How to Reduce Waste at Home (Simple Guide for People Living in the U.S.)
Reducing waste isn’t about being perfect it’s about making small daily changes that help the planet and save money.
In the United States, waste usually comes from single-use plastics, food leftovers, packaging, and impulse buying.
Here are easy and realistic ways to reduce your waste starting today.
1. Choose Reusable Items Instead of Single-Use
Switching to reusable items is one of the fastest ways to reduce your trash.
2. Reduce Food Waste in the Kitchen
In the U.S., about 40% of food gets thrown away.
Most of it is perfectly edible — just older or not stored correctly.
Tips:
Plan your weekly meals (grocery shopping becomes smarter).
Freeze leftovers.
Store sliced vegetables in glass containers.
Useful eco-friendly items:
Glass Food Storage Containers keep food fresh longer and microwave-safe.
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Beeswax Wraps (instead of plastic wrap) reusable and perfect for sandwiches or fruit.
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Kitchen Compost Bin (countertop) turn food scraps into compost instead of trash.
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3. Avoid Buying Cheap Things You Don’t Need
"Buy cheap, buy twice."
A $3 plastic item breaks in a week → becomes trash → you buy another.
A durable item lasts years.
Start with:
Fewer clothes, but higher quality.
Simple home décor, not trendy temporary items.
Repair instead of replace when possible.
4. Switch to Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Many household cleaners come in plastic bottles and contain harsh chemicals.
There are natural options that clean effectively and smell better.
Eco-Friendly Multipurpose Spray (gentle, non-toxic).
Reusable Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (instead of paper towels).
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5. Start Small Not Perfect
You don’t need to live “zero waste.”Just pick 1–2 habits to begin:
Bring your own shopping bag
Use a reusable bottle
Compost kitchen scraps
Store leftovers in glass containers
These changes don’t require a lot of money, and you will feel the difference fast: