9 ways to reduce plastic waste at home (2024)

Say NO to cellophane-wrapped products

Cellophane wrap is rarely recycled because it can clog machinery in recycling facilities. When it ends up in landfills or incinerators, cellophane releases highly toxic chemicals into the environment.

Look for products not packaged in cellophane. Wrap your leftovers with Beeswax wrap or other eco-friendly alternatives. Zero Waste Swaps for Plastic Wrap

Store your leftovers with silicone covers

Plastic wrap and bags cannot be recycled, ending up in the trash. and, eventually the ground or ocean!

While doing kitchen cleanup, it's common to reach for a stash of Tupperware or other plastic containers, Ziploc bags, and plastic wrap to deal with leftover food. While these materials work, they are not great form an environmental standpoint. Plastic containers are known to leech hormone-disrupting chemicals into food. A better solution is to move away from plastic altogether and find alternative ways to store leftovers: bowls, glass jars, glass containers, paper, cloth, beeswax wrap, stainless steel, ceramic crock, cooking pot, and aluminum foil. How to Store Leftovers Without Plastic

Reuse your glass jars after removing the labels

Repurpose or upcycle food jars, glassware, and even essential oil bottles and avoid a perfectly reusable container from going to waste! No need to spend time or use toxic chemicals to remove that stubborn sticky glue residue from your glass jars. The easiest way to remove labels from glass jars

Avoid tea bags and use a tea strainer

Plastic tea bags can release about 11 billion microplastics into a single cup of tea!

Even paper teabags contain a small amount of polypropylene, which makes them non-recyclable and non-compostable. Buying loose tea in bulk and using a tea infuser or strainer is a zero-waste way to enjoy a cup! Check out these 6 eco-friendly tea brands.

Extend the life of your plastic

Around 100 million plastic bottles are used and discarded every day, with 80% of them becoming non-biodegradable litter! However, if for some reason you have to purchase plastic water bottles, then it is better to reuse and repurpose them as much as possible. Instead of throwing them away, find some fun and creative ways to extend their life. Save money buying a reusable water bottle and end the cycle of plastic waste! 20 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles Instead of Trashing Them

Make your own hand sanitizer (1 cup of the rubbing alcohol, ½ cup of aloe vera, 5 drops of your chosen essential oil)

An organic, non-toxic hand sanitizer is made by blending rubbing alcohol, water, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera, and essential oils. This safe antibacterial salve is easy on the wallet as well as the environment. It must contain 60% rubbing alcohol in order to kill all coronavirus germs. Here's How You Can Make Your Own DIY, Zero-Waste Sanitizer

Switch your bottles for bars

Enrich your shower routine by switching from bottled products to more traditional bars of soap!

Sustainable hair care companies have begun to produce shampoo, conditioner, and shower gels all in bar form. It is important to be conscious of how much waste we contribute; if you wash your hair three or four times a week, we're guessing that's around once a month. Over a year, that adds up to 24 bottles, and over 10 years it's a staggering 240 - which is a lot of plastic waste. Replacing your bottled shampoo with a soap bar could have a much bigger environmental impact than you think.Why Switching from Bottles to Bars Can Help the Environment