How to Manage Household Waste

Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags. This method significantly reduces the amount of waste in your home. No matter where you shop, bring reusable cloth bags to carry your items instead of accepting plastic bags from the store. Plan ahead and buy a set of reusable bags, storing them in convenient, memorable places for your next shopping trip, such as in the kitchen or the trunk of your car.

• If you forget your cloth bag while shopping, you can still minimize waste! Ask the staff to avoid double-bagging. Most stores now sell cloth bags, so you can always buy one instead of using plastic or paper bags – cloth bags are never redundant.
• Using cloth bags isn't limited to groceries. You should also bring cloth bags when shopping for clothes, tools, or other essentials.

Buy foods with minimal packaging. When you regularly buy individually packaged canned foods or plastic-wrapped portions, you're creating more waste than you'd like. Look for products with less packaging, especially plastic, and you'll see a drastic reduction in the amount of waste you produce. Try some of these tips:

• Buy in bulk. You can purchase rice, beans, grains, tea, spices, and other dry foods in bulk at grocery stores. Store the food in airtight glass or plastic jars.

Compost with earthworms (vermicomposting). You can set up your own worm composting system.

• Cook your own meals instead of reheating pre-packaged food. Takeaway food and microwave meals often come with a lot of packaging, which then contributes to waste. Cooking takes time, but consider making some meals yourself instead of relying on pre-made food. Your waistline will thank you.
• Buy dairy products in returnable bottles. More dairy companies are adopting a returnable bottle system, where you buy a bottle of milk, cream, or buttermilk, and then return the glass bottle to get a refund. It's a great way to reduce plastic consumption.
• Shop directly from farmer's markets. They offer fresh products that have never been wrapped in plastic packaging. Be sure to bring cloth bags to carry your purchases home.

Avoid bottled beverages unless absolutely necessary. Bottled water – and other bottled drinks – are a major source of waste in many places. In some areas, bottled water is safer than tap water, but in other places, tap water is perfectly fine. You can even filter your tap water if you dislike the taste. This is a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly method.

• If you're looking to make a bigger impact, consider eliminating other bottled or canned beverages too. For example, instead of buying canned ginger drink, why not make your own ginger drink? Homemade lemonade or sparkling lemon water are also great options.
• If you must buy bottled drinks, choose larger containers over smaller ones. Opt for a 19-liter water bottle with a tap instead of buying a pack of 18 small bottles.

Minimize paper consumption. Once you get used to using a computer, there's not much need to stockpile piles of paper in your home. Finding ways to reduce the amount of paper you buy and the paper you receive in the mail will save you the headache of sorting through it later.

• Stop using paper receipts and pay your bills online.
• Read news online instead of receiving newspapers at home.
• Find ways to prevent junk mail from filling your mailbox.

Consider making your own cleaning solutions. Many cleaning solution bottles can't be recycled and end up in the trash. If you have the time and determination, making your own cleaning formulas and storing them in glass bottles will save you money and significantly reduce waste. You'll also create a chemical-free environment for your family. Try making these products yourself:

• Laundry detergent
• Glass cleaner
• Toilet cleaner
• Kitchen cleaner
• Soap
• Shampoo and conditioner

Donate when possible. Consider donating clothes, old electronics, or other items that are still in good condition but no longer needed, instead of turning them into waste. A classroom or someone's wardrobe could benefit more from these items than a landfill.

• Old clothes and fabric scraps can be donated to textile recycling facilities.
• Schools often accept donations of old computers and other electronics.
• Contact local shelters, thrift stores, or donation centers to give away furniture, electronics, cars, and other things you no longer use.

Reuse containers. Durable containers can be reused multiple times before being thrown away or recycled. Jars, boxes, and bags can be repurposed for other uses if you get creative.

• If you don’t have a proper container, use paper bags for recyclable items. You can also use paper bags to decorate book covers – a fun throwback to school days.
• Reuse paper by printing on both sides, or let your kids draw on used paper.
• Use food-safe glass jars (that have not previously contained harmful chemicals) to store dry goods and leftovers.
• Plastic containers can be reused, but exercise caution when using plastic for food storage. Over time, even food-safe plastic can deteriorate, potentially leaching chemicals into your food.

Follow local recycling policies. In some areas, you may need to separate recyclable materials like plastic, glass, and paper when you dispose of them. Other cities may allow all recyclables to go into one bin. Some areas have recycling collection services, while others require you to take your recyclables to a center. Check your city’s website to make sure you’re following the proper recycling guidelines.

• Typically, the following items are recyclable:
  • Plastic containers labeled 1-7
  • Paper products like printer paper, egg cartons, newspapers, and cardboard
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Aluminum cans and foil

Dispose of hazardous waste properly. Some household items can’t be recycled or reused. These should be discarded with regular waste or taken to a hazardous waste disposal facility. Try to reduce consumption of these items and dispose of them according to your city’s regulations:

• Batteries
• Paint
• Televisions, computers, and other electronics
• Light bulbs

Don't discard leftover food and grass clippings. Rather than throwing away food scraps and grass clippings, you can compost them, transforming them into nutrient-rich soil that can be used to fertilize your garden or someone else's. There are numerous composting methods; some compost mixtures may include meat and dairy products, while others strictly use vegetable scraps. Keep these types of waste if you want to create basic compost:

• Green compost materials, which decompose quickly, such as: raw vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings, and leaves.
• Brown compost materials (also called yard waste), which decompose slowly, such as: tree branches, paper, cardboard, eggshells, and sawdust.

Set up your composting site. Choose a sunny or partially shaded area in your yard for your composting spot. Ideally, compost directly on the soil or grass, but if space is limited, you can also compost on concrete. Here are a few ways to build your composting area:

• Create a compost pile. This is the simplest method. Just gather a pile in your yard. The compost pile should be placed far from your home, as it can attract rodents and insects.
• Build a compost bin. You can make a bin out of old wooden planks that suits your needs.
• Purchase a compost bin. Compost bins are available in most garden or home stores in various sizes and designs.

Choose between hot or cold composting. Cold composting requires less effort but takes longer to become usable. Hot composting requires more work but will be ready in just 6-8 weeks. Here’s how the two methods differ:

• For cold composting, you can combine both green and brown compost materials in a bin until it reaches a few centimeters in depth. Keep adding food scraps or toilet paper rolls to the bin. Stop when the bin is full and let it compost. It may take up to a year for the materials to decompose completely, but you can use the compost at the bottom if needed.
• For hot composting, mix the green and brown compost materials together and fill the bin (or create a large pile). The compost will gradually warm up; each time it does, stir it to cool it down. After a few days or weeks, if it heats up again, stir it once more. Repeat this process until the compost no longer heats up after stirring and the composting process completes on its own.

Monitor your compost site. If your compost is decomposing too quickly and turning slimy, add more brown compost materials. If it’s too dry, add water or green compost materials. Regularly turn the compost pile or stir it whenever you notice an ammonia smell. The more effort you put into managing the compost site, the sooner you will have usable compost.

Use compost when it’s ready. It typically takes 1-2 months for compost to form. When the compost turns dark brown or black and has the scent of rich soil, it is ready for use. You can apply it to fertilize vegetables or flowers in your garden, or simply spread it across your lawn to enrich the soil and nourish your grass and other plants.