Get Rid of Disposable Kitchenware

During the past 30 years, the United States has reduced the number of disposable plates and cups (plastic and Styrofoam) by over 700%. While this certainly represents a positive trend, there is still an enormous amount of disposable kitchenware waste that makes its way to our landfills every year. We collectively toss about how 3,000 tons of paper towels into the trash each year, and around 73 billion Styrofoam cups and plates are thrown into the trash each year. Disposable plastics as a whole amount to six million tons of single-use plastic trash that eventually end up in landfills around the country.

While no one enjoys having to wash an endless stream of dishes after a huge meal, single-use plastic and Styrofoam plates, cups, and silverware are a major source of trash for the average American household. Consider investing in an Energy Star dishwasher that will help reduce the amount of time you spend washing dishes while limiting your dependence on disposable kitchenware and simultaneously making your home more energy-efficient.

Make a Meal Plan

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that between 30 and 40% of all food prepared in the country is wasted, leading to around 133 billion pounds of food waste annually. As mentioned above, this organic waste contributes to large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions in landfills.

While you can compost much of the food waste that exits from your kitchen and dining table, you can also reduce the amount of food waste produced by your household by simply making a weekly meal plan. A meal plan will help you determine how much food your household needs on a weekly basis, and thus avoid filling up your refrigerators with leftovers that eventually are thrown out.

These five simple tips will go a long way to help you drastically reduce the amount of waste your household produces. Not only will this help the environment, but it should also help you and your family save money in the long run.