolesce should be obsolete. Beeswax is valuable so we make Abeego durable. You’ll add to your collection before replacing tired wraps.
Abeego uses minimal energy to produce. Primarily people powered, except our awesome waxing machine that has tripled our output using the same amount of energy.
Another great tip is to use silicon mats instead of tin foil when baking, and I can attest to how well they work since we have about 5 of them.
Shampoo and Soap Bars
A popular retail store in Canada named LUSH is where many people buy package-free and fresh hand-made products such as soaps, shampoo, bath bombs, perfumes, creams, and more.
Mrs. CBB has a LUSH solid perfume that she has been using for about ten years, lasting a long time.
Lush sells loads of package-free products called ‘Naked’ to help consumers decide what they buy.
Every year, millions of tons of packaging ends up in landfills. And the best way to reduce it? By getting rid of it completely! Browse through our shops or online and discover a huge selection of naked (or unpackaged) goodies to choose from including bath bombs, bubble bars, reusable knot-wraps, shower gels, body lotion and more.
Homemade Health and Wellness Recipes
Many websites, such as Wellness, offer recipes for making homemade soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, dish soap, laundry detergent, shaving cream, and more under the Natural Home page.
Related: The Many Uses of Vinegar to Help Clean Up Your Budget.
The premise around making homemade health products is that you are saving money and knowing what you are putting in the recipe, plus eliminating or reducing packaging.
For the ladies, using a Diva Cup or reusable menstrual pads may be better than using applicators or non-recyclable pads.
If you like a sewing machine, you could make your own cloth pads to save even more money.
I had no idea how easy it was to make remineralizing toothpaste that was fluoride-free and perfect for kids.
- Calcium powder (you can use cleaned powdered egg shells!)
- Diatomaceous earth (optional, contains trace minerals and silica. UPDATE: A reader noted that DE can be abrasive and is not needed with the baking soda, so if you don’t have DE… no worries!)
- Baking soda
- Xylitol powder – this ingredient is not completely necessary, but keeps it from tasting bitter
- Coconut oil to achieve the desired texture
- Optional ingredients: essential oils for flavor (mint, cinnamon, and orange are all good), myrrh, and trace minerals
Opting for BPA-free, biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes also eliminates the need for plastic toothbrushes, and they look pretty nice.
Toilet Paper
Source: Cascades Canada
When it comes to toilet paper, there are plenty of options, so read the packaging carefully to find one that suits your family.
Toilet Paper from recycled materials such as Seventh Generation or Cascades made in Canada can be found in many grocery stores in Canada.
Eco-Friendly Cloths instead or 100% Recycled Paper Towel
Using organic, bamboo reusable, absorbent kitchen towels is a great option to eliminate paper towels if you prefer to go that route.
You can also use old t-shirts to make cloths by cutting them up which I’ve done many times because I’m a t-shirt kind of guy so there’s no shortage of them around our house.
Bulk Grocery Shopping
You may not agree with prices when it comes to bulk grocery shopping at places like Costco BUT there are lots of deals to be had.
As a grocery expert we shop started shopping at Costco a couple of years back and do not regret the decision.
Buying products in bulk from Costco reduces the amount of packaging that you bring into your home plus you can still use coupon apps and credit card rewards for added savings to your grocery budget.
Shopping at places like the Bulk Barn is an excellent option because they allow you to bring in your own reusable containers instead of having to take more from the shop.
They often have specials and coupons that will help to reduce your budget costs even further.
Oh and buying your spices in bulk is far better because they will be fresh and you get the option to buy as much or little as you want.
Gardening
A considerable way to reduce household waste is by gardening vegetables and fruits because eliminating the middle man means less packaging.
Once you harvest your products you can freeze them or use canning methods to preserve your produce to use throughout the year.
If you don’t have the space to garden or no green thumb buying from local farmers markets is another option because our Ontario farmers will do the work for you.
Related: How to start your spring garden from seed
Wrapping Paper
Consider wrapping gifts or Christmas presents in brown paper, newspaper, or fabrics instead of buying gift wrap
Another popular website to shop is Norwex Canada where they offer an array of products that address the growing concerns of harmful chemicals, plastic pollution and environmental issues.
Bottom Line
This is where I say you do what works for your family and lifestyle but consider the impact to our environment now and for the future of our children.
Every little bit of reducing household waste is a part each of us owes to the world we live in. It’s a beautiful place, so let’s keep it that way.
Discussion: How do you plan to reduce household waste in your home?
Share your comments below.
There is available (I got mine from the U.S.) a hose and spray which easily attaches to your toilet, and acts like a bidet … great for personal cleanliness and also saves a lot of toilet paper! Sorry I don’t recall the trade name of mine (it was quite inexpensive, around $40) but one could Google …