Tips for waste prevention at home

The activities that we carry out on a daily basis at home generate a huge amount of waste. Prevention is very important. In other words, it is important to avoid generating as much waste as possible; to promote the reuse of products that may still have a useful life; and to encourage the recycling of those products or materials that can no longer be used.

In order to reduce the amount of waste that we generate at home, we first need to be aware of it.

In the household

By making small changes at home, you can generate less waste and save a lot of money in the long run.

  • Place a sticker on your letterbox which prohibits advertising materials being left there. Fight against paper waste.
  • Use energy-saving light bulbs. An energy-saving light bulb uses 80% less electricity and lasts six to eight times as long as standard light bulbs.
  • Give things that you don’t need to entities that can give them a new life. Alternatively, you could sell them directly to second hand shops.
  • Donate clothes and shoes that you no longer wear to charitable associations, or give them to friends and family who can give them a second life or sell them at second-hand markets.

In the kitchen

The kitchen is the part of the home where most waste is generated: particularly packaging and organic waste.

  • Have a bin for each type of waste (organic, packaging/recyclables, paper and cardboard, glass and general waste). If waste is unavoidable, you must separate it into categories for recycling.
  • Make an effort to use sustainable and reusable products, such as cloths instead of kitchen paper or tupperware boxes instead of cling film or tin foil. This generates much less waste!
  • Cook fresh food bought in bulk. By doing this, you’ll eat healthier and generate much less packaging waste compared to pre-prepared and packaged meals.
  • Eat foods with the nearest expiry date so as to avoid spoilage. Prioritise products that expire earlier and place them in such a way that allows them to be accessed more rapidly.
  • Cook meals using leftovers or pre-cooked food. For example, you can make puréed soups from spoiled vegetables, jams from over-ripe fruit, croquettes from leftover meat, fish or vegetables, etc.
  • Instead of throwing dried bread away, you could grate it or cut it into pieces. You can toast it, make breadcrumbs from it or add it to puréed vegetable soups.
  • Drink water from the tap. You will save money and greatly reduce the amount of plastic waste you have to store at home.
  • If you can, compost your organic waste. You will obtain a high quality fertiliser for your plants and flowers.
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In the dining room

By adopting good eating habits, you will be healthier and produce less waste!

  • Use fabric tablecloths and napkins, as these can be used infinite times and you will not generate any paper waste.
  • Use glasses, porcelain or ceramic plates and metallic cutlery. You can use these as many times as you like, unlike single-use materials.
  • Use a jug for water. You can refill it as many times as you like, saving money and many plastic bottles in the process.

In the bathroom

Personal hygiene products are often disposable or packaged in small quantities. By refraining from purchasing single-use products, you will produce much less waste..

  • Buy bars of soap instead of liquid hand soap. These have less packaging and generate less waste.
  • Buy large bottles of liquid hand soap and refill shower gel bottles.
  • Avoid small-format, single-use products. By buying products in larger packages, the prices are cheaper and, in the long run, you will save money.
  • Use reusable razors. In the long run, reusable razors are more economical and generate less waste.
  • Avoid using wet wipes. Natural sponges and water are just as effective and do not generate any waste.
  • Use personal hygiene products that do not generate waste. Use menstrual cups, period pants, reusable pads, etc. instead of tampons or disposable pads.
  • Use soap powder or concentrate to wash your clothes. This will prevent the generation of a large amount of single-use packages.
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In the office

Advertising, homework, invoices, bank receipts... If we become aware of all the paper that we generate and waste, it will be very simple to stop wasting it.

  • When possible, request receipts and invoices in a digital format. You’ll save time sorting them, have more space at home and avoid the unnecessary consumption of paper.
  • Use both sides of the paper. Save used sheets of paper to write down notes, make drafts, etc.
  • Use refillable pens and stationery. When the ink cartridge runs out, don’t throw it away. You can refill it and use it over and over again.
  • Use solar-powered calculators. These last for many years and do not require batteries.
  • Always print on both sides of the paper, being sure to do so in draft mode. You’ll use half as much paper and save on printer ink.
  • Use printers with refillable cartridges. These can be refilled at copy shops and computer shops, and will prevent the generation of a highly polluting waste.
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Electronic devices

  • Reuse and repair as much as possible before throwing an appliance away and buying a new one.
  • Give devices and furniture that you no longer use to associations that can give them a new lease of life.
  • Use rechargeable batteries. Single-use batteries have a very short useful life and are very polluting.
  • Buy efficient and good quality devices. If you buy class A devices, the initial investment is expensive but it will prove to be good value in the long run, as they last longer and consume less energy.
  • Consider renting or borrowing electrical devices and tools that you will only use once. By doing this, you will save money and make space at home.