Reducing waste at home is always important, but especially now. Taking steps to reduce your waste at home isn’t just beneficial for the environment, but it can save you money too. Small changes can reduce your electric bill or your grocery bill.

 

 

Reducing Waste Grocery Tips

 

• First In, First Out – Almost every supermarket uses a FIFO or First In, First Out system for stocking the shelves. It means that the food with shorter dates is moved to the front, while the food with longer dates is put at the back. Using the same system at home can help in reducing food waste.
• Wonky Veg – Fruits and vegetables that don’t meet a standard of size, shape or colour are often repackaged as ‘wonky veg’. They taste just the same as their perfect-looking counterparts, but they’re usually much cheaper.
• Avoid Over-Packaging – Try to avoid produce, or food products that are over-packaged. Some products come in double or triple packaging, which means that you end up with much more waste in your home.
• Bulk Buy– buying in bulk can be a great way to reduce waste and reduce your grocery bills in the long-term. It’s usually cheaper to buy in bulk. However, always make sure that you bulk buy foods you will actually eat, and foods that have a long shelf life.
• Make Your Own Purees – Purees are a wonderful first food for babies, but they’re also really good for getting fruits and vegetables into older children as well. However, some of the packaging is not recyclable, and some of the additives might not be what you want in your little one’s diet. Skip the shop bought ones and make your own.
• Freeze Fresh Produce – If you notice any of your fresh produce has started to wilt, bruise, or otherwise look worse for wear, freeze it. It can still be used in purees, stews, smoothies, and more. Layer the produce in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze it. Once frozen, you can transfer them into Tupperware for easier freezer storage.

 

Reducing Waste Bill Tips

 

• Paperless Billing – Switching to paperless billing can help you in two ways. Firstly, many utility providers offer a discount for switching to paperless billing. Secondly, it reduces the amount of paper bills you’re putting into the bin.
• Insulate Your Water Tank – If your system has a water tank, make sure that it is properly insulated. Heating water is one of the biggest energy usages in your home, but a properly insulated tank can help reduce the cost.
• Dishwasher – A dishwasher is actually more efficient at washing your dishes than you are. It uses less than half the energy, and it doesn’t use as much water either. Make sure that you have a full-load and use the ‘eco’ setting on the dishwasher. It will take longer, but it uses less energy.
• Washing Machine – Your washing machine uses almost 80% of its energy to heat the water to wash clothes. Set your machine for a 30-degree wash where possible, and it won’t need to heat as much, thus saving energy. Some machines have an eco-setting as well, which again, takes longer, but uses less energy. Also, only run the machine with a full load. Some new models may have a setting for a half load, but most don’t.
• Energy-Efficient Appliances – If you need a new appliance, consider your choice carefully. Look at the energy ratings and choose the most energy efficient model you can. Some A-rated appliances can be more costly than a lower rated model, but it can make all the difference to your electric bill.
• Lights – There are two things you can do to reduce energy consumption on your lights. Firstly, use low-energy bulbs. They last longer than regular bulbs and use around 80% less energy. Secondly, you can put your lights onto a timer plug. This means that they’ll come on at a specific time and can be on before you get home. It can also be a helpful security measure.
• Refrigerator – Your fridge is probably the only thing in your house that needs to run 24/7. For best performance, set it at 3 or 4 degrees, and avoid opening the door for too long. You should also avoid putting hot food straight into the fridge, as it uses a lot of energy trying to cool it down.
• Kettle – Your kettle probably uses more energy than you expect. Try to only use as much water as you need and avoid boiling too much. You should also change your kettle every four or five years. You might also want to look at energy efficient models that allow you to choose the temperature you want to boil the water to.
• Check Your Usage – If you have a bill, you can check your tariff to see when electricity is cheaper. Some tariffs offer cheaper electric during the night-time hours, so try to use your energy guzzling appliances during those times.
• Draughts – Draughts in your home can waste energy and cost you money. Keep your interior doors closed and try to exclude any draughts you find.

 

Reducing Waste Recycling Tips

 

• Recyclable Toothbrushes – Plastic toothbrushes don’t have a long lifespan, and when they’re done, they end up in a landfill. Bamboo toothbrushes are usually roughly the same price, but they can be recycled or composted.
• Second-hand Clothing – Textile waste is bad for the environment, and a large part of textile waste is children’s clothes. Second-hand clothes are cheaper, and reusing items helps reduce waste from your household.
• Use A Specific Bin – You can get bins for glass, paper, and plastic recyclables, but you should get one for ‘questionable’ items as well. Things like batteries, and lightbulbs need to be recycled in a special facility, so having a bin for these items means that you can gather them up and take them to the proper depot once a year.
• Coffee – To-go coffee cups aren’t actually recyclable, so investing in a reusable travel mug is much more environmentally friendly. You might even want to consider investing in a coffee machine and making your own coffee at home.
• Buy and Sell Groups – Local buy and sell groups are a fantastic place to find big ticket items at a fraction of the cost. You can also sell any items that you no longer need and bring in some extra money at the same time.
• Reusable Bags – Reusable shopping bags save the environment, and save you money, as each plastic disposable bag costs money. You can also get a reusable bag for fresh produce which stops you from gathering up individual plastic bags.
• Kitchen Disposables – There’s a huge number of disposable items in the kitchen – from sandwich bags to kitchen roll. However, there are also reusable alternatives. Reusable silicone baking parchment, and cake tin liners can replace baking paper. Cloth napkins, or even old clothing can be cut up and replace kitchen roll.