Getting More Out Of Your Trash
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Getting More Out Of Your Trash

Do you ever think about how much you hate dealing with trash? In addition to collecting it inside of your house for awhile, you might also have to lug that big can outside every few days to shove it in a larger garbage can. However, you might not have to deal with trash as much if you can learn how to recycle. By repurposing your trash, you might be able to toss less, which could save you a lot of time and energy. I know that it sounds crazy, but I have been doing this for a few years and it really works. My site will teach you more, so read up!

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Getting More Out Of Your Trash

Teach Your Kids About Trash: Three Ways To Become A Waste-Reducing Family

Samantha Bailey

Are you looking for ways to reduce your impact on the environment? If you have children, you can expand your influence by teaching them early to be mindful about what they throw away. It might seem like there are endless bags of trash heading out to the curb, but the way you teach your family to think about garbage and resources can really affect your family's ecological footprint. Here are some ways that you can reduce the amount of waste in your house, while also raising your children to be more aware of what hits the landfill.

1. Use only "waste" or recycled materials for crafts.

Kids love crafts, and your day might be filled with glue sticks, crayons, and folded paper. If you get into the mindset of only using "used" materials for kids' crafts, it will reduce your consumption of "new" paper products that will likely be thrown away at the end of the day. Some ideas of used things that households normally throw away that you can reserve for crafts are:

  • flyers you receive in the mail.
  • old catalogues and magazines
  • computer paper that has been printed on one side, but is no longer needed
  • popsicle sticks from summer treats
  • fabric scraps left over from sewing or old clothes

Be sure to make a point of telling your kids that you choose these items for crafts because they work just as well as new paper and other supplies, and you don't want to throw these used things away, because they are still perfectly good to use. 

2. Never throw away food.

Food waste is a huge and growing problem, both nationally and globally. Americans throw away around 35 million tons of food each year, and that number seems to be growing from past decades. With food making up more than a fifth of all trash, you can really get your family on board to make sure you aren't contributing to the problem. Start by:

  • serving small portions of food on children's plates. Remind them that taking a small amount is better than taking too much, because you can always go back for more if you are still hungry. 
  • creating a compost pile in the backyard. You can get compost containers for food that does go bad in the fridge, or even for things like potato peelings or celery tops. These take up very little space in the yard. You can empty the compost routinely to spread the nutrient-dense mixture among your grass, flower beds, or vegetable garden.
  • shopping with a meal plan. A lot of food goes bad simply because people buy it and it rots or expires before they are able to eat it. Planning a menu and sticking to it is a way that you can hopefully avoid this problem. Try not to get surplus items when shopping, as these are usually the ones that end up in the trash can anyway.

If children don't finish their plates at dinner, save the plate and serve it to them at the next meal. Eat leftovers before preparing more, and be sure to explain to your children, especially if they complain about leftovers, that food is for eating, not throwing away. 

3. Keep packaging waste to a minimum.

When buying food for a family, it is tempting to go with individually packaged items, like small yogurts and applesauces, just because they are convenient for a family on the go. However, staying away from individual packaging and double packaging is a great way to cut back on family waste. Instead of individual cups, buy large containers and spoon them into individual cups yourself-- using washable containers. This can also by done with boxes of crackers and even packages of meat. Buying a large amount of meat and then separating and freezing it in reusable bags is a great way to reduce packaging waste in a family, while also saving money; bulk packs generally cost less overall than buying the individual snack sizes.

If your kids wonder why their friends have small bags of chips or fruit snacks when they do not, simply explain that reducing packaging is one way to reduce the amount of garbage on the curb. 

If you are interested in more ways that you can manage your family's waste output, talk to a local waste management company or visit http://www.trashremovalframinghamma.com.


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