Do you have problems managing household waste? Just a little more thought about managing household waste can make your home more comfortable. With careful planning, you can save costs and protect the environment. Let's start from the first step regarding the management of waste, food waste, and objects that can be recycled.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Reducing the amount of waste
Step 1. Use a cloth bag, not a plastic bag
This little thing will greatly reduce the amount of waste in your home. Whatever your groceries, choose cloth bags that can always be reused, rather than receiving plastic bags from the store where you shop. Plan to buy several cloth bags and keep them carefully so you don't forget to take them with you when shopping, such as in the kitchen or in the trunk of a car.
- If you forget to bring a cloth bag to the store, you can still reduce waste! Ask the waiter not to use two layers of plastic bags for your groceries. Most stores also now sell cloth bags, so you can buy them instead of accepting plastic or paper bags. You can always use this extra cloth pocket at home.
- Using cloth bags isn't limited to just grocery shopping. Carry a cloth bag with you when you shop for clothes, supplies, or other items you need.
Step 2. Better, buy food without/with less packaging
If you tend to buy food in plastic packaging that comes in cardboard boxes, you're going to collect more waste than you'd like. Look for ways to buy less packaged food, especially plastic packaging, and you will reduce the amount of waste in your home every day. These are some of the ways you can do it:
Purchase food from the grocery area. You can buy rice, beans, cereals, teas, spices, and other dry foods in the grocery area of your shop. Store food in airtight containers made of glass or plastic when you get home
Step 3. Perform vermicomposting
You can make your own compost system with earthworms.
- Prioritize cooking, not heating instant food. Store-bought instant foods, which usually need to be reheated in the microwave, have multiple layers of packaging, and they all go to the trash. Cooking takes more time, but still consider substituting instant food for your own homemade food. This will make your waist slimmer too.
- Buy dairy products in containers that you can return. Some dairy companies offer a return system, where when you buy milk, cream or buttermilk in glass bottles, you can exchange the empty container for some money. This is a great way to reduce plastic waste.
- Shop at the fresh market. This market offers fresh ingredients that do not use plastic packaging. Bring your cloth bag to carry your groceries home.
Step 4. Don't use bottled drinks unless you have to
Bottled water and other drinks create trash problems everywhere. In some places, it's safer to drink bottled water than straight from the tap, but if that's not the case in your location, consider drinking straight from the tap. You can always filter the water if you don't like the taste. It is more economical and more beneficial to protect the environment.
- If you intend to go a step further, don't buy bottled or canned drinks. Instead of buying bottled drinks, you can make your own. Making your own lemon or lime juice is also a great option.
- If you still choose to buy packaged drinks, choose a large size package, not a small one. Choose a large gallon bottled water that can be used with a dispenser, rather than buying 18 small bottles of drinking water.
Step 5. Reduce paper usage
If you use a computer, there are several reasons why you have a lot of paper waste at home. Performing usage estimates to reduce the paper you buy and the paper that goes to your post office can prevent you from having the headache of sorting through the stacks of paper.
- Use the paperless billing option, and choose to pay online.
- Consider reading the news online, instead of reading a physical newspaper sent to your address.
- Make special arrangements to stop junk mail from being sent, so it doesn't pile up in your mailbox.
Step 6. Consider making your own household cleaning liquid and soap
Many containers of cleaning liquid and soap are not recyclable, so they end up in waste. If you have the time and like to make your own concoctions and then store them in a glass container, this will save you money and greatly reduce your waste. In addition, you also make your household environment free of chemicals. These are some of the herbs you can try:
- homemade laundry detergent
- homemade hand soap
- Homemade liquid bath soap
- Homemade natural facial cleanser
- homemade shampoo
- homemade car glass cleaner
Part 2 of 3: Reuse and Recycle
Step 1. Donate your belongings if possible
If you have old clothes, electronics, or other items that you no longer want but still function well, donate them, don't throw them away. It's better to be in a classroom or someone else's wardrobe than in a pile of trash.
- Old clothes and scraps can be donated to a fabric recycling facility.
- Schools usually accept donations of computers and other used electronics.
- Contact shelters or donation centers if you want to donate furniture, electronics, cars, or other items you don't use anymore.
Step 2. Reuse existing containers
Durable containers can be reused several times before being disposed of or recycled. Bottles, boxes, and pouches have other uses if you know how.
- Use paper bags to store recyclable trash, if you don't have a trash can. You can also use it as a book cover, just like in the old days when you were in school.
- Make optimal use of paper by writing or printing on both sides, or let your children draw on the back side of the paper.
- Use good quality food-use glass containers (that don't contain any toxins) to store dry food and excess groceries.
- Plastic containers are good for storing things, but be careful about using plastic containers over and over again to store food. Plastic, even though it is a special type for storing food, can gradually break down and begin to leach chemicals into the food.
Step 3. Follow the recycling regulations in your city
In some locations, you will need to sort plastic, glass or glass, and paper waste, and dispose of each separately, so that it can be recycled, while in other locations you can dispose of recyclable waste in the same bin. Some cities provide a recycling collection service, while in others there is a recycling center where you can dispose of your recyclables. Check your city's official information and follow applicable recycling regulations.
-
In general, the following types of household waste can be recycled:
- containers made of plastic with code number 1-7
- paper products such as computer paper, egg carton boxes, newspapers, and cardboard
- container made of glass
- aluminum cans and tin foil.
Step 4. Dispose of garbage and hazardous waste in a proper manner
There are some household items that cannot be recycled or reused. Such items should be disposed of in the trash or in a special waste disposal facility. Try to reduce your use of these items, and if you must use them, dispose of them according to the laws of your city. These objects include:
- battery
- paint
- televisions, computers, and other electronic goods
- bulb.
Part 3 of 3: Composting
Step 1. Save leftovers and grass clippings
Food scraps and grass clippings do not need to be thrown away. Instead, you can compost these ingredients and turn them into nutrient-rich fertilizer that you can use to fertilize your garden (or donate it to someone who can use it for theirs). There are many ways to make compost: some types of compost are made using a mixture of ingredients such as meat and dairy products, while others only use leftover fruit and vegetables. To start composting, take these materials:
- “Green” ingredients, which break down quickly, such as peeled vegetables, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings, and leaves
- 'Brown-colored' materials, which break down slowly, such as small logs and twigs, paper, cardboard, eggshells, and sawdust
Step 2. Define an area for compost
Choose a sunny or semi-shady area in the yard to be a compost area. Ideally, you will compost directly on top of the dirt or grass, but if you don't have a large yard, you can compost on the patio floor. These are the various ways to prepare a composting area:
- Make a compost pile. This is the simplest way to make compost. All you have to do is make a pile in the yard. Make sure the location is far enough from your house, because compost can sometimes attract rats and insects.
- Make a compost box. You can make a box that fits your needs.
- Buy a compost bin. These containers are available at most home and garden supply stores, and come in different sizes and shapes.
Step 3. Choose to make a “cold compost” or “hot compost” pile
Making a cold compost pile isn't difficult, but it will take longer for the compost to be ready for use. Making a hot compost pile takes a little extra effort, but the compost will be ready to use within 6-8 weeks. Here are the differences between the two:
- To make "cold compost," fill a container with a few inches of green and brown ingredients. Continue to pile up any leftovers or cardboard toilet rolls. When the container is full, allow the compost to fully process. It may take a year for the composting process to complete, but you can use compost at the bottom of the container if you need to before that time.
- To make "hot compost," mix the green and brown ingredients together until evenly distributed, and fill the container to the brim (or higher). This pile will heat up and feel hot to the touch. If this happens, stir the pile, and it will cool down again. When the pile heats up again in a few days or weeks, stir again. Keep doing this until the heating stops after you stir it, then allow the compost to fully process.
Step 4. Maintain the condition of the compost area
If the pile looks runny and slimy, add brown ingredients to slow down the process. If the pile looks too dry to slow down the composting process, add a little water or green ingredients. The more often you treat the compost, the faster you can use the resulting compost.
Step 5. Use compost when it is ready
You'll know when the compost is ready to use, when it turns dark brown or black and smells earthy. You can use your compost to fertilize vegetable, fruit or flower plants in your garden, or simply spread it out in your yard to give existing grass and other plants additional nutrients.
