Glass jars with dry goods in them on a black surface (with logo overlay)

Cutting Waste in the Kitchen

54 Comments / By /

There are many ways to lower the waste your home accumulates. Follow these 11 tips for cutting waste in the kitchen and help protect our Earth.

There are so many ways you can try to cut waste in the kitchen, besides just watching how much food you waste. Have you taken a look at how much is thrown in the garbage can in your kitchen daily? I know some people who have to take out their garbage every night. Every night! That means 7 bags of garbage per week!

We aren’t perfect and are working on cutting down the waste in our kitchen on a daily basis. But as of now, we typically have only 1-2 garbage bags per week for our entire home. This includes the trash from the office, bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, cat litter, everything! And we are still working on ways to cut that down even more.

Most household waste comes from the kitchen, from what I have noticed. Think about it, how many things do you throw away when you are preparing a meal?

And if you have children, you can still strive for cutting waste in the kitchen. If you teach them young, they don’t know anything different.

Originally Published On: September 14, 2017

Last Updated On: April 20, 2020

Cutting Waste in the Kitchen

Recycle

  • Many things get thrown in the trash that can be recycled, such as glass, paper towel rolls, cereal boxes, etc.
  • Check with your local recycle collection on what can be recycled in your area and how to properly separate.
  • Items with foods on it, such as pizza boxes, can not usually be recycled.

Smaller portions

  • If you eat smaller portions, you are likely to have less wasted food.
  • Eating smaller portions is also good for your body.

Food storage

Bulk foods in glass jars and mesh bags for a no waste kitchen

Single-Use Items and Shopping

Don’t “shop” for trash

  • Stop buying plastic cups, paper plates, paper towels, plastic silverware, etc.
  • You are spending money on something that will be used once and thrown away.
  • These usually have packaging that is thrown in the trash and then the product is thrown away.

No plastic straws

  • When eating out, ask the waiter/waitress not to bring you a straw.
  • Invest in a set of stainless steel straws that you can keep with you.

Avoid single-serving packages

  • Similar to shopping for trash, you are spending money on something that will be discarded.
  • Single-serving items include juice boxes, individual yogurt cups, single-serve coffee cups, etc.
Overhead view of coffee and lattes in mugs on saucers all on a wooden surface

Buy in bulk

  • Buy in bulk, but only if you will use it all before it goes bad.
  • Buying in bulk means less packaging that has to be discarded.
  • Make sure it isn’t individually packaged within the bulk packaging, because that doesn’t help.

Reusable grocery bags

  • You can buy all kinds of reusable grocery bags, and get them at almost any grocery store.
  • There are even options for reusable produce bags instead of the plastic ones at the store.
  • I just learned the other day that we can recycle all the plastic bags from the grocery store. I usually use my cloth bags, but when I forget, I at least know I can throw these bags in the recycle bin which is better than nothing.

Leftover containers

  • When you go out to eat, bring your own leftover containers.
  • Styrofoam does not break down and can be bulky.
Food in takout containers

Kitchen Garden

Compost

  • There are so many things that can go in a compost bin rather than the trash.
  • Get rid of food scraps that you can’t regrow in a garden by adding to a compost bin.
  • Compost makes great fertilizer for your yard and/or garden.

Start a garden

  • Start a garden to grow your own food so you can harvest only what you will eat.
  • Use kitchen scraps in your garden to grow new food from old food.
  • Use the compost you are accumulating to help fertilize the garden.
Hands holing a pile of dirt

54 thoughts on “Cutting Waste in the Kitchen”

  5. thenafranssen

    So important, and we work hard on these everyday. If we all did a little, it would be a huge difference!

  6. jenny at dapperhouse (@dapperhouse)

    This article means so much to me. Waste is a scary, scary thing and it grows every second! Convenience in packaging is NOT good for the environment at all. We do most of the things that you recommend except for a compost or garden… maybe in the spring!

  9. Shibani

    These are really helpful tips. We should try to reduce waste any which ways and you’ve presented an amazing checklist. The buy in bulk option is a hit for me – things bought in bulk usually ends in bin – better not to buy in bulk. Thanks for sharing.

  11. Jakub Husek

    This post is right on! I think everyone should read it and then notice how much trash is generated. We do our best but obviously there’s always room for improvement. Also I have to say that the grocery stores don’t do a good enough job with their packaging. There are things we absolutely have to buy but why wrap everything in plastic? This topic always gets me worked up. Great post again!

    1. Stephanie Lynch

      You’re so right, there’s always room for improvement. The grocery stores could be better, but it also comes from the manufacturer’s as well. I’ve been trying to make as many improvements as we can, but without a bulk purchase store close by, there’s only so much we can do.

  15. Shell

    I love your tips… I’ve been trying hard this year to have a greener kitchen and also to cut out as much food packaging as possible to make our trash footprint less.

  19. brandi

    You have some great tips here! Many of which I haven’t thought about. Definitely saving for later.

  21. chad

    Amazing ideas!!! I waste so so much in the kitchen and most of this waste can be avoided to be fully honest.

  22. Neely Moldovan

    We have been really focused on this and especially making smaller portions! I love all these ideas and tips.

  23. aisasami

    I only live by myself and I usually buy for two meals during the week and eat those for a span of 5 days (I get free lunch at work). I also clean on the pantry every year. I want to be more minimal this year.

    1. Stephanie

      That’s awesome that you get lunch at work! My boys always ate lunch at school and I am missing that now that they have been home for a couple of months. Doing an annual pantry cleaning is great!

  24. Busola

    Great post Stephanie! Never really thought about reducing waste to be honest. This article has provided me a great way to start. Thanks

  25. di hickman

    I had to laugh at your comment about the jars. I save all jars with screw lids. We get mayo in large jars with a screw lid, and now I have a plethora in my cupboard full of nuts, seeds etc. My husband calls it the apothecary cupboard lol.

    1. Stephanie

      Hah, I have so many jars too. I had to rearrange my cabinets recently because I was running out of space where I store the empty ones!

  26. Melanie williams

    YES!!! Love this as we are a family of as little waste as possible especially food waste. The storage jars we have and are very useful for sure x

    1. Stephanie

      We have been trying to cut ours down as much as possible, too! I love having all different sizes of storage jars and containers.

  27. Holly

    I love the idea of cutting waste in the kitchen. I feel like, especially with kids, we waste soooo much!

    1. Stephanie

      It definitely is easy to do. Kids change so many things. We’ve been working on teaching them how to reduce, too, so that helps.

Comments are closed.