7 Simple Tips to Reduce Waste in Your Home

It’s sad, but true… The average American produces 4.4 pounds of trash every single day. 

And with around 350 million people in the US, that amounts to more than 700,000 tons of garbage every day, which is enough to fill around 60,000 garbage trucks.

Do your part to take care of Mother Earth and help us leave this beautiful place better when we leave it than when we found it.

The Unfortunate Truth Behind Our Consumption Habits

Did you know packaging represents about 65% of household trash?

For every $10 spent buying things, $1 (10%) goes towards packaging that is thrown away.

Now I know what you might be thinking… “But, I’m a conscious consumer and I recycle as much as I possibly can.”

Although that’s a step in the right direction, consider this… It costs around $30 per ton to recycle trash, $50 to send it to the landfill, and $65-75 to incinerate it.

Recycling is a dirty business. And although it’s better than the alternative (landfills), the process involved in cleaning, melting down the materials, and converting them into something else takes a lot of energy.

And where does that energy come from?

Well let’s just say it’s not typically renewable, green energy.

And here’s a few more waste facts for you…

• The US is the #1 trash-producing country in the world
• The US alone produces 40% of global waste
• 1 million disposable plastic bottles are sold every minute around the world
• Every year each American throws out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage that can be composted
• Each year the US population discards 16 billion diapers, 1.6 trillion pens, 2 billion razor blades, 220 million car tires, and enough aluminum to rebuild the US commercial air fleet four times over

Be a Conscious Consumer

The best way to reduce your household consumption is to consume less. The next best alternative is to reuse and repurpose whenever possible.

Recycling, although helpful, should really be viewed as a last resort. 

7 Tips to Reduce Waste

      1. Use Reusable Grocery Bags... And Not Just for Groceries

Pro Tip: Always keep reusable grocery bags in your backseat and if you do have to use plastic bags, make sure to recycle them after use.

For more of our other favorite sustainable products, read our blog here.

      2. Shop local farmers markets and buy in bulk to reduce packaging

Support local farmers, get fresher ingredients, and reduce shipping costs.

Come visit us! If you live near Irvine, California, come say hello to us every weekend at the Irvine Farmers Market :) 

      3. Opt Out of Paper Mailings, Bills, Junk Mail, and Ask for Digital Copies of Your Receipts Whenever Possible

Ask for everything to be emailed instead of printed. Plus, digital copies are harder to lose if you have to make a return!

Also consider digital subscriptions when possible (cheaper, too).

      4. Compost As Much As You Can & Reduce Your Food Waste

Did you know as much as 25% of the items in your trash could be recycled?

Compostable items include: fruit, vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and leaves.

*Note: Keep in mind it takes an average of 3-12 months to use in your garden.

Plus, organic matter acts as a sponge to absorb more water, which reduced the amount you might need to water!

For a deeper dive, check out our How to Make Your Own Compost blog here.

      5. Use a reusable bottle/cup for beverages on-the-go; say no to bottled water

Did you know US tap water actually has stricter quality and health standards than bottled water?

Always carry a reusable bottle to save money, reduce waste, and reduce chances of purchasing more expensive beverages when you are out and about.

...Introducing our Bloom Bottle! 

      6. Make a Meal Plan

      7. Purchase Products with Less Packaging and Recycle the Packaging

      8. Bonus Tip: Learn to repair rather than discard

Consider purchasing a few high-quality items and repair them (as opposed to throwing them away) when necessary.

Start Today!

Every person can make a difference.

Thank you for doing your part to create a better planet for all of us, our children, and for generations to come.