Three Things You Do to Cut Down on Waste
I haven’t had a “three things” post in a few weeks, and I’m finding that I miss the group format! This week, I want to hear your suggestions on ways to cut down on waste. After all, the simplest way to cut down on carbon footprints is to simply use less. (When you live in a place that doesn’t accept glass in the curbside recycling, you start to look at your purchases differently.) Here are my three suggestions—please dive in and add your own!
1. Repackaging food bought in bulk containers instead of purchasing individual packages. Gladware is awesome, and I get to make portion sizes that actually fit my needs.
2. Using old food containers for storage and utility. (I have the office closet organized using little more than cereal boxes and cappuccino cans. Not sure I should be so proud of that, though…)
3. Using bookmarking websites and Print Screen functionality to avoid printing confirmations, useful articles, and other web-based information. I have to admit, though, that I have yet to find a satisfying virtual alternative to the paper-and-pencil to-do list.
What kinds of things do you to cut down on waste? I’m pretty sure I could make some big strides here, so I’m really looking forward to your suggestions and ideas!
photo credit: Mykl Roventine
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This post has 31 comments
March 18th, 2009
1.well the one thing i do is buy bars of soap instead of shower creams so I dont waste too much plastic.
2. I have bank statements and other statements emailed to me instead of posted. Although some companies are just daft and still post it anyway! I agree with you – i havent found a suitable to-do list application yet either.
3. i always look for products that have refill options, instead of having to buy the same product again.
NKs last blog post..3 minute contemplation
March 18th, 2009
Since you both mention the to-do list, I guess I’ll include my Palm PDA as number 1
1. LOVE, love, love the Palm for calendar, to-do list, shopping list, check register & budget, etc., etc. The to-do list can be categorized and filtered, so e.g. I can have a separate list for getting ready to host a party, or go on vacation, etc. Easy to move items between dates so I can balance my schedule. Include recurring tasks as well as one-time. Attach the shopping list to the shopping task. Love it, love it, love it.
2. Compost. And while we’re in the kitchen, drink tap water! And yes, buy in bulk. With cloth grocery bags.
3. Read the news online instead of subscribing on paper. And drastically reduce junk mail (catalogchoice.org, 41pounds.org). (But I still get my seed catalogs!)
Reginas last blog post..Reflections on Eucharist
March 18th, 2009
for to-do lists: gmail has a task list now, but i like better http://www.rememberthemilk.com – they now have gadgets for gmail and gcal, it’s really good.
ronises last blog post..Você sabe o que é um passeio socrático?
March 18th, 2009
We’ve started doing a few things in the last year to reduce waste. Here are 3:
1. Started using terry cloth shop towels instead of paper towels.
2. Reuse food containers for storage.
3. Make my own laundry detergent to reduce the number of large plastic jugs I buy.
March 18th, 2009
1) We reuse shopping bags as kitchen garbage bags.
2) We bring our own cloth shopping bags for the grocery store.
3) We sometimes walk instead of driving.
Roger – A Content Lifes last blog post..From Aggravated to Relaxed in 158 Seconds
March 18th, 2009
Buy less perishable products at one point of time (usually when I buy in bulk something goes waste)
Use cloth napkin instead of tissue to clean things
Read newspapers/magazines online
Join a library instead of buying books
Use a cloth bag to get all groceries and say no to plastic bags
Avani-Mehtas last blog post..How To Organize 300 Pounds Of ‘Stuff’ Easily
March 18th, 2009
Oh, and I’ve also challenged myself recently to use up what’s in my pantry and freezer, quit grocery shopping so impulsively. My goal, ultimately, is to actually plan weekly menus and limit grocery shopping to what I will actually use that week, and quit throwing spoiled food away! I’m ashamed that I do it, so am trying to train myself to be more careful.
Reginas last blog post..Idolatry vs. Contemplation
March 18th, 2009
I really like your ‘three things’ posts – they make me think!
My three are that I:
1. bring containers for food to stores instead of getting new ones every time (minding health regulations where relevant, of course)
2. avoid single-use disposable products
3. stop using plastic straws
Laurie | Express Yourself to Successs last blog post..Good Reads: Happiness
March 18th, 2009
This is fantastic! I’ve actually created a jewelry/craft supply business in which I create beads out of colorful magazine ads. Anything we can do to cut down on waste is great for the earth. Thanks for sharing!
Gabriels last blog post..Shine
March 18th, 2009
Hi Sara,
Here are a couple of things we do:
When we print something out and we are done with that piece of paper, we keep it and use the other side for printing. Of course, for things we print that are being sent to others, we use a new sheet of paper. But things that stay at home, we use both sides. It saves a lot on paper!
Also, with magazines, I pass them along to friends and when everyone is finished reading them, I donate them to the library.
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..Luck, The Beatles and 10,000 Hours
March 18th, 2009
Nadia — great idea about passing on magazines to the library! I have gotten better about using the library instead of always buying, but I haven’t really thought about donating to it.
Going a step or two further:
Eating local, prevents the wasteful use of fossil fuel to transport food long distances; eating organic prevents the waste of petroleum for inorganic fertilizers that are unnecessary in sustainable ag, and also the waste of water polluted by chemicals.
Living in a smaller home prevents all kinds of waste! Heating/cooling fuel, plus all the unnecessary stuff we clutter a bigger space with. Plus a smaller footprint leaves more open ground for (potentially) heirloom tomatoes, or blueberries, or climate-saving trees….
Loving this topic.
Reginas last blog post..Idolatry vs. Contemplation
March 18th, 2009
I have found that the best way to reduce waste is to make things from scratch. If I make spaghetti, I make my own pasta; all waste can go into the compost pile. I make my own sauce from herbs and tomatoes from my garden, no waste. The only “waste” is the metal tin from my olive oil, which I actually reuse as planters, so it’s not really waste. Learning to make things at home is a HUGE waste saver. We only produce 1 small bag of garbage a month here at Chiot’s Run because we work very hard at not consuming things that create waste.
Chiot’s Runs last blog post..Quote of the Day: Frank Hubbard
March 18th, 2009
Our condo complex finally got pick-up of recycling, but before that, I would bring all of my recycling to work because we had that set up here.
My employer provides plates, forks, cups, spoons etc for eating at work but I just bring in my own silverware, plates etc so I’m not throwing a fork away every day.
I bring my own bags everywhere I shop, not just the supermarket.
March 18th, 2009
Three things I do:
1) I use cloth napkins/towels. I have a deep drawer full of nicer cloth napkins, dish towels (Ikea ones – pretty & cheap), and washcloths. The washcloths are perfect napkins, especially for the little ones. I also got a deal on a 36-pack of microfiber towels for $16.99 on Amazon. These are great on two different levels – I’m not using a paper towel to clean up, and because of the microfiber quality, I often can clean up with just a bit of warm water instead of using cleaners.
2) I Freecycle. I have freecycled a lot of “stuff” in order to simplify/declutter. I used to think, “who would want this?”, but you’d be amazed at what people need/want. I once freecycled a broken drawer, thinking someone could put wheels on it and use it as under-bed-storage. It was claimed within the hour. I love that it didn’t end up in the dumpster. I also freecycled all my moving boxes – there’s always someone in need of boxes, it seems.
3)I invested in glass pyrex storage containers w/lids in all sizes. I used to use a lot more ziplock bags before I did this. It’s also easy to save/heat leftovers, so we have “leftover” nights where we fend for ourselves with whatever’s in the fridge.
March 18th, 2009
1. Use a PDF creator to save copies of online receipts and confirmations.
2. Swapping textbooks with friends who have already taken a class and still have the book.
3. “Rescuing” my roommate’s spaghetti sauce jars and reusing them. They’re great as vases, but I use most of them for storing legumes, nuts, and dried fruit in the pantry.
March 18th, 2009
We recycle all our paper, cardboard, bottles and tins via the local authority so I am not counting those.
Our three ways are:-
1. Using cloth bags when shopping for fruit and veg. It saves us having to use the small plastic bags which we can never find another use for.
2. Home cooking. Making food from ingedients really cuts down on the plastic precooked food comes in.
3. Non cooked kitchen waste goes on the compost heap and turned in to gorgeous muck for the garden.
Garry – thisimprovedlifes last blog post..Can we live without technology? (having a techno break)
March 18th, 2009
http://tadalist.com/ !!
March 18th, 2009
I actually get a little buzz out of finding new ways to reduce waste.
1. I’ve cut out or reduced the use of disposable items, such as make up remover pads, disposable razors and cleansing cloths.
2. I’ve gone back to buying meat from a butcher instead of the supermarket which cuts out the plastic trays that aren’t accepted by my recycling service.
3. I almost always carry a re-useable shopping bag with me to avoid plastic bags and I re-use plastic produce bags from home where necessary.
March 18th, 2009
One of the easiest (and some folks mentioned this already) is to get re-usable shopping bags. It’s great – you cut down on waste and get the added bonus of not having your cheap paper or plastic grocery bags rip open on you to spill everything.
Christophers last blog post..Funny Dog Videos
March 18th, 2009
1. We send left-overs back to school with my college son where we know they’ll be eaten.
2. We stopped recording videos of TV shows/movies.
3. We re-use dog food bags & cat litter bags as yard refuse bags.
March 18th, 2009
Good stuff! I use reusable mugs and bags. And food does NOT go to waste in my house- I make sure it all gets eaten up
Sagans last blog post..Product Review: Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate
March 19th, 2009
1. I wash out my plastic baggies and reuse them until they’re nearly falling apart. Saves on waste and also saves a TON of money.
2. I save return envelopes from junk mail and use them to write my shopping list and then put the appropriate coupons inside.
3. I save my soap slivers and make my own liquid soap from them and use it in a pump bottle by the sinks.
What fun this was to read all these tips! Thanks for doing this.
March 19th, 2009
There are some really good ideas here. I am currently living in a hotel whilst working abroad and recycling tips for fellow hotel stayers include:
1. Dont as for your bed linen changed everyday – you probably don’t do it at home so why in a hotel.
2. Use the towels more than once.
3. Don’t leave the A/C on when you’re not in the room.
As for when I get back home, I always re-use old envelopes for to-do lists and try to re-use shopping bags – although the cupboard full probably suggests that I forget more often than not!
Jamess last blog post..What Does it Mean to be Successful?
March 19th, 2009
There are certain things that I have to keep to paper – I get too overloaded with using so many electronics sometimes; especially with my eyes. I try to do as much as I can though.
1. Bring bags to the grocery store. We shop pretty often for fresh produce (2 times a week on average) and we were bringing a LOT of bags home from the stores and farmers markets. I made it a goal in ’08 to always use reusable bags when going out.
2. Reuse my wax paper bags (I try not to use plastic)
Carlas last blog post..Eco Fashion: Do it Yourself – Yarn
March 19th, 2009
I love the cloth bags! Having handles and *not* almost dropping my groceries in the parking lot is awesome! I really didn’t expect them to be so damn useful, to be honest.
About those Styrofoam meat trays, I’ve had good luck using them for art projects with kids. Paint and glue washes off really well so they can be used over and over. I’m not sure, though, if they were recycled or were donated unused—or whether that makes a difference in terms of safety.
March 20th, 2009
I find myself nodding along as I read everyone else’s comments but here are my three:
1)I re-use, when possible and food safe, plastic wrap, aluminum foil and larger plastic storage bags. These are the bane of my kitchen life because I need them so often or am given leftovers from family meals to take away so re-using them gives them a new life.
2) I didn’t renew any of my magazine subscriptions!
3)I switched from a raw diet (a very difficult decision done for many reasons) for my dogs to Wellness dog food. This was almost painful but I have so much less trash! No styrofoam meat trays or plastic. No massive cardboard boxes that are meat-y so cannot be recycled. It’s been amazing to see how much less I have to deal with. I then re-use that big dog food bag to clean up the “refuse” in the backyard!
Elizabeth M. Johnsons last blog post..Passing up good for GREAT
March 20th, 2009
Great list! I’ll add:
(1) We don’t buy much processed food, which means that we have less packaging to throw away.
(2) We usually use canvas bags to shop, but occasionally we do use plastic bags — these all get reused to hold lunches that might leak or clothes that have been peed on (by my daughter, not me!)
(3) We reuse vegetable scraps from cooking to make broth. After cooking, the scraps go in a bag in the freezer and come back out in a couple of weeks. We can cook a batch of broth in our pressure cooker in about 30-40 minutes (it takes a little while since they start from frozen).
Angela V-Cs last blog post..Xtracycle shopping
March 20th, 2009
Along the lines of #3, I’m liking Evernote.
It’s great to zip along and snag stuff into a personal info manager. It helps me cut down on wasting my energy.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Win the Heart the Mind Follows
March 20th, 2009
Never pay for air, water or packaging that you don’t need.
And of course, just bring home less stuff.
Meg from FruWikis last blog post..FruWiki talk:Copyright information
March 22nd, 2009
1. Reusable cloth bags at *all* stores, not just the grocery store.
2. Cloth napkins, always. My daughter doesn’t even recognize a paper napkin as a napkin.
3. Handkerchiefs whenever possible, instead of kleenex.
jennifers last blog post..Studio Saturday — Dinosaur Dig and Book Blitz
July 29th, 2009
We moved to an apartment within walking distance of my office and our place of worship. We only need to use the car to go to the grocery store or to visit grandchildren. The savings on utilities in an apartment is unbelievable!
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