Reuse and You Will Reduce

Reusing materials is another great way to cut back on your waste. Start trying to find a new purpose for old things in your home. Some innovative ideas include:

• Finding new uses for your glass jars, like storing leftovers or giving away gifts.
• Reusing any paper or plastic bags you have in the house.
• Reusing ties that are wrapped around your produce for bags around the house.
• Donating old cell phones and computers to organizations that need them, like domestic violence shelters. Places like The Body Shop will take old phones for you and sell, refurbish or recycle them, with the proceeds benefiting the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Wireless Foundation.
• Using cardboard toilet-paper rolls as seed pots that can be planted directly into a garden.

Once you start reducing your waste at home, you’ll most likely find yourself thinking about how to do the same in your daily life. For instance, maybe you’ll take a stainless-steel mug to the coffee shop, or ask for water without a straw. Every time you say no to waste, you’re saying yes to a greener life.