41 Quick Tips to Reduce Your Trash Trail

We’ve been pretty ungrateful guests here on earth. Trash can be found everywhere in the world, from the top of Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench.

The average American generates 4.4 pounds of trash every single day according to the EPA, which amounts to more than 728,000 tons of garbage produced every day in the United States alone. It’s time we do everything we can to cut those numbers down as individuals.

1. Don’t buy beverages in cans or single-serving bottles.

2. Buy used books, get a library card, or invest in an e-reader.

3. Switch to tubeless toothpaste and compostable bamboo toothbrushes.

4. Swap bottled soap for package-free bar soap.

5. Take your own reusable containers with you to box up your leftovers at restaurants.

6. Invest in a long-lasting, reusable coffee cup that you love. Single-use/disposable coffee cups can’t be recycled because of the inner lining. Some cafés even give a discount if you bring your own container! (FYI- This year, Starbucks developed a new cup that’s coated with a compostable lining!)

7. Everyone knows to bring reusable bags to grocery stores to cut out use of plastic bags, but don’t forget to do the same at shopping malls and retail stores, too!

8. Cancel all unnecessary mail. There are websites to help you opt out of junk mail listings and unsolicited credit card offers. Be sure to opt into paperless billing options for all your bills.

9. Make a meal plan and stick with it to eliminate food waste.

10. Start composting by either taking advantage of a local compost site, or by investing in a small indoor compost bin for your kitchen.

11. When you order takeout/delivery, leave a note in the comment box saying you don’t need cutlery or napkins.

12. Nix dryer sheets altogether, or swap them for reusable wool dryer balls.

13. Unsubscribe right away from stores’ email ads to eliminate both e-waste and impulse buying.

14. Compost liquid waste so that you can stop buying garbage can liners.

15. Save old toothbrushes for polishing or cleaning tight areas.

16. Cut your laundry detergent use in half.

17. When you host parties or participate in a potluck, choose finger foods.

18. Find a local business that allows you to bring and fill your own containers with the products they sell. Some businesses do this with shampoo, soap, etc.

19. Buy your milk and juice in returnable/refillable glass bottles if your grocery store allows it. Most even offer you money back for doing so!

20. Join buy-and-sell groups on Facebook.

21. Reuse Ziplock bags.

22. Save and reuse all gift bags, tissue paper, and wrapping paper.

23. Use rechargeable batteries in every device possible.

24. Learn to repair rather than discard. YouTube videos come in handy when you need step-by-step instructions to fix or DIY almost anything!

25. Make a habit of asking your server to please skip the straw.

26. Buy unpackaged, fresh foods and produce anytime it’s an option.

27. Use durable, washable cloths instead of paper towels and paper napkins.

28. Install a bidet to stop consuming huge amounts of toilet paper. You can find highly-rated bidets online for as little as $25. If you’re wanting to keep the hygiene of your privates, well, private, you can purchase a travel bidet to keep under the sink cabinet for as little as $10.

29. If you have menstrual periods, consider using a menstrual cup and leaving behind pads and tampons for good.

30. Buy in bulk anytime it makes sense. Consider the expiration date first.

31. Take your lunch to work/school with a lunchbox and reusable snack bags instead of getting takeout.

32. Extend the life of your clothing by learning some simple sewing and patching techniques. You could support your local seamstress or learn to do it yourself with a YouTube video!

33. Shop at consignment stores and vintage boutiques. You can often find brand new items and even luxury brands for a portion of the original price, all while helping save the planet.

34. Give items a second or third life by reusing, upcycling, recycling, giving away, donating, or even selling, especially with items like baby/toddler clothes and formal dresses.

35. If you shop at a farmers’ market, return your egg and berry cartons to be reused.

36. Work hard to consume less and less. Stop using disposable items like paper plates and plastic water bottles.

37. This isn’t feasible for a lot of parents and guardians, but if you are able, you can use washable cloth diapers for babies instead of disposable ones.

38. Use simple household cleaners (vinegar in a glass bottle, baking soda in cardboard, etc.) instead of using an abundance of throwaway plastic bottles.

39. Ditch all the unnecessary personal products you can. Stop buying plastic-bottled perfumes to wear daily, use natural exfoliants (like baking soda), make face masks with natural ingredients in glass jars, such as raw honey or tea tree oil, reduce your cosmetic purchases, etc. Use hairspray only if you absolutely need to, and not from an aerosol can.

40. Stop buying disposable tea bags. Use loose-leaf tea inside a tea ball or infuser instead.

41. Get to know the rules of recycling.