Although everyone’s become more environmentally conscious in recent years, a significant amount of household waste is still generated daily and occupying landfills. Everything from personal hygiene products to toys contribute to the problem. However, it’s not impossible to minimize. With these tips, you can cut down on how much you’re throwing into your trash containers.

How to Reduce Household Waste

1. Consider the Packaging

If you were to assess what’s already in your trash container, you’ll likely find a majority of it is discarded packaging. Unfortunately, it’s often made of single-use plastics.

To avoid this, whenever possible, shop for items with sturdy, reusable packaging. For example, instead of buying food in plastic packaging, look for it in glass jars. Even if you don’t reuse it, you can still recycle it.

2. Plan Your Meals Carefully

Along with packaging materials, trash containers are often filled with meal scraps and stale leftovers. If you’re prone to cooking more than you and your family can consume, take some time to plan out your meals. Portion them appropriately so that even if you have leftovers, they can be eaten in the days that follow.

3. Start Composting

As for any vegetable scraps, used coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruit peels, these can go into a compost bin. An organic form of recycling, it not only frees up your trash bin but also produces high-quality fertilizer. If you don’t have a garden or house plants, you should still collect your food scraps; there may be a compost drop-off site in your neighborhood. 

4. Mend Clothes Before Buying New

Instead of parting with clothing items that have a few snags, holes, or tears, try mending them first. If you don’t feel like sewing them yourself, rely on a local tailor. While it may not be useful to have them mend old T-shirts, beloved jackets, dress clothes, or jeans are well worth the investment. 

5. Use Rags Instead of Paper Towels

Use any clothes past their prime not worth fixing as cleaning rags instead. T-shirts made of cotton or cotton blends are the best for the job with their high absorbency. Cloth can be washed and reused too.

For everything else that still needs to be taken out, contact Honolulu Disposal Service. Trusted throughout Oahu, they have more than 50 years of experience providing reliable waste management services. Whatever you need removed, they have recycling and trash containers of various sizes to accommodate it all. Learn more about their trash services and containers online or by calling (808) 845-7581.