One of my main sustainability goals is to be as low waste as possible in every aspect of my life. But when you think about your whole life, it can be overwhelming to try to do without achievable steps. It has been easiest for me to break it down into categories and work from there. One of the main areas I wanted to produce less waste in was the kitchen. The average American household wastes 32 percent of the food it purchases, which is mind boggling considering the number of people in the world who don’t have reliable access to any food. Here are the steps I’ve made to make my kitchen low waste, and I will continue to update the blog as I make more improvements.
I was under the impression as a renter in an apartment that composting wasn’t available to me. However, I did some research and found out that my local grocery store (Mom’s Organic Market) accepts compost scraps. Each week, when I go to the grocery store I simply bring my bin full of food scraps and drop it off as I shop. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the amount of trash we produce, without really changing any habits I already had. There are several sizes and types of compost bins available to purchase online, and you can look up any compost initiatives in your area with a quick Google search.
Washable Paper Towels and Napkins
When we made the switch to washable paper towels and napkins, it was more of a financial decision than an eco-friendly one: I was tired of wasting money on paper that was thrown away after a single use. Now, not are we producing no waste when we need a napkin, but we have saved easily hundreds of dollars per year.
Growing my own herbs
For the past couple of years, I’ve been wanting the aerogarden so I can grow my own herbs without having to buy them in plastic clamshells at the grocery. I’d been back and forth for the longest time, but for Christmas my husband gifted it to me and I couldn’t be happier with it. Typical gardening is a great way to grow your own food to save money and resources, but it’s not always attainable for everyone. I love that the aerogarden lets us grow our own fresh herbs in the comfort of our tiny apartment with no yard. Plus, it monitors the light and water itself so it takes all the guesswork out of it. You can also switch out what you’d like to grow, and I’m planning to grow some lettuce later in the year!
These are my latest addition to the kitchen, and they are really so worth it. All you have to do is wet them, wipe your counters with your cleaning solution, and throw them in the wash and use again. They have more grip than a paper towel and can really wipe up any grime you have in the kitchen.
Refillable Cleaning Supplies
When we first moved in, I immediately made an order for Blueland cleaning products. You only purchase the solution tablets rather than an entire bottle, saving both resources and money. The tables come in compostable packaging, and all you have to do is add water and let it dissolve before it’s ready to use. In addition, they are a clean brand and use natural ingredients.
My husband has been into fitness his whole life and gave me the love I now share with him for meal prepping. We use glass containers to store any leftover food we have. You don’t need a matching aesthetic set in order to use this tip: you can use jars and containers you’ve saved from items like sauces. I use old (clean) marinara jars for everything from overnight oats to smoothies.
When I found out about the staggering amount of food wasted each year, I did some research to see how I could shop smarter. I came across Imperfect Foods, which takes food that is rejected by grocery stores for cosmetic issues (like color, shape, or size) and sell it for a reduced price. Each week, we look online as the available food products and make our selections which are delivered to us in a box each week. We spend less money at the grocery (since we’re not impulse shopping) and do our part reducing food waste.
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