It has been gradual, but over the last couple years we've been making small changes toward reducing waste - inspired by the Zero Waste Family and the fact that after an entire year they only produced one mason jar full of trash (if you can believe that!). I am the first to admit that we will likely never even come close to such an accomplishment, but I immediately recognized that we could do much better than a big trash bag full of garbage every few days.
We've all heard that we should Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but my favorite "R" is actually one I just learned about recently and that is to REFUSE. Say "no, thank you" to the free pen at the trade show or hotel, stop entering those raffle contests, and don't buy any more cheap plastic toys that you know your child will forget about in 2.4 seconds! Already being a type-A "purger" at heart, this motto has really hit home with me. I strive to have all our rooms and closets clean and neatly organized, but guess what - I would have to spend a lot less time doing that cleaning and organizing if we had less unnecessary stuff! So I am doing my best to stop those garbage bags full of unnecessary trash and Goodwill offerings before they even happen.
So in light of this new motto (and Earth Day today!) here are 10 ways we're working to "reduce" our footprint that others can easily adopt:
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Cloth Napkins.Want to Save this Recipe?
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Ditching paper napkins was something I considered for a long time before I actually did it. Then once we made the switch (and I realized how easy it was!), I couldn't believe I had waited so long. The first step for me was to clear out a drawer in the kitchen to store our new cloth napkins (they take up a lot more room than a little stack of paper ones). So I finally dedicated a day to getting rid of more unnecessary stuff, ordered some attractive napkins that didn't appear to hold too many wrinkles (because I knew ironing them was an unrealistic expectation), and came up with a new routine. We decided we didn't need a "fresh" napkin every single meal so in-between uses we just hang our colorful new napkins on the back of our chairs. I also created a new spot in the laundry room for the dirty ones that I just add to a load of laundry as needed. And let me tell you what - this new routine is easy peasy and not only do we save money on not buying paper napkins, but we also enjoy the more "upscale" feel of using real napkins at the table!
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Reusable Grocery Bags.
This is nothing new, but what's new for me is that I finally have a good grocery bag "system" (so I don't constantly have bags scattered across the back of my car and in some cases throughout the house), and I also finally got the hang of this new routine so I remember to actually bring my bags into the store with me. My grocery bag system is big/strong enough to hold a week's worth of groceries - so I never run out of room. It took some getting used to, but I finally have this one down!
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Mesh Produce Bags.
I was finally doing so well with the reusable grocery bags I decided to take things a step further and get some reusable produce bags as well. But I admit I've forgotten to bring/use them the last couple times I've gone grocery shopping. I do have the best of intentions though and am determined to make this part of my new routine as well!
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- Less Bottled Water.
If I were to say NO more plastic bottles of water I would just be lying to myself. Let's face it sometimes you just need disposable (for example it was a requirement that I send a disposable marked bottle with my kids for field day).
Also sometimes I am already super late and flying out the door and don't feel like I can spare the extra minute to fill up my own water - and maybe I went running that morning so I am super parched. That may sound ridiculous, but that is just reality on a rare occasion. I will say though that we have reduced our disposable bottled water purchases a great deal, which is not only less wasteful but also a great way to save a little money as well. And that's in part because of how much I LOVE my reusable thermos cup. I seriously bring this thing almost everywhere I go including trips when I bring it empty through airport security so I can fill it up on the other side. The best part about this cup is that it's insulated and will literally keep ice for almost 24 hours, which - for someone like me who loves super cold water - is quite the incentive to choose this over the plastic bottled stuff that will be lukewarm in an hour! My thermos also does not "sweat" or leak so really a great all around investment if you are looking to make the switch.
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Buying in Bulk + Glass Jars.
Let's face it - the more processed food you buy the more packaging ends up in the trash. If you buy in bulk it's typically cheaper and you can store everything in your own reusable glass jars, which I also think looks kind of pretty in the pantry. :) I am not going to lie though when my neighbor recently came over she looked in my pantry and said, "Where is all your food?" I laughed because she was looking at it! I guess it's quite a different look than all the typical packages.
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Cloth Dish Rags.
I have a feeling I am little late getting on this bandwagon, but up until recently we were cleaning our counters with paper towels. I have some slight germaphobe tendencies therefore I usually feel like our sponge (that I regularly wash in the dishwasher) is probably dirtier than it is clean. But once again, for me it's all about coming up with a new system, and I've finally settled on one I am comfortable with and can keep up with here. I bought enough reusable microfiber dish rags to have a fresh one each day. I just plop them in the little basket of dirty reusable napkins I mentioned earlier, and all is well in the world. :)
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Recycle More.
We've always recycled, but were admittedly never very "hard core" about it. After a free little tour of our local recycling center last summer - along with some education on what can and can't be recycled - we finally kicked things into high gear. Down to the cardboard toilet paper rolls all the way in the upstairs bathroom we are much more diligent about not just trashing everything in sight.
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Compost.
Composting - or as some call it "rot" - is another one of those ideas we considered, and watched other people do, for a long time before trying it ourselves. And getting a compost bin for Christmas last year was exactly the push we needed to get started. I was surprised at how quickly we caught on to what to save (carrot peels, coffee grinds, egg shells, etc.) without accidentally putting those things down the drain, but what we still haven't quite caught on to yet is how to actually turn that waste into nice pile of beautiful compost instead of...umm, muck. We think we need more "brown" stuff, but we haven't quite nailed down the right combination just yet so to be honest our composting is currently on hold until we figure this thing out. Advice in the comments is welcome!
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Stop Junk Mail.
Another area where we've really been wanting to "reduce" is all those catalogs that oftentimes go straight into the recycle bin (which is certainly better than the trash, but still not as good as not getting them at all)! So we recently set up a free account with Catalog Choice and have already opted out of about 20 or so catalogs. They say it may take up to 90 days to take effect...does anyone else use this service or recommend another?
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Refuse.
As I mentioned above...my new favorite way to be less wasteful is to refuse anything that may become waste in the first place! One great way to do this is to "gift" experiences rather than more stuff. Consider going on a small trip together or giving tickets to a special ball game or a fun concert for birthdays. I also love the idea of asking party guests to donate to a charity (Bright Blessings would be a great one) instead of giving presents to the host - although I have not been able to convince my children to try this out yet. I am still holding out hope that one day they will agree it is a great idea!
Mesh Produce Bags.
Also sometimes I am already super late and flying out the door and don't feel like I can spare the extra minute to fill up my own water - and maybe I went running that morning so I am super parched. That may sound ridiculous, but that is just reality on a rare occasion. I will say though that we have reduced our disposable bottled water purchases a great deal, which is not only less wasteful but also a great way to save a little money as well. And that's in part because of how much I LOVE my 
Buying in Bulk + Glass Jars.
Cloth Dish Rags.
Recycle More.
Compost.
Stop Junk Mail.
Refuse.-
In addition to the suggestions above we also try to send an almost waste-free lunch to school everyday as well. Please share your own tips on being less wasteful in the comments below!
Blair says
Cute napkins, but $30+ (and shipping) is quite expensive for a set of 6. DIY for this project would be alot less expensive and just as cute. :)
amanda says
For a basic DIY project decide what size napkin you want. Cut out cloth a bit larger than twice that size. Fold, right sides together and sew two open sides. Turn threw. Fold the open end so the ends tuck inside. Then sew shut. Add decorations, etc as you get more comfortable with it.
I've been working on reusing old clothing. My kiddos stain their shirts, pop holes in the knees, shred the pant leg by their feet, etc.....But there is so much material there that is still good and reuseable. The stained sections can be cut in strips and braided into a rug or bag. Braiding will hide the stains. Smaller pieces are saved for kids craft projects or to use as a stuffing for a stuffed animal.
linda says
It seems like a lot of $ but I have been using mine for about 20 years. That's pretty cheap at $.20 per napkin per year. Make sure you use 100% cotton as they are easier to keep clean. I make mine out of homespun so they look the same on both sides and just serge the edges.
Cheryl says
I've even gone to using a Diva cup. I've stopped waste, am doing something for my health and the initial outlay of $30 has been recouped in less than two months! This is one of the best investments I have made.
Jill P says
I've been collecting kitchen scraps, too... it is so surprising how quickly it adds up and how hard it is to keep up with. We are using the bokashi bin, and ours also doesn't break down into the nice black dirt... more like really gross, moldy old food. However, I buried a couple rounds in our garden a couple months ago, and the tomato plants growing there are definitely bigger and greener than the others!
I'm not keeping up with it as well as I'd like, but I just hate throwing away all the extra organic produce scraps and egg shells that we are paying so much more $$ for!
Jeff says
I am always amazed at how many plastic bags are used to pack your groceries, seems like they pack one item per bag. A solution we found is using reusable market bags that are also made from recycled wool sweaters, they look great too.
http://oldmadenew.org/products-page/rosette-market-totes/
Kill two birds(just a saying PETA)with one stone; save a sweater from the landfill and use it to replace the multitude of plastic bags that eventually find its way there too.
Cathy says
More brown in your compost should help it be more like dirt and less like sludge.
Straw and dry leaves are great.
Wendy says
I don't worry too much about the ratio of brown to green in my compost containers. I just throw everything in there all winter, then transfer it to my garden in the spring. Gross, a little, but I can handle it. I do the same thing all summer. Easy! I think this is called Lasagna gardening or sheet composting.
Kelley says
Hiya,
Catalog Spree is a great alternative to getting a bunch of catalogs in your mailbox. There's no waste, you can browse many catalogs from your favorite stores and even discover new ones. You can define which brands you like and don't like in order to personalize the catalogs you see.
Catalog Spree has also partnered with Paperkarma to help reduce the print catalogs that are mailed to you today. so not only can you stop print catalogs but you can view them on your iPhone, iPad or computer.
Check out Catalog Spree at shop.catalogspree.com or download the app in the App Store. It's a great app! Try it out.
Cheers,
Kelley
Kari says
Enjoyed reading your blog today. Was the first time I've read it. I love my reusable grocery bags and will be looking for reusable produce bags. I also loved the idea of cloth napkins! I had to give you a shout out on my blog :)
~Kari
Jenna says
I know this is not a subject all people feel comfortable with, but I reduced SO MUCH waste by switching to a re-usable menstrual cup (I use the Diva Cup). It saves so much money and is better for your body. highly recommend checking it out!
KarinSDCA says
We compost directly in the garden beds. Limited space prompted me to research alternatives and it has been working for 7-8 years now! I purchased two type of worms: red wrigglers (composting) and earthworms (aerating, burrowing) to improve our horrible, "dead" soil, and the benefits have been exponential!
The key to avoiding critters is to burying the waste. It is easy if you leave a trowel nearby. You don't have to dig a hole to China. Just flip the soil over, place your food waste in hole, scoop displaced dirt back on top, and pat down with the back of the trowel. Takes seconds.
The rewards are beautiful, edible plants with low cost...and a deeper connection to the plants and earth...among others... :)
Elizabeth says
Just FYI, Lisa: The link you posted for the Reusable Grocery Bag system is listed as "currently unavailable" with the message "We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock". Any others you can recommend?
Julia says
We use these cotton ones and love them! They are washable.
Julia says
Oops! Here's the link
http://www.amazon.com/Oversized-Grocery-Multipurpose-Shoulder-Webbing/dp/B0012829XK/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1366753467&sr=1-2&keywords=cotton+grocery+bags
Elizabeth says
Thank you!
Krysta says
I suggest looking into grub composting.. Really creepy the first time you see them but they go to town!! 25lbs of waste (even meat!) becomes 5lbs. Population gets to high, feed them to chickens or the local birds. They make a great fertilizer for the garden.
Don't put the bin right next to the back door though :P
Dana says
Since finding the PlanetBox on your site, and purchasing one for my son's lunch, I have not used a single baggie! I have also decided that anything in the fridge can be placed in a glass or plastic container, instead of a baggie. I love the idea of the reusable produce bags! I know some people hate plastic grocery bags, and I definitely use reusable ones as much as possible, but I still like reusing plastic bags for my bathroom and (small) kitchen trash can.
Claire says
My fiancé and I use ReUsies for our lunches. No more plastic sandwich bags to throw away!
Andrea says
I put a sticker on my mailbox - No Flyers Please - and the post office noted that, so we don't get any waste mail anymore!
Lisa says
Andrea - That is brilliant...I just take the flyers out of the paper box and put them right in the recycling bin. We are going to have to do that, too!
KarinSDCA says
I called our local mailing companies and asked them to remove me/our address from their lists. It took 3-6 weeks, but it works. I also noticed our mail carrier put a note inside our mailbox saying "no ______ and _________ and _________", which helps with substitute mail carriers!
Ljiljana says
I like this post a lot! I thik kids should have classes on saving & keeping clean our enviroment from the earliest age and we all neet to teach our own, too.
I use kitchen paper towels only to mop up fat from frying pan (one that I think should not go to dog's bowls) because fat means dead for septic tank that we have; food that is not for compost but promotes bacteria growth goes happily into loo to feed bugs in our septic tank! Our compost heap is in least sunny garden corner, gets some grass clippings and old chopped cardboard - lots of food lefovers get eaten by birds..which I do not mind - there is enough for everyone - and by picking on it they further chop it - which helps , too.
I heard that if you put your wet dish rag on the saucer and in your microwave and run it for half min it will cover the oven walls with layer of mist and make it easy to clean. So, I did that - and it was OK - but, I discovered that microwave also kills all cretures living in that dish rag - although it seemed clean, it would become very slimy, and when you start rinsing it - stuff just keep coming out...It is the cheepest and very efective way to keep your dish cloth super clean at all times ..
Felicity says
I keep my compost in a non-sludgy state by adding lots of shredded paper and cardboard to the mix. I add a little shredded paper with every pot of kitchen scraps, and about once a week add a layer which covers the top of the compost entirely. I've found successful composting very rewarding and would encourage you to keep trying!
With the few bits of paper that come into our house (e.g. mail envelopes, receipts, toilet rolls)which I shred myself by hand, I have plenty of paper for my compost - and the worms love it.
Gina says
Although it should be remembered that shredded paper compost (which might go on a food garden?) should never contain paper with colored ink, like many of the mail flyers. You don't want the toxic stuff in the ink leaching into the soil, water and, thus, your food garden. Might be OK for flowers, but why chance it?
Krysta says
The toxic ink has been outlawed and is no longer used. I used to work for a direct mailer ( call the office, your local penny saver will know where they are) :)
Adero Ramseur says
Hi,
As a child growing up, my grandparents had a farm. Most of the food that they consumed was grown by them. I remember looking in my grandmother's pantry and seeing rows and rows of canned veggies. I guess that is why I love idea #5. What items do you buy in bulk and from where do you buy them?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Adero. The Leake's often buy these items in bulk and typically from Earth Fare: dried fruit, nuts and seed, grains, salt, yeast, lentils, beans, as well as whole wheat flour varieties. Hope that helps. ~Amy
Britton @ London eye hotels says
Well, this is reallly informative tips to follow to reduce food wastage.
Beth says
I use cloth diapers and cloth wipes. With 3 kids in diapers right now we save a TON of money and a TON of trash!
Sarah says
We are so fortunate to have curb-side composting and recycling for paper and hard plastics, which takes care of the majority of our food waste. Eating "Real Food" also means that there is very little left in the garbage - just packaging from meat and non-food purchases like toys :)
I hope more communities get on board with the curb-side composting. It's very easy for households to do, generates revenue through sales of soil, and reduces the volume of waste going to the land fill.
Arati Halbe says
Hi,
This was a neat summary of all that can be done. An interesting point to observe is that, majority of the third world country population has been forever doing such things. It seems a welcome change for a person like me (from a third world country...well, i do not like that terminology actually!) when we used to get scorned for using cloth instead of (tissue) paper or water instead of (toilet) paper towards people actually taking up use of more Eco-friendly things.
What I like about the post is that these things are relatively simple and easy to implement and the waste saving is sizeable :)
Thank you for this post
sue says
And yes, we use Catalog Choice and though it hasn't completely stopped our junk mail, it's sure put a dent in it. I set aside an hour every month to call the solicitors that continue to send catalogs and junk mail and the progress is slow, but sure. We started about 2 years ago with about 10 pieces of mail a day and now we're down to one local mailer and one piece of mail on most days! Does anyone have advice as to how to get off of local mail lists? (postal customer mail)
Kelly says
I have spoken to my mail carrier and scoured the UPSP website, and I don't think there is any way to get off of local mail lists. In fact, the USPS offers a service to local businesses in which they can basically draw a box around an area on a map and the USPS will deliver marketing materials to every address in that area. It doesn't even have to have your name OR address on it, but your mail carrier is required to deliver it to you. There is no way I can find to opt out of this. It seems to me, therefore, that the USPS is undermining our attempts to eliminate junk mail and reduce waste. Perhaps as more people attempt to reduce waste and learn about this, there may be pressure on the USPS to change this policy.
Judy says
I was able to opt out of the local coupon mailers when they had my name on it, but then they started again without my name. They're usually connected to a newspaper and through the newspaper's website, I was able to unsubscribe from it again. It's worked so far.
sue says
We have a small kitchen compost collection bin that has a great filter which means no smells in the house so we don't constantly need to run outside to the compost bin. And our bin outside is just an aerated trash bin for our kitchen waste and when the kids think of it, leaves and grass clippings. Composting with worms is much faster and you get better compost, too, but our system works to break everything down when turned once a quarter. Whenever we plant a new tree or garden, we till the area and add our compost at whatever stage it has decomposed. It will continue to break down in the garden beds, so we choose not to worry about having it fully composted when added.
Sheila says
Shopping at charity shops is another way to reduce waste. We call it treasure hunting. So much cheaper and it is amazing what you can find. Food canisters, kitchen appliances, movies, games, books. Etc. Nice for replacing game pieces too.
Melanie says
Having bpa free containers available for food storage and leftovers so that we can quit using plastic wrap/baggies. Once you get in the mindset you start using them for everything! I usually put our mesh produce bags at the bottom of the grocery bag we use the most or in the diaper bag (since we bring the diaper bag everywhere). We also put our reusable water bottles in the diaper bag. I really can't remember the last time I bought a plastic one because you can refill water bottles almost everywhere there is a water fountain or soft drink machine.
Katelyn says
If you're trying to do away with disposable plastic bottles you should look into water week (http://www.amazon.com/Reduce-01175-WaterWeek-10-Ounce-Girls/dp/B005447K7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366679158&sr=8-1&keywords=waterweek). I have a set of the small bottles that my daughter takes to school. Ignore the reviews that say they leak, I've flipped them upside down and no leaks. I love the small size to grab on my way out the door and it fits perfectly in my purse. The idea is that as soon as they're washed you immediately fill them back up and place in the fridge, so you always have cold water to go. I'm planning to buy another set before next school year, we use them so much!
Bethany says
We use these as well! We have two different "girl" sets and two different "boy" sets. One is for their water they drink all day at school and one is for juice at lunch. We fill them all up on Sunday night and stick them in the fridge so they are ready for the entire week. It is so easy in the morning! The trays nestle together really nicely so 4 trays don't take up as much room as I feared.
They have never leaked for us either. If you go to the manufacturers website, you can order replacement lids (just in case the kids lose one) and even push-pull lids which we haven't tried yet. The best part is that they are dishwasher safe, though we do choose to hand-wash the lids.
Lark says
If we paid by the pound at the dump, we would do all of the above and more!
I love the glass jars. What do you do with directions (if they are needed)?
Also, I am really torn about composting kitchen waste in anything other than my worm bin due to the varmints it attracts.
Oh and as for those toilet paper rolls, we are using them to decrease the tick population. Unfortunately, you have to spray cotton balls with premrethrin, but if it keeps anyone from getting lyme, it is worth it.
Sandy mayn says
Please elaborate on your tick comment. How are you using the premrethrin? We have only ever treated clothes with it for missions trips. Would love a way to pretect family from ticks at home. Thanks!
Lark says
Spray premrethrin bug spray onto cotton balls and let it dry. Then put the cotton balls into toilet paper or other tubes. Place them outside, particularly near where field mice may be (sheds, wooded areas, etc.) The mice take the cotton to make their nest comfy. The premrethrin disrupts the reproductive cycle of the ticks. Contrary to popular belief, mice are the biggest transmitters of the deer tick, not deer. You can also buy the tubes if you prefer. I have also heard of a salt lick sprayer for deer, but I have not seen it. As the deer cranes its neck down to the salt, a spray of tick killer gets them on the back of the neck.
Michelle says
I cut out the directions and store them inside the glass jar with the rice, pasta, or whatever.
Sara says
Man, I really need to get back on the bandwagon. I did almost ALL of this before we moved, but somehow it was way too easy to fall back on paper products after we moved. I am working on getting our new (rental) home to recycle as well. /sigh/ It's a work in progress!
Colleen says
These are some awesome reusable snack bags--to help to get away from Ziplocs. And yes, they can even hold "wet" items like sliced oranges. Easy to clean, too! I'm a big fan.
http://www.theslingsisters.com/c_4/Reusable-Snack-Bags.htm
Amy D. says
OOOOO! Thanks for that! I'll have to get me some of those. :)
Janet says
We have used cloth napkins forever. I buy a bag of cotton shop rags (usually the red ones at the auto supply store or Home Depot). They wash easily and get softer with each use.
Grace F says
The shopping bag system looks great, but how do you clean them? Especially if you buy things that may leak. We use envirosax, which are compact, amazingly durable, exceptionally strong, machine washable, and stylish, too. I've tried out lots of reusable bags, and envirosax have been the best - I've had mine for about four years now, and they look and function as good as new!
Melinda says
I try to find a balance between not being wasteful, yet being realistic that sometimes it's ok to use disposable.
When my kids went through the "need a tissue" phase, I got a few cloth handkerchiefs to use. I would use a real tissue when they actually needed to blow and clean their nose, but for the quick sniffly wipe or the excuse to get out of bed one more time, the handkerchief is perfect.
Also, I have several cloth/reusable snack bags. When you are packing three or four lunches with two or three snacks each, a box of plastic bags doesn't last long.
I have a clothesline and use it for sheets and towels, but don't hang every sock and washcloth.
We use cloth dishtowels and washcloths, but there are times when a Bounty papertowel is needed. A single roll lasts more than a month.
My kids each fill their water bottles before we leave the house, but I keep a case of water bottles in the back of my car for those days we are on the go longer than expected.
We really try not to be wasteful, but I don't think we need to beat ourselves or each other up for the reality of living in a crazy busy world.
Alicia Stanley says
Awesome list! I can't wait to start using the produce bags...That's one thing I never thought of before! My husband and I actually reuse the produce bags from the grocery store in an interesting way...we use them to line our countertop mini compost bin that gets emptied out into the big compost tumbler in the yard once it is full. It makes it so easy to gather all the scraps. If you need advice about composting, check out this blog post that I wrote about composting. I have been gardening and composting since I was a kid and have tried almost every method around. :) It is a lot easier than most people think! http://aliciainwonderlandblog.com/2012/09/11/composting-101/
HeatherV says
The compost should have 1/3 greens, 1/3 browns and 1/3 added dirt to make into new dirt. You layer it but once it has decomposed a bit you have to turn it more to get to decompose faster. I think those new rotating bins are a fabulous invention. More turning with less muscle.
Lisa Seidenkranz says
For those who want to reduce excess/waste I reccomend a good read. Seven: an experimental mutinany against excess. Some really great chapters on this subject. I especially like the chapter on waste.
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents says
I think I NEED those produce bags. :-) Thanks!!
Kelli says
Great article with so many good ideas! Sharing!
Jennifer Miller says
I would love to take my glass jars for the bulk bin, but how do you avoid paying the extra charge for the weight of the glass? We recycle, compost, etc. One thing we do to save water is to use the 2 gallon bucket in the bathroom. We put it under the spout to catch the water while the water is running/warming up. I use it water houseplants, grass, veggies and the animals use it as their water dish. I'm still trying to get my husband on board with that one though.
Sam says
Use those mesh bags Lisa talked about in #3 to get your bulk items like seeds and nuts. Then store in the glass jars. I found my bags in the produce market of my supermarket. They only had them that one time. So glad I found them.
I
Jenn says
Jennifer, what you do is weigh the jar before you put anything in. That is the tare weight. Write it down on the same sticker or whatever you write the bulk number down on. The cashier will remove the tare weight from the total so you'll only get charged for the food.
Jeannie says
For my child's birthday party favour, instead of going to the dollar store and picking up cheap plastic junk, we made cookies in a jar. Each child went home with the directions and the dry ingredients to make cookies at home. It may have cost a bit more than five dollars a child but it was a hit with both the kids and parents!
Shallon says
Similarly our party favor was a book for each child, and my son wrote a "Thanks for coming" type message inside the cover each one.