Ways to Reduce Your Kitchen Waste

There is so much talk about reasons you should become more environmentally friendly, but sometimes it is difficult to know what to do. You may want to reduce your carbon footprint, but you might not have any clue how to. Here are a few ways to get you started on reducing your waste in the kitchen. 

Meal Plan

You most likely have a grocery list each week or at least an idea of what you want to get, but it can be tempting to pick up extra items that look good. Having a meal plan and sticking to it can significantly lower the amount of waste in your kitchen though, and it can also end up saving you a lot of money. Only buy what you are going to use each week. Try using all of the ingredients that you buy and saving and eating leftovers for lunches. You can even store food in portion bags or reusable containers. 

Recycle

Recycling extends past just bottles and cans. A lot of food containers and other items are recyclable. Look online for a list of what you can recycle and print out a list. You can tape it to your recycling can in the kitchen so that you don't forget what items can and cannot go in there. 

Use Your Own Bags

Most grocery stores use plastic bags for your food. It may not seem like a big deal, but if everyone brought their own reusable bags, it would greatly reduce the amount of plastic that is used each year. You can find reusable bags for purchase at almost any grocery store.

While these are certainly not the only ways to reduce your carbon footprint, they are a great place to start and can make a significant difference. Look online for other ideas on how you can help. You can also reach out to other members of your community and get them to start going green as well. 

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