{"id":23446,"date":"2025-12-15T16:07:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/reduce-waste-at-home\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T15:03:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T15:03:51","slug":"reduce-waste-at-home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/reduce-waste-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reduce Waste at Home in 5 Simple Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.chariot-article {\n  max-width: 800px;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n  padding: 40px;\n  font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, sans-serif;\n  font-size: 18px;\n  line-height: 1.8;\n  color: #333;\n}\n.chariot-article h1 {\n  font-size: 2.5em;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  line-height: 1.2;\n  margin: 0 0 30px 0;\n  color: #1a1a1a;\n}\n.chariot-article h2 {\n  font-size: 1.8em;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  line-height: 1.3;\n  margin: 50px 0 20px 0;\n  color: #1a1a1a;\n  border-bottom: 2px solid #f7931e;\n  padding-bottom: 10px;\n}\n.chariot-article h3 {\n  font-size: 1.4em;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  line-height: 1.4;\n  margin: 40px 0 15px 0;\n  color: #333;\n}\n.chariot-article h4 {\n  font-size: 1.2em;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  margin: 30px 0 10px 0;\n  color: #444;\n}\n.chariot-article p {\n  margin: 0 0 20px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article img {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  height: auto;\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  margin: 30px 0;\n  display: block;\n}\n.chariot-article figure {\n  margin: 30px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article figcaption {\n  font-size: 0.9em;\n  color: #666;\n  text-align: center;\n  margin-top: 10px;\n  font-style: italic;\n}\n.chariot-article ul, .chariot-article ol {\n  margin: 20px 0 20px 30px;\n  padding: 0;\n}\n.chariot-article li {\n  margin-bottom: 12px;\n  line-height: 1.6;\n}\n.chariot-article a {\n  color: #f7931e;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;\n  transition: border-color 0.2s;\n}\n.chariot-article a:hover {\n  border-bottom-color: #f7931e;\n}\n.chariot-article blockquote {\n  border-left: 4px solid #f7931e;\n  margin: 30px 0;\n  padding: 20px 30px;\n  background: #f9f9f9;\n  font-style: italic;\n  color: #555;\n}\n.chariot-article strong {\n  font-weight: 600;\n  color: #1a1a1a;\n}\n.chariot-article em {\n  font-style: italic;\n}\n.chariot-article hr {\n  border: none;\n  border-top: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\n  margin: 40px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article table {\n  width: 100%;\n  border-collapse: collapse;\n  margin: 30px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article th, .chariot-article td {\n  padding: 12px 15px;\n  text-align: left;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\n}\n.chariot-article th {\n  background: #f5f5f5;\n  font-weight: 600;\n}\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n  .chariot-article {\n    padding: 20px;\n    font-size: 16px;\n  }\n  .chariot-article h1 { font-size: 2em; }\n  .chariot-article h2 { font-size: 1.5em; }\n  .chariot-article h3 { font-size: 1.25em; }\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"chariot-article\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4147\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/clothing-swap-1.jpg\" width=\"1280\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p>One of the bigger problems of 21st-century society involves combatting convenience culture. Too many of the items we use quickly end up in trash cans and landfills. That said, the problem isn\u2019t buying products \u2014 it involves learning how to reduce waste at home from all the things we do buy.<\/p>\n<p>And it all begins with the <a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/blog\/reduce-reuse-recycle-repurpose\/\">4 R\u2019s<\/a> of green living:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reduce<\/strong> what you use<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reuse<\/strong> everything you can<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recycle<\/strong> what you can\u2019t<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repurpose<\/strong> when possible<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We want to provide some specific tips you can put into action around your home so that you can become more eco-friendly with your choices.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste Around Your House<\/h2>\n<p>There are five core sections of your life where you can focus your waste-reduction efforts:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trash<\/li>\n<li>Energy<\/li>\n<li>Food<\/li>\n<li>Paper<\/li>\n<li>Plastic<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>These concepts can be used in more than one area, and we\u2019ll note them as needed. But if we were to reduce this post to a single sentence, it would be: \u201cPay attention to what you buy and learn how to get rid of it when it\u2019s no longer useful.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4146\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1370\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/recycling-waste.jpg\" width=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Reduce Your Trash at Home<\/h3>\n<p>Decreasing how much we throw away at home starts with our consumer goods, clothes, and appliances. These items are often created from multiple materials, making them difficult to either reduce, reuse, recycle, or repurpose.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thus, it\u2019s essential we find ways to limit how often we place them on the curb, such as:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Learning basic home repairs<\/li>\n<li>Borrowing, renting, and sharing with friends and family<\/li>\n<li>Purchasing items that last<\/li>\n<li>Donating and giving away<\/li>\n<li>Using rechargeable batteries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If these items cannot be repaired or repurposed, learn the most effective ways to dispense with them by talking to your local trash removal company and recycling company.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4133\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/led-light-bulbs.jpg\" width=\"1142\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Reduce Your Energy Waste<\/h3>\n<p>This kind of waste can\u2019t fit in a trash bag or recycling bin, but it can definitely impact your house and the environment. While this list merely scratches the surface of the numerous <a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/blog\/energy-saving-tips\/\">energy-saving tips<\/a> you can employ, it\u2019s a good place to start:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use proper thermostat settings<\/li>\n<li>Turn off the lights<\/li>\n<li>Switch to LED light bulbs<\/li>\n<li>Use power strips<\/li>\n<li>Lower the water heater temperature<\/li>\n<li>Run heavy appliances at night<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The goal isn\u2019t necessarily to simply use less energy (though that helps, too). Instead, we want you to think about how you can use energy more effectively.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4090\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"759\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/composting-bin.jpg\" width=\"1142\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Reduce Your Food Waste<\/h3>\n<p>Most food products decompose so they don\u2019t take up landfill space. However, wasting food \u2014 where you buy or order food that you don\u2019t end up eating \u2014 can inadvertently lead to higher grocery bills, rising food prices, and food shortages in other parts of the world. To lower how much food you throw away, we encourage you to follow these suggestions:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Buy in bulk (and store in reusable containers)<\/li>\n<li>Buy what you will eat<\/li>\n<li>Compost<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy leftovers<\/li>\n<li>Try new recipes from what\u2019s left behind<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s important you pay attention to what you buy for your meals, especially in a global economy where produce is often shipped internationally.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Trees made out of construction paper\" class=\"wp-image-3774\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1280\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/how-to-recycle-scaled-1-1.jpg\" width=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Reduce Your Paper Waste\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p>We produce lots and lots of paper, and far too much of it gets thrown away instead of being recycled. But let\u2019s take our efforts a step further than just learning <a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/how-to-recycle-properly\/\">how to recycle properly<\/a> (which we go over in that link).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Common ways you can reduce your \u201cpaper trail\u201d include:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Switching to paperless bills<\/li>\n<li>Saving receipts and documents digitally<\/li>\n<li>Unsubscribing from mailing lists<\/li>\n<li>Buying multiple items at once when online shopping<\/li>\n<li>Using cloth napkins<\/li>\n<li>Using real plates<\/li>\n<li>Taking notes on a shared whiteboard instead of paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In short, be intentional when you use paper and recycle what you can.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Reduce Your Plastic Waste<\/h3>\n<p>Eliminating the overuse of plastic goods around your home is essential to creating a better planet. Common ways you can reduce your plastic waste include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoiding single-use plastics<\/li>\n<li>Using canvas bags when shopping<\/li>\n<li>Using reusable containers<\/li>\n<li>Buying items with recyclable and reusable packaging<\/li>\n<li>Using a refillable water bottle<\/li>\n<li>Using a coffee mug or thermos at work<\/li>\n<li>Using real silverware<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As we\u2019ve said in another article, using plastic by itself isn\u2019t bad. What\u2019s bad is using too much of it because it\u2019s convenient then not having a way to throw it away safely or use it in another way. The simplest way to use plastics with greater thoughtfulness is to use them as little as possible \u2014 especially when it comes to inexpensive consumer goods.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reducing Your Waste at Home Requires Conscious Effort<\/h2>\n<p>Ultimately, sustainable living is more than just recycling. It actually starts with the other three R\u2019s: reduce, reuse, and repurpose. To actually lower the amount of trash you create in your home, you start by using less stuff and continue by using it well. Consciously think about how you\u2019ll use something before you buy it, including what the item could or should become before you finally throw it away.<\/p>\n<p>Making better choices about what you use and how you\u2019ll throw it away isn\u2019t a simple checklist. It entails changing your whole model of consumption because once you use less, you automatically have less to throw away.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sources<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pca.state.mn.us\/living-green\/reduce-waste-while-shopping\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.pca.state.mn.us\/living-green\/reduce-waste-while-shopping<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.colorado.edu\/ecenter\/zero-waste\/reduce\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.colorado.edu\/ecenter\/zero-waste\/reduce<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/takecareoftexas.org\/conservation-tips\/reduce-your-waste\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/takecareoftexas.org\/conservation-tips\/reduce-your-waste<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.northjersey.com\/story\/news\/environment\/2018\/10\/12\/how-recycle-reduce-waste-home\/1487662002\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.northjersey.com\/story\/news\/environment\/2018\/10\/12\/how-recycle-reduce-waste-home\/1487662002\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.treehugger.com\/easy-ways-reduce-your-plastic-waste-today-4858814\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.treehugger.com\/easy-ways-reduce-your-plastic-waste-today-4858814<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.todaysparent.com\/family\/family-life\/ways-to-reduce-waste-at-home-even-if-you-are-exhausted\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.todaysparent.com\/family\/family-life\/ways-to-reduce-waste-at-home-even-if-you-are-exhausted\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/reduce-home-waste_n_57912d0be4b0fc06ec5c4b56\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/reduce-home-waste_n_57912d0be4b0fc06ec5c4b56<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smallfootprintfamily.com\/37-ways-to-reduce-trash\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.smallfootprintfamily.com\/37-ways-to-reduce-trash<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/zerowastehome.com\/tips\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/zerowastehome.com\/tips\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greeneducationfoundation.org\/nationalgreenweeksub\/waste-reduction-tips\/tips-to-use-less-plastic.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.greeneducationfoundation.org\/nationalgreenweeksub\/waste-reduction-tips\/tips-to-use-less-plastic.html<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to reduce waste at home so you and your family can help the environment and lower your carbon footprint.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":23485,"parent":627,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-23446","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23446\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}