Composting, Recycling & Reusing: A Guide to Reducing Waste in the Home

Did you know that globally, we generate 2.01 billion tons of waste every year? In the U.S. alone, 402 kilograms (886 pounds) of municipal solid waste per person per year end up in landfills, while only 190 kilograms (419 pounds) per person per year are recycled. Over time, household waste can pollute the air, water, and land, contributing to climate change and harming wildlife.

For real change to occur, local governments must encourage reuse and recycling through effective waste management policies. However, if you’re like me, you want to be part of the solution rather than the problem. Below, I’ll provide practical waste reduction strategies that I use in my own home so you can reduce your household waste and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Understanding Household Waste

Before we dive into my top strategies for reducing waste, it's essential to understand household waste. What is it, and what type of impact does it have on the environment? Find the answers below.

Common Sources of Waste

Household waste can vary between homes. However, some of the most common sources include food scraps, food packaging, single-use items, yard waste, clothing, furniture, electronics, and appliances.

The EPA reported that in 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available), food was the largest contributor to landfills, followed by plastics, paper, rubber, leather, and textiles.

Before I began my waste-reduction journey, food and food packaging accounted for the majority of my household waste. And although I diligently recycled plastic, I’m sure much of it wasn’t recyclable and ended up in the landfill.

Environmental Impact

Let’s explore the impact our household waste has on the environment. Most of our waste ends up in landfills, which are designed to isolate non-hazardous household waste from the local environment with liners, rain collection systems, and capping systems to prevent the release of gases. They are managed by local municipalities and are monitored for groundwater contamination and landfill gas. However, over time, a sanitary landfill will fill up and may overflow, potentially leaking contaminants into the local environment.

Not all countries use sanitary landfills. Open dumping is common in some areas. This practice is unregulated and can contaminate soil and water, as well as release methane and other harmful gases into the environment.

Ultimately, trash often ends up in waterways, oceans, and lakes, negatively impacting marine wildlife. According to Clean Water Action, food containers, food packaging, and plastic bags make up the bulk of marine debris. Worldwide, marine plastic debris has impacted 86% of sea turtle species, 44% of seabird species, and 43% of marine mammal species.

Waste Reduction Strategies for Suburban Homes

Composting Organic Waste

Composting is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to reduce your household waste. You can easily set up backyard compost bins and start making your own nutrient-rich soil to enhance your garden. Composting has a learning curve, but I’ve found it to be well worth the work.

Compost needs four ingredients:

• “Brown” carbon-rich materials like dry leaves, plant stalks, shredded paper and cardboard, and untreated wood chips.
• “Green” nitrogen-rich materials like food scraps, grass cuttings, coffee grounds, teabags, and eggshells.
• Moisture from water.
• Oxygen from the air.

I like to chop my food waste into smaller pieces before adding it to my backyard compost. Smaller pieces are easier to decompose and will break down faster. 

Compost has numerous benefits for your garden:

• It enhances the nutrient level in your soil, helping plants grow bigger and stronger.
• It reduces the need for harmful fertilizers and pesticides.
• It can help decrease soil erosion rates.
• It can help prevent the release of carbon into the atmosphere.

Effective Recycling Practices

Recycling is an easy way to reduce your household waste. However, you need to familiarize yourself with your local recycling guidelines so you know what can and cannot be recycled.

Most municipalities or waste-management services that offer recycling services will accept the following items:

• Glass
• Cardboard
• Paper
• Aluminum cans
• Some plastics

Check the symbols on your plastic waste to determine whether it can be recycled. Then, sort it and clean it thoroughly before putting it in your recycling bin. Also, check to see whether your local grocery stores or other locations offer recycling services for types of plastic that can’t usually be included in your household recycling, such as plastic bags.

Reducing Single-Use Items

Single-use items, such as plastic bags, plastic silverware, and plastic or Styrofoam food containers, account for a significant portion of household waste in the U.S. Switching to reusable items is an easy way to reduce your household waste.

I have a handful of reusable grocery bags that I grab whenever I head to the store. I’ll also take a couple with me if I’m going clothes shopping to avoid adding to my plastic bag collection. I have a sizable stash of reusable food containers that I use for leftovers and have even taken to potlucks in the past, so I don’t end up taking single-use plastic containers home.

Another hack I've found helpful is to carry a set of utensils with me so I can use them if I get takeout away from home. I also keep a few stainless steel straws in my purse for my kids and me to use instead of plastic ones when we’re at a restaurant.

Yard and Garden Waste Management

Don’t throw away your yard waste or grass clippings. Instead, use them to help enhance your garden by composting them, increasing nutrients in your soil. Grass clippings and leaves can also be used for mulching.

Another tip I’ve learned is to leave the grass clippings on the lawn rather than raking them after I mow. This process, known as grasscycling, adds nutrients to the lawn, helping my grass to grow healthier. 

Waste Reduction Strategies for Urban Homes

Urban Composting Solutions

If you don’t have the space for a backyard compost bin, check to see whether there’s a community composting program in your area. If there is, you can drop off your food scraps at a designated location where they will be collected and added to the community compost pile. Once it’s ready, you can collect the compost for use in your own garden.

Other composting options for urban homes include:

• Worm bins are perfect for indoor composting. This process (called vermicomposting) uses red earthworms to help break down organic waste to produce a type of compost called castings that can be used as mulch or an additive for soil.
• Bokashi systems use fermentation to turn food scraps into compost. This process uses an indoor composter to create compost tea and pre-compost. You add your food scraps to the composter and sprinkle bokashi bran over them every few days. Bokashi bran is often made from a mixture of wheat germ, wheat bran, or sawdust, combined with molasses.

Maximizing Small Spaces

One of the most effective ways to minimize waste is to adopt a minimalist lifestyle. This is especially important if you live in an apartment that lacks storage space. Overbuying can lead to excessive clutter, which will inevitably end up in a landfill.

Consider vertical storage solutions, such as wall-mounted shelves, over-the-door storage, hanging hooks, and tall cabinetry, to maximize your space. If you feel like your home is overwhelmed, consider decluttering and donating the items you no longer need. Ultimately, embracing minimalism can help you live a more sustainable and waste-free lifestyle.

Participating in Local Recycling Programs

If your waste management provider doesn’t offer recycling (or if they limit the items you can recycle), look for local recycling centers and drop-off points. You can often take your recycling to your county landfill, where it will be sorted and recycled if possible. Some parks, libraries, and recreation centers also offer specialized collections where you can drop off batteries, light bulbs, and other items that cannot be put in your everyday recycling bin.

Reducing Food Waste

Since food waste accounts for such a high percentage of household waste, it makes sense that reducing your food waste can reduce your overall waste. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to reduce food waste, and all it takes is a bit of planning.

Meal planning, in particular, means you buy only what you need to make your weekly meals. I like to plan my meals and grocery shop on Saturdays and prep my recipes for the week on Sundays. Depending on what I’m making, I might cook in bulk on a Sunday to have leftovers throughout the week, or pre-chop veggies so I can throw a weeknight dinner together in seconds.

Storing your food properly can help it last longer. Dry goods should be stored in a cool, dry cabinet away from direct sunlight. Wash berries in vinegar and rinse them with water to remove mold and extend their shelf life. Then, store them in the refrigerator. Keep ethylene-rich produce (such as bananas and apples) away from ethylene-sensitive produce (like cabbage, greens, and broccoli) to prevent them from spoiling prematurely.

Finally, be creative with your leftovers. Consider how you can use what you have on hand to make a meal rather than throwing it out. For example, if you have some leftover beans and veggies from your weekly meals, throw them in a pot with some broth and seasoning and make a hearty soup.

Shared Strategies for All Homes

Conducting a Waste Audit

When you want to reduce your household waste, the best place to start is with a waste audit. Consider your household’s current waste generation so you can identify areas where you can reduce.

For me, it was leftovers. I found myself throwing away perfectly good food every week. By being more intentional with my grocery list and more creative with my recipes, I was able to reduce my food waste significantly.

For you, it might be takeout containers. Consider taking reusable containers with you when you go out to eat so you can avoid bringing home cartons of leftovers.

Embracing the 5 R's

The five R’s of sustainability are refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. Here’s how you can apply them to your lifestyle.

• Refuse to create waste or support companies that are wasteful.
• Reduce your dependency on products that are harmful, wasteful, or cannot be recycled.
• Reuse as many items as you can rather than buying new ones.
• Recycle as much waste as possible and look for additional opportunities for recycling.
• Rot your food waste by starting a compost bin.

Take it one step at a time so you can gradually give your lifestyle a sustainability makeover.

Sustainable Shopping Habits

Consider how you can shop more sustainably. I found myself prioritizing convenience over sustainability, opting for pre-packaged food wrapped in single-use plastic. By buying in bulk where possible and choosing products with minimal packaging, I have found that the amount of waste I create from food packaging has decreased dramatically.

DIY Cleaning and Personal Care Products

Finally, I managed to reduce my dependence on plastic packaging by making homemade cleaning and personal care products rather than buying them. Here are the top ingredients I use:

• Vinegar can clean hard surfaces, windows, and floors—and rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar can reduce the need for conditioner.
• Essential oils add a pleasant scent to homemade cleaners, and some have antimicrobial properties. 
• Rubbing alcohol can clean glass and windows without leaving spots or streaks. You can also use it to disinfect cuts or make a homemade ice pack.
• Baking soda is excellent at deodorizing fridges, trash cans, and even shoes, and also makes a gentle abrasive cleaner. You can even use it to whiten your teeth and freshen your breath.

Another change I made that has reduced my household waste is switching to HeySunday laundry sheets. They are fully recyclable, come in flat packaging (goodbye, bulky plastic detergent jugs!), and clean my family’s clothes just as well as store-bought detergents. Once I’d added these to my home, I also switched to HeySunday dryer sheets and HeySunday dishwasher sheets.

Leveraging Community Resources

Local Workshops and Programs

To learn more about sustainable living, look for workshops and events in your local area. These events can provide you with additional resources to support your journey to reduce waste. Ask your local municipality if they have any resources for recycling or composting, and check your local library for events. If there are none in your area, you can likely find a virtual event to attend online.

Community Swap Events

Many communities host clothing and household item swaps to help residents declutter and reduce waste, thereby avoiding the addition of items to landfills. This also encourages people to reuse items rather than constantly buying new. Check to see if your area has a local BuyNothing group, where you and your neighbors can post items you no longer need to give away or regift to others.

Supporting Local Zero-Waste Initiatives

Zero-waste initiatives encourage people to become responsible consumers who reuse items wherever possible. Check to see whether any businesses or organizations in your area focus on waste reduction and ask how you can support their efforts.

Conclusion

Household waste contributes millions of tons to landfills every year. By implementing sustainable strategies, you can reduce your household’s waste and become a more responsible citizen.