Simple Ways Your Family Can Cut Back On Waste
A lot of waste material from households in America ends up in landfills each day, increasing the problem of toxic gas emissions. You can play a great role by coming up with ways to cut back on waste with your family to minimize these emissions. If you’d like to know where to start, have a look at the five suggestions below.
Start Composting
You can cut back on the trash generated by your family by composting, as this can remove a sizable chunk from your trash. Things like eggshells, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and even leaves and grass clippings can all be composted successfully. If you have a garden, the compost formed by the organic matter will make a great natural fertilizer that you can use to improve your garden.</P.
Recycle The Right Way
Out of the over 350 million tons of trash generated each year in the United States, more than 85 million tons is considered compostable or recyclable. The current rate of recycling in America is just above 34%, and it can be improved with a little effort from each individual. Get your family on board now!
You should start buying recyclable items so you can save them from the landfill. This will also keep the recycling stream free of pollution as only the right items get into it, leading to a more effective recycling session. Make sure to read the instructions on everything you buy to make sure you’re recycling it the right way. Also, do research to know what can go into the recycling bin and what can’t.
Avoid Buying Unnecessary Plastic
While water is an important part of a healthy body, you can avoid contributing to the landfill by always packing your drinking water in a reusable bottle. Buy your children reusable bottles, as they can use, clean, and refill them at home and at school.
The same goes for take-away and pre-packed vegetables and fruits, which you can bypass for those with minimal or no packaging at all. A major portion of municipal solid waste is made up of packaging and containers, which made up a whopping 82.2 million tons in 2018. You can do your part in decreasing this amount by going to stores to pick up what you need and ordering less takeout as mentioned.
Re-Use and Buy Used
Whenever this option is available to you, it’s a good idea to take it. Thrift the items you can, and reuse items that have reached the end of their lifespans. This includes things like cutting up old t-shirts to make them into rugs and dishcloths and buying reusable bags to use each time you go shopping. Storing them in your car will also help you remember them each time you go shopping, so you don’t have to keep buying more. In this way, you will reduce your waste and get more use out of every item than you otherwise wouldn’t have.
Conserve Bathroom Supplies
The final tip you need to consider is to conserve water and bathroom supplies, as things like shampoo bottles and scrubbers also contribute to the landfill issue. Two out of five homeowners said that they use their bathroom to relax, according to Houzz, and this is a number of people that can make better use of the items inside the bathroom to ensure that there is minimal waste. Buy items in bulk and use them well to make sure you throw less trash out.
Good parenting entails guiding your children on how to make a positive impact on the planet. Teach them how to recycle and conserve the environment, and your family will form an amazing green team.