Waste Reduction

General Strategies

Prioritize renting, borrowing or purchasing secondhand over purchasing new items
Repair and mend
Use reusable over disposables
When getting rid of usable items, post on local giveaway sites (Buy Nothing group, NextDoor, Craigslist) instead of donating to a thrift store
Refuse unnecessary items before bringing them home

Use reusable over disposables in the kitchen: Use rags instead of paper towels, no paper or plastic plates and cutlery, beeswax wrappers instead of plastic wrap, french press for coffee and tea
Reuse "disposables": Wash and reuse Ziploc bags, keep takeaway containers to save leftovers, save napkins and utensils from takeout, repurpose empty dog food and soil bags for kitchen trash can
Reduce food waste: Use a meal prep board to plan shopping and meals, compost food scraps, and minimize consumption of meat
Opt for compostable when using disposables: Use compostable sponges, dish brushes, and parchment paper
Reduce food packaging: Purchase dry goods (beans, nuts, seeds, rice, coffee, tea, protein powder) from bulk bins and loose produce in reusable bags, make some staples (granola, bread, tortillas, baked goods) from scratch, buy in bulk packaging when not available without packaging
Choose low waste cleaning supplies: Use a solid dish soap, dishwasher detergent in a cardboard box, vinegar and baking soda to clean

Recyclable: Tin cans, pasta boxes, wine bottles and beer cans
Non-recyclable: Soy milk containers, plastic flexible packaging from frozen foods like peas, ravioli, etc., meat bones, Brita filters, fast food wrappers, other food packaging (tofu, candy, etc), soiled paper

Use reusable over disposables: Use reusable menstrual products, all-metal safety razor, reusable flannel face wipes
Reduce waste: Cut open containers to use all the product, finish a product before buying a new one, avoid buying products "just to try"
Opt for compostable/recycled when using disposables: Use recycled toilet paper wrapped in paper, compostable floss in a reusable container, compostable bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste in an aluminum tube, deodorant in a cardboard tube
Reduce packaging: Unpackaged solid bar soaps and shampoos, refillable conditioner, shampoo, and moisturizer and from local refill shop
Choose low waste cleaning supplies: Use vinegar and baking soda to clean

Recyclable: Toothpaste tube (aluminum), toilet paper tube and wrap, razor blades
Non-recyclable: Sunscreen and lip balm containers, medication packaging

Purchase secondhand: When possible, purchase secondhand clothing, furniture, decor, and technology.
Save unwearable clothing for scrap or textile recycling: Made rags and small house items from old clothing, recycle old underwear, socks, and heavily damaged clothing
Mend and repair: Take shoes and luggage to a local cobbler, mend small rips and tears, have clothes altered, repair furniture and home goods
Opt for compostable/recycled when buying new: Socks and underwear made from recycled fibers
Choose low waste cleaning to extend life of goods: Wash clothes in cold water and hang dry, use detergent strips packaged in paper for laundry, schedule maintenance of electronics and other items
Prioritize practicality: Proud outfit repeater, wear shirts and pants multiple times before washing, avoid clothing that need to be dry cleaned or are not practical for frequent use, avoid "trendy" furniture that is uncomfortable or will not work in our space for a long time, avoid one-use kitchen gadgets
Decluttering: Give clothing and home goods directly to friends or neighbors rather than thrift shop

Rent and borrow: If we don't own the tool, rent or borrow it from friends, neighbors, and family before purchasing
Use it up: Prioritize using up paint, caulk, and materials we already have, save extra screws and parts for future projects, shop the workshop before buying new
Prioritize practicality: If possible, find opportunities to improve home efficiency and water usage when planning renovations (e.g. insulate walls if opened, choose low-flow faucets and toilets, choose energy efficient appliances and windows), consider long-term needs when making changes (for example, we plan to have kids so we make sure that our renovations will work for us both now and with children)
Prioritize secondhand: Secondhand light fixtures, fencing, doors, reuse existing materials in the home when possible (e.g. baseboards, drawer pulls, scrap wood, scrap drywall), repaint or restore existing furniture to make it work in our space
Responsible disposal: Avoid hazardous materials but if necessary, take leftovers to hazardous material recycling and disposal

Recyclable: Old copper wire, old screws and nails
Non-recyclable: Demolished materials (e.g. drywall, old trim, waste paint, old caulking), painters tape, plastic covering

Reuse Disposables: Reuse seedling containers to start seeds, make seed envelopes from newspaper, use old cans and cups for pest traps
Avoid packaging: Grow from seed if possible, get mulch and compost from LA Sanitation free pick up, make my own compost and fertilizers
Choose compostable materials: Opt for burlap and other natural materials over plastic, use scrap pieces of wood for plant tags, cedar raised beds over plastic
Prioritize secondhand: Source secondhand planters and fencing, propagate plants from friends and neighbors, secondhand garden chairs and table, secondhand composter, secondhand garden tools