5 Simple Ways to Produce Less Waste

Covid-19 has produced a lot of unnecessary waste. Tons of masks, gloves and paper were used and thrown away in order to stop the pandemic. Now, our environment suffers even more. In this article, we will show you 5 simple changes for your everyday life, that have a great impact on saving our environment and produce less waste.

1. Wherever you go, wherever you are, have your own water bottle with you. Drinking lots of water is healthy for you, but also healthy for the environment, if you don't buy a plastic bottle. Think about the amount of water bottles you would buy in one year and throw away later. A reusable water bottle definitely sounds like the better and cheaper option. And if you need filtered water, then buy a filter for your kitchen. You can do the same with reusable cups as well. Make your tea or coffee at home before you leave. Some cafes even give you a discount when you use your own cup.

2. When you have breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a snack, try using cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. After using them, you can wash them with your other clothes. With this you will save many trees.

3. Bring your own bag with you when you go shopping. Even better, always carry a small bag with you. You never know when you have to carry something next, but then you will always be prepared.

4. To reduce your waste at home, try to plan ahead. For example, every Sunday evening, you plan every meal you will have in the following week and write down all the ingredients you need to buy. It might not always stay that way, plans can change, but this will let you only buy what you actually need. It will also make it easier for you to have the motivation to cook at home.

5. Following the last aspect, if you do have food waste, separate it from your other waste and compost it. According to this article, about one third of food produced is wasted globally. That is a LOT. Look at what really needs to be thrown away. You don't have to throw food away, only because it is already past the expiry date. There are also some plants that regrow, when you put them into a glass of water. Examples are: Mint, Oregano, Sage, Basil, Thyme and Rosemary. But there are lots of other examples.

Producing less waste is a goal that everyone can achieve, by starting with small steps. It is not only cheaper, you will also feel good, because you know now that it is effective.

Do you already have experience with these 5 tips? Feel free to share with the CouchActivist Community!