Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Ways to Cut Down on Excess Waste

Shop Less

Instead of purchasing for the day or the week, consider getting the largest product you can use before it spoils and parcelling it out into smaller reusable containers such as Mason jars.

Use Every Scrap

Keep the ends of vegetables and animal bones for stock, and buy beets and carrots with the greens attached so you can sauté the greens for a side dish.

Switch to E-Bills

For most companies, it’s just a matter of clicking a button to make the switch from paper to electronic bills. Some retailers, such as Apple and Sephora, will email you your receipt instead of handing you a paper copy, too—just ask

Quality, Not Quantity

Buy less clothing, buy better quality clothing and learn how to do simple sewing repairs. Darning socks and mending sweaters will cut down on the number of items you’d normally toss in the trash.