13 Tips To Reduce Waste This Summer
Summertime is for beach days, barbecues, and fresh air, yet it is also when waste tends to accumulate. Here at AspenClean, we are aware that a more eco-conscious lifestyle isn’t created by perfection, but more so by the smaller choices that add up to larger impacts. After being in business for the last two decades on a mission to make products that are not only better for you but also for our sacred planet, we have learned a thing or two about how to reduce waste. Below are thirteen simple steps that you can incorporate into your everyday life to help you cut down on waste this season without having to sacrifice any summer fun!
1. BRING REUSABLE BAGS & PRODUCE POUCHES
Have you ever come home from the grocery store with more plastic bags than groceries? Now multiply that by billions of shopping trips worldwide, and you might just get a glimpse of the problem that is single-use plastics. Stashing a few fold-up canvas tote bags and lightweight produce pouches in your car or handbags makes all the difference and makes it easier for you to opt out of using plastic bags.
2. CARRY A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
On a hot sunny day, nothing beats the feeling of taking a sip from an ice-cold drink. At a global level, about 500 billion single-use plastic water bottles are used per year, equating to roughly 1 million bottles every minute. The worst part is that not even half of these are recycled, meaning that most of them end up in landfills or our oceans. If you feel like you need a quick reminder on how to recycle, check our recycling guide!
Choosing to use a stainless steel or glass water bottle is one way that you can make a difference while saving some money in the long run. Next time, before you set out for a hike or on another adventure, make sure to fill up your water bottle at home with some nice cool water!
3. COMPOST ANY FOOD SCRAPS
Summer gatherings often come with fruit skins, corn cobs, and veggie trimmings. Composting is one of the most effective ways to reduce household waste and live more sustainably. But if you’re worried about smells from a kitchen compost bin, you don't have to be.
A simple hack to avoid any potential smells coming from your compost is to keep a bag in the freezer. Freezing any food scraps can completely eliminate any odors, but also removes the need for you to keep the compost bin on the counter. When the bag gets full, just take it out to an outdoor bin, community compost, or green waste collection. Although it seems like a small change, it has a massive impact on landfill waste!
4. USE CLOTH NAPKINS & HANDKERCHIEFS
This summer, swap disposable tissues for reusable cloth handkerchiefs. While handkerchiefs may seem old-fashioned, they’re far less messy, can be reused for years, and can help drastically reduce paper waste, especially during cold and allergy seasons. They’re also free from the harsh chemicals often found in standard tissues. Keep a few in your bag, backpack, or car, and you’ll always be ready for the next sneeze without the waste.
Similarly, reusable cloth napkins are a great way to help reduce paper waste and save money over time. They’re easy to clean and are a must-have for anyone aiming for a low-waste kitchen routine.
5. SKIP SINGLE-USE STRAWS & CUTLERY
Using a plastic straw or cutlery can sometimes feel like the most convenient option, especially for takeaway foods, but the truth is that they stick around for years. That is why movements like Plastic Free July were developed. To remind us of our plastic consumption and how we can take action to reduce single-use plastic waste!
Choosing to keep a set of metal/bamboo utensils as well as a silicone straw in your bag or in the glove compartment of your car is one of the smallest steps that has the biggest impact on your personal carbon emissions.
Opting to say no to these plastic utensils is also a fantastic way to signal to businesses the importance of removing them from their practices!
6. OPT FOR CONCENTRATED & REFILLABLE CLEANING PRODUCTS
Most cleaning products today are made up of about 90% water. These cleaning products are then shipped across in heavy plastic bottles. By choosing to buy concentrated cleaners, you flip that model. Instead of paying for water to be predominantly shipped, you add the water from home and reuse the same spray bottle again and again, essentially cutting down on packaging and transport emissions!
Our All-In-One Cleaner Concentrate makes up to 35 bottles of all-purpose cleaner! The product comes in a recycled bottle and is certified safer for people, pets, and the environment. A small bottle of this concentrate is easy to bring along in your camper or travel bag, and after being mixed with a bit of water, it makes for a gentle cleaner you can use on picnic tables and other surfaces.
7. GO GREEN WITH YOUR CLEANING STAPLES
Your cleaning routine is a powerful place to cut down on waste and harmful chemicals. Start by choosing eco-friendly cleaning products made with biodegradable ingredients and packaged in recycled or plastic-free materials.
Most conventional cleaning products contain a mix of aggressive chemicals that not only harm your health but also our surrounding environment. Choosing to look for natural cleaning essentials like detergents and sprays is a much safer alternative that is just as effective as the regular ones you are using today.
Here at AspenClean, we’re proud that all our natural cleaners and detergents are rated A by the EWG, with most of them being EWG Verified, meeting the highest standards for health and transparency.
8. BUY IN BULK OR VISIT ZERO-WASTE SHOPS
Buying in bulk is another easy way to cut down on plastic waste and save money. When shopping for pantry staples like nuts, seeds, grains, or cereal, skip the plastic packaging and bring your own reusable cloth produce bags instead. Once you're home, simply transfer everything into glass storage jars for a clean, organized, and sustainable pantry.
Bulk buying also cuts costs - prepackaged products are almost always more expensive, even when they’re sold in “bulk” quantities. Choosing unpackaged goods not only helps the planet but also keeps your grocery bill in check.
9. BORROW, RENT, AND SHARE INSTEAD OF BUYING NEW
Need any camping gear? Maybe a kayak for a lake weekend? Or a punch bowl for a summer party? Before you go to Amazon to buy a new item, check with your neighbours, friends, or a local re-use it store. Borrowing or renting camping gear, tools, and other infrequently used items can not only save you money, but it also conserves resources and is better for the environment. Doing so will also keep clutter out of your garage or storage closet, keeping your home cleaner in the long run!
10. AIR-DRY LAUNDRY & WASH COLD
Cutting down on your energy bill is another way you can decrease your environmental impact this summer! Dryers are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in your home. Beginning to employ line drying methods allows you to surpass these charges and instead use a free drying source: the sun! When the sun isn’t cooperating with your cleaning schedule, using an indoor drying rack is an easy fix.
Around 90% of a washing machine’s energy goes towards heating up the water for hot water cycles. By choosing to wash your laundry using cold water, you are not only saving energy but also money!
11. SHOP SECOND-HAND
The average person in North America throws away more than 80 pounds of clothing every single year, which sits in a landfill for centuries. Instead of throwing these pieces away, donate them to thrift stores, sell them online, or give them to homeless shelters for people less fortunate than you.
When you, yourself, need a new piece of clothing, the most eco-friendly option is to shop second-hand. To manufacture one single cotton shirt, it requires on average 700 gallons of water. Choosing to re-use existing items allows you to bypass this extreme environmental cost!
12. CHOOSE A BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH
You may not think about your toothbrush very often, but over the course of a lifetime you’ll use hundreds of them. It’s time for you to switch out yours for a bamboo one! Bamboo toothbrushes are completely biodegradable, easy on the planet, naturally antimicrobial, and the best part? It looks stylish on the sink.
It's a small swap with a big environmental impact!
13. SHORTEN SHOWERS
Reducing your shower time to just 5 - 7 minutes helps save water, lower your energy bills, and cut down your household’s environmental footprint without much effort at all.
Start small! Set a timer or play a short playlist to help you stay on track. With a bit of consistency, shorter showers will become second nature. You’ll be surprised how much water you save in a single week.
Being mindful about waste in the season ahead doesn’t mean that you have to give up any of your favourite rituals; it’s about making smarter choices. Things like carrying your own reusable bags and utensils, choosing refillable natural cleaning products, reducing your shower by a couple of minutes, or even borrowing instead of buying new are small actions we can all take to help save our planet.
At AspenClean, we are right there with you in the fight against climate change, which is why we developed sustainable, non-toxic cleaners that make living a green lifestyle that much easier. If you’re looking for more ways to be environmentally conscious, explore our blog regularly!