Do you want to live a zero-waste lifestyle? Are you considering effective ways to promote environmental protection? No matter what your situation is, this post is for you!

An average American spends more than 1,000 lbs of daily houseful waste to landfills or incinerators every year. Mind that incinerators and landfills both emit greenhouse gases and hazardous gases into the environment. They also pose a threat to our health and destroy wildlife habitats.

Little lifestyle changes can make a big difference in sustainability and waste output. Below are simple ways on how you can produce less waste:

Ditch Plastic Bags and Use Reusable Grocery Bags 

Using reusable bags while shopping is one of the simplest ways to reduce the amount of waste you produce. If you used to depend on supermarket plastic bags, it’s time to bring your own grocery bags to pack up your items.

Some grocery stores offer five centavos per bag refund, where you can save a few cents and reduce one-time-use plastic bags usage at the same time. Keep a bunch of extra reusable bags right by the door or in the car trunk so that you will not forget them.

Use Reusable Cups or Bottles On-the-Go

Do you use a reusable water bottle all the time? If not, it’s worth considering using it to reduce waste production. As you take your own water with you, it’s a chance for you to less likely purchase more expensive beverages.

Using reusable cups or bottles can eliminate the usage of one-time-use containers. Although most bottles and cans can be recycled, they still need lots of energy to be produced, shipped, and store for purchase.

Repair Something Instead of Discarding 

Do you always throw away something broken and buy a new one instead of repairing it? Purchasing high quality products and repairing them when needed is a lot better for our environment than getting disposable items.

If you find your light fixture stops working or a strap suddenly pops off your dress, you can opt to spend a few minutes determining whether or not it is fixable. That is a better idea instead of throwing it and buying a new one.

Buy in Bulk from Local Farmers

When you shop at local farmers, you can support them while getting fresher and better quality ingredients than grocery stores. Locally produced food does not require shipping and even be refrigerated in transit.

Buying in bulk from your local farmers will reduce packaging. You can return last week’s egg carton or berry basket for use the next time. Mind that when buying in bulk, you have to come prepared by bringing your own containers.

Purchase Wisely and Consider Recycling 

Purchasing items that come in recyclable or less packaging can reduce the amount of waste you produce. Beware that not all plastics are recyclable.

Containers with 1 or 2 labels are accepted in some states due to their highest value resins. However, plastics labeled with a 6/PS and 3/PV are not recyclable in some states. So, make sure to know the recycling programs in your city or state.

Practice Composting

You can remove up to 25 percent of the trash items from the waste stream through composting. The leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, eggshells and fruit, and vegetable scraps can be composted.

Composting might require extra effort, but it provides benefits overtime. You can try composting for 3-12 months in your garden or backyard. In case you are growing your own vegetables, you can save on fertilizers while improving yields.

Conclusion 

Most of our everyday decisions can leave a significant impact on our planet. Before it’s too late, ensure to practice the above ways of reducing the amount of waste produced. These little lifestyle changes can be beneficial to our planet in the long run.

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