The Ultimate Checklist for Reducing Waste at Home

Reducing waste in your home can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle, especially if you have pets & children to take care of. With the mass amounts of toys, food & clothing flying around households, it is no wonder people struggle to find the time to reduce waste. 

Well, in today's blog, we want to help with this. You don't have to struggle anymore, as long as you follow our ultimate checklist for reducing your waste. (That is a promise not a threat)

We know we can be very demanding at times, but it is only because we care! 

In this guide, you will find everything from: Our step by step guide to reducing waste, Easy swaps to get you started on your zero waste journey & the ultimate reducing waste checklist that you can follow. 

Let's not waste any more time!

1: How to Reduce Waste at Home Step by Step

1. Assess Your Waste

Step 1: We know, if you are sprinting round sorting out your children's tea & lunch for schools etc, it can be hard to monitor everything that flies in & out of your kitchen. However, if you can, set a week aside to monitor what you and your household throw away. This could be: the amount of food packaging. 

• Action: Keep a waste diary of exactly what you chuck away. 

2. Switch to Reusables

Step 2: Try and replace any disposable items that you have for reusable alternatives. This could be Water Bottles, Glass Containers for your food. 

• Action: Switch out plastic water bottles for reusable ones. Instead of single-use plastics, why not purchase glass containers to store food in. We know how tempting it is to purchase the cheaper, plastic food bags, but they unfortunately cost the earth. 

3. Cut Down on Plastic

Step 3: Now, pretty much everything you will find in your supermarket, will have some form of plastic packaging. However, there are options out there that provide minimal packaging. Alternatively, if you wanted to go fully packaging free, there are zero-waste stores dotted around the UK.

• Action: If you can't get away from the packaging, ensure you bulk buy instead or choose products with minimal packaging. 

4. Compost Organic Waste

Step 4: Set up a composting system for your kitchen scraps and garden waste.

• Action: Start a small compost bin in your kitchen to collect food scraps like fruit peels and coffee grounds, then transfer them to a larger outdoor bin or compost pile.

5. Recycle Properly

Step 5: Get clued in on proper recycling techniques. This means knowing exactly what can go in each of your recycling bins. A key rule is to always maker sure you rinse out any food waste from packaging, to stop it being refused and sent to landfill. 

• Action: Rinse and separate recyclables like cardboard, glass, and plastic waste, to reduce the risk of any contamination.

6. Reduce Food Waste

Step 6: Plan your essential, weekly meals to stop you purchasing unnecessary waste that you don't really need. 

• Use an online meal planner that you can print out or purchase a fridge magnet meal planner, so that everyone can see exactly what they are eating. Also, look to freeze any leftovers & use them in future dishes. 

2. Top Sustainable Practices to Create a Waste-Free Home

1. Reduce Single-Use Items

The only one that we will let you off with, is toilet paper. There are reusable toilet paper out there, but we wouldn't recommend this. 

• Use refillable containers for any batteries, cleaning products, instead of the single use packaging that they come in. 

2. Choose Reusable Products

Set yourself goals to purchase reusable products to cut down on the amount of waste your household produces.

• It could be anything from: beeswax wraps for food, bags for life for your shopping, glass food containers or cloth napkins for those runny noses. Invest in high-quality reusable items. 

3. Opt for Eco-Friendly Packaging

A lot of big brands are starting to wise up about the negatives of plastic packaging & becoming more environmentally aware. You will see that there is now certified wood & a lot of environmentally approved cardboard in the mix.

• Search around for products that are packaging with biodegradable or compostable materials. Always choose brands that you can see consciously care about their carbon footprint.

4. Conserve Energy

It can be hard to conserve our own energy, so surely conserving your household energy should be easier. Try quick, easy, simple steps such as purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs or unplugging your devices when not in use (We have to admit that we struggle to unplug devices when not in use)

• Install LED bulbs, use energy-saving appliances, unplug your devices. If you always seem to forget to turn off your plugs, try setting your devices to energy saving mode, as this will help you save some pennies and energy. 

5. Practice Water Conservation

Now, we don't expect you to be drinking your bath water to stay as sustainable as possible,  however, saving water is a great way of creating a more sustainable home.

Small changes like fixing leaks or using water-saving fixtures can greatly reduce water wastage. Also, when you are brushing your teeth aim to always turn the water off. 

6. DIY and Upcycling

Don't dispose of any old items that could still be useful to you. This could be anything from old clothes, electronics or even old furniture. 

Donate old clothes, furniture, or electronics, or get creative with DIY Projects to turn old household items into something new and useful.

3: The Ultimate Checklist for Household Waste Reduction

Feel free to follow this checklist to make sure that you are covering every bit of your rooms. 

Kitchen

• Plan Weekly Meals.
• Compost Food Waste.
• Avoid Single-Use Plastics.
• Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products. 

Bathroom

• Use Natural Personal Care Products.
• Install a efficient low flow shower head. 

Living Room

• Unplug devices,
• Use Energy Efficient Light-bulbs.
• Go Digital. 
• Recycle Electronics. 

Bedroom

• Donate or Sell Old Clothes. 
• Organic Bedding & Towels. 
• Eco-Friendly Mattresses.

Garden & Outdoor Spaces

• Set up a Compost. 
• Collect Rainwater,
• Reuse Garden Tools.

4: Zero Waste Lifestyle: Easy Swaps to Get Started

Stainless Steel or Glass Water Bottles Instead of Plastic Bottles

This is one of the easiest ones to do. Instead of buying, cheap, multipacket, plastic bottled water, treat yourself to a stainless steel one or ask Santa to bring you one for Xmas. (Yes, he is real)

Second Hand / Up-cycled Clothing

There are plenty of sites & apps out there, when you can sell your old clothes for some serious money. If you are like us, and hoard many different items of clothing without ever having any intention of wearing then get them sold or donated. 

Reusable Coffee Cups

These come in especially handy if you can't function without your morning coffee! Instead of spending £50 on 1 Starbucks espresso, mocha, vanilla bean based latte, treat yourself to a instant cappuccino in your brand new, reusable coffee cup!

Buy In Bulk

Now, when people think of bulk, they mostly always cast their mind to Costco, which we know can be a very exclusive club, but there are plenty of bargain bulk stores out there, where you can purchase in bulk.

Have a google of bulk shops near you!

Conclusion

Reducing waste isn't about sprinting around aimlessly, cleaning up as you go regardless of how much waste is being produced. Just like a disease, by killing the waste right at the source, you can help to reduce the amount flowing through your household. 

As we always say, it won't be easy...but by starting with the easy swaps & working your way up-to the big changes like starting your own compost pile, you can gradually create a household that cares about the environment and waste that it produces. 

If you are ever struggling with your waste, or you are in the process of reducing it, but are looking for bin collections before the council come calling again, then why not use us at Busy Bins?

With over 1000 5* reviews, our service speaks for itself. 

Give us a call on 0161 766 3330 today.