Reducing your waste at home is a great way to make a difference and join the fight towards a better future. There are small things that we can all change to reduce our waste and reduce our landfill contributions easily.

Let’s take a look at five ways to reduce your waste and reduce your impact.

1. Reduce Unwanted and Unnecessary Mail

One of the best ways to reduce your waste at home is to reduce the amount of mail delivered to your home. We all receive bundles of offers in the mail that end up in the trash or recycling bin.

By opting into online billing and opting out of promotional mail, you can hundreds of sheets of paper every year.

You can visit DMAchoice.org to opt out of unwanted mail. There is a $2 processing fee for a ten year period.

2. Use Reusable Bags and Containers

Using reusable bags and containers can dramatically cut down on your waste. By using reusable containers, you can eliminate the use of plastic/ziplock bags for storing food. Whether you are packing lunch for your kids or bringing lunch to the office, using reusable containers will help reduce your waste.

Reusable grocery bags are also a great way to reduce plastic consumption and decrease the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. You can find reusable bags at most grocery stores and can be bought for around $3.

3. Donate Gently Used Items

We all have things laying around that we don’t use or only bought to use once or twice. By donating these items, you can not only reduce the amount of trash the next time you do a spring clean, you can also help people get affordable pieces of clothing and equipment.

You can take clothes and other items to the DI(Desert Industries) or to the local Christian Center.

4. Recycle Unused Electronics

In every house, there is a closet or cabinet filled with unused electronics. Recycling these items will help eliminate waste and will prevent heavy chemicals from leaching into the soil and water.

E-waste is the fastest growing type of trash and making sure that you properly dispose of old electronics will have a significant impact on the amount of E-waste that ends up in landfills.

You can recycle most electronics at Best Buy or your local recycling center. Here is a link to learn more about E-waste and how to recycle smartphones.

5. Recycle Responsibly

Recycling is simple and has many benefits. One of the most significant benefits of recycling is that the process helps to conserve natural resources like wood, water, and minerals. By reusing the materials that have already been extracted, we reduce our impact on our natural resources.

There has been a rise in recycling contamination though since the early 2000’s. This is causing problems in the world commodity market. Learn more about recycling contamination.

by following the rules below, you should be able to avoid most recycling issues.

Basic Rules To Follow

1. Recycle all empty bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard

2. Keep food and liquids out of your recycling

3. Keep plastic bags out of your recycling