7 Tips to Reduce Waste in the New Year

Photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash

Every year we try to make the new year better than the last. This year, let’s all work together to keep as much waste out of our landfills, lakes, rivers, and oceans. We can do this in a variety of ways at home, at work, and at school. Here are six tips for reducing waste in daily life. Just imagine, if every person implemented these in their own homes and daily routines, think about how many billions of pounds of trash would never make it to the landfill.

1. Learn how to compost! Many everyday items can be used to create a compost pile. By mixing the compost you save into the soil in your garden, you can increase water retention, decrease erosion, and keep all of these organic materials out of our landfills. This is a great way to use food scraps, grass clippings, and even dryer lint!
2. Have you heard of “grasscycling?” When you mow, leave the grass clippings on your lawn instead of bagging them and throwing them away. Cut grass can replace nutrients in the soil. If you want to keep them off your lawn, remember to put them in your compost pile.
3. If you have a wood-burning fireplace or pellet stove, save your ashes- don’t throw them away! Once the ashes are cooled, the wood ashes can be mixed into your compost pile for additional nutrients for your garden.
4. You can prevent toxic waste in our landfills by using rechargeable batteries. When you have to use disposable batteries, buy those with low mercury content.
5. Have a yard sale or open an online store to get rid of your unwanted clothes, toys, appliances, and books. If you need something for your home, check there first instead of just ordering something online (bonus, there is a much shorter wait for items that are already in your city rather than those on the backlog!)
6. Buy food and household supplies wrapped in minimal packaging, and buy in bulk whenever possible.
7. Shop local and get to know who raises your food. Not only will this reduce transportation emissions and provide you with fresher food, but you will also get to have a better sense of how what you put in your body is produced. With that said, be mindful that you are working with reputable farmers, as there is also a significant amount of human trafficking in agriculture.

By using these tips every day, you can keep tons of waste out of our landfills. It is really important that when we do these things we also spread the word. Please share this article with your friends and follow Kelsey Rumburg for more trashy lifestyle tips!