10 Ways To Reduce Waste At Home

Posted on: July 10, 2020

Reducing the amount of waste we create in the first place is the key to collectively cutting landfill in Western Australia.

Here's 10 simple things you can do to reduce your household waste:

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Buy less

If you buy less then you’ll naturally have less to throw out. Start by reducing your grocery shop. Chances are you'll then be throwing out less packaging AND less spoilt food.

Push it a bit further and apply it to your clothing and gadget purchases too. Be sure to ask yourself if you really need it... if the answer is "no" leave it at the till.

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Seek out package-free or low-packaging options

Look for fruit, vegetables and other food items that can be bought loose, and start making purchasing decisions based on the amount of packaging an item has. Invest in a set of reusable produce bags or simply place items in your basket or shopping trolley.

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Buy in bulk

Shopping at farmers markets and buying in bulk are great ways to avoid excess packaging (and often save money too!).

Bulk buying doesn't just apply to groceries. Garden supplies like mulch and garden soils can be purchased by the trailer load, avoiding smaller, pre-packaged bags from stores and garden centres which cost more.

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Avoid single use or disposable items

Refuse single use items at home like disposable razor blades and wet wipes. Instead, buy reusable items wherever possible.

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Buy quality items that will last

Often cheap toys, clothes and electrical items don't last. Avoid this if you can by investing in items that will go the distance – reducing waste and saving you frustration and money in the long run.

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Don’t buy bottled water

You don’t need it. A good quality reusable bottle filled with tap water is much kinder to the environment and your wallet. Consider an at-home carbonator if you drink a lot of sparkling water.

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Take reusable bags

Keep reusable bags in your handbag and car and use them for all your purchases – not just at the supermarket.

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Make package-free lunch boxes

Use a good, sturdy lunchbox with separate compartments – this eliminates the need for packaging and plastic wrap. Consider reusable wraps such as those made from beeswax to keep sandwiches fresh and decant yoghurt from a large container to a small reusable one to save money and plastic waste.

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Ditch your plastic toothbrush

Switch to a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush instead – they are increasingly easy to find and will help to prevent a lifetime of your toothbrushes entering landfill and staying there for another 400+ years.

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Say no to junk mail

This simple change will make a dramatic difference to the number of pieces of paper your household discards each year. And, if enough of us do it, it will send a message to retailers too. Once you’ve done consider unsubscribing to all those sales emails too – then you won’t be tempted to buy things you don’t need every time you open your inbox!