6 Simple Hacks To Minimize Waste

So, you want to implement an eco-friendly lifestyle but don’t know where to start? Well, you’re in luck because this article will not only give you the basics, but it will also give you tips on how to apply some of waste management’s rules to your life!

The Basics: The 6Rs of Waste Management

There are six methods you’ll need to keep in mind as soon as you decide to embark on this journey towards waste reduction:

1. Refuse

You’re encouraged to refuse what you don’t need. There is a tendency to use plastic and a lot of other freebies and disposables that one can do without. It’s important for you to evaluate the potential environmental footprint of the things you use. Practice as much restraint as you can in your shopping and daily life, even if you feel as if you really need a particular kitchen appliance or some other gadget.

2. Reduce

You can always donate or sell items you no longer need so that you don’t end up throwing things in the trash if there is an alternative to use in another way.

3. Reuse

Take care as much as you can to reuse all reusables that you have. Avoid single-use shopping bags, and instead, carry your own bag from home for shopping or use your own utensils instead of the disposable takeaway containers.

4. Repurpose

If you were going to throw out that glass jar from marinara sauce while intending to buy a different container for food storage, you could just repurpose what you already have and use that marinara jar as storage. The possibilities are endless. You just have to stay creative.

5. Rot

All that degradable stuff you want to throw in the rubbish bin; how about compost it instead? Rotting your waste is a good way to minimize the waste you release into the environment around you.

6. Recycle

For other types of rubbish that don’t fit into the categories or stages above, you can send them to a recycling center. The process entails turning trash into raw materials so that it can be used again.

Simple Tips to Minimize Waste Every Day

If you’re trying to apply these methods to everyday life, then here are a few quick tips to help kick start your journey:

1. Don’t Take Trash or Potential Trash Home Unless It’s Necessary

Some businesses are still in the business of distributing paper flyers. If you receive one, for instance, it’s better for you to photograph the flier than take it home to add to the junk. Ask yourself if you really need all those freebies you might be accepting that might just end up in the trash at home. If you don’t need a thing, then it’s always good to politely decline.

2. Go Paperless

This one can be challenging because the temptations are really everywhere, but with a little dedication, it can be done. The world is generally getting techier. Check all those gadgets that even the youngest of children have access to!

If you think about it, that book you wanted to buy- opt for Kindle, online books, or reading a library copy. When buying tickets, servicing your bills, etc., then it’s also best to choose digital versions of these services.

3. Invest In Higher Quality Items

Instead of having to replace your items, you can just minimize the junk. You’ll have to throw out things that are no longer working or no longer useful around the house by buying good quality the first time.

4. Hire A Waste Removal Company

Even with your best efforts, you might still wind up with some junk around the house, or at the beginning of your waste management journey, you might need to clear out loads of junk first. You don’t have to handle it yourself or leave it to amateurs. The best environmentally aware choice to make would be to hire a same-day rubbish removal service in your area that is adequately experienced.

The reason why the company’s experience is going to matter to you is that you want to know that when your junk leaves your house, it’s going to be handled in the best way that tries to minimize environmental footprint. You can fully trust Zero Waste Group in this regard.

5. Composting Is a lot Easier Than It Seems

Instead of throwing away kitchen scraps, dead leaves, lawn clips, etc., consider composting the whole lot and letting it degrade back to nature. Alternatively, if you don’t have space, but you can pass by a farmer’s market from time to time, then you might consider freezing the food scraps until you can make that drive-through.

6. Learn How to Recycle Properly

The topic is quite controversial, but the goal is to approach your recycling efforts in the best eco-conscious ways. Here are a few things to remember:

• Remove caps and rings of plastic bottles before recycling. If you send your water bottles with their caps still on, chances are they will wind up in the landfill. Those two components on a bottle are not recyclable.
• Clean off all food residue before recycling. The goal for all recyclers is to have impurity-free recyclables, and you can help. Scraping off residues off pizza boxes, paper towels, and other food containers will go a long way.
• Call your local recycling center and inquire about best practices- not all plastic is made the same, so you’re best to ask your local recycler if they accept only a certain type of plastic or to get guidance on how to sort your plastics at home.

Conclusion

Taking care of the environment is one of the sustainable ways to take care of ourselves and those we love. We must, after all, tend to the planet that houses us and makes everything else we do possible.

Reducing your waste might sound like a big job at first, but it very well can become a lifestyle that’s as easy as breathing. Just take care to know the fundamentals of waste management, and apply them on a daily basis as you go about your life.