In Canada, the third week of October is designated as Waste Reduction Week. My journey to reduce waste started with one simple swap. That simple swap led to another, and another, and ultimately to a focus on simplicity and sustainability. Today’s post is a roundup of some of my top tips to help you reduce waste.

About Waste Reduction Week

Part of Circular Economy Month, the goal of Waste Reduction Week is to engage Canadians to better understand the issues of waste and the opportunities they have to accelerate our transition to a circular economy.

Each day of the week is assigned a theme, starting with Circular Economy Innovators Monday, followed by Textiles Tuesday, E-Waste Wednesday, Plastics Thursday, Food Waste Friday, Sharing Economy Saturday, and Swap and Repair Sunday. Visit the Circular Economy Month website to learn more about each of the daily themes.   

Top tips to reduce waste

I’ve shared before that my journey to reduce waste started with a simple gift of a bottle of hand soap from Molloy’s, a local bulk soap supply and refill store. When I visited their store, I started to see how simple swaps could really add up over time. The journey began!

None of the changes I’ve made are revolutionary on their own. But together, they have made a big difference to the amount of waste my family sends to the landfill.

Celebrate Waste Reduction Week by adopting one, or all, of the following waste reduction tips. The planet will thank you!

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Start with a waste audit

Have you ever done a waste audit? It is an excellent way to identify opportunities to reduce waste.  

Pick a week and analyze everything that goes into your trash can or recycle bin. Then, look for ways to eliminate that waste.

If you’re really up for a challenge, try a Zero Waste Challenge like the one I did in 2021. The goal was to fit all my personal trash for an entire month into a mason jar. It was a reminder of how much progress I’ve made, but it also provided an excellent learning opportunity. Read about my experience in this post.

Curb your consumption

Out-of-control consumption is one of the main reasons for the problems plaguing our planet. Increased awareness of environmental issues has definitely turned me into a much more mindful shopper. The best way to reduce waste is to stop it before it starts by reducing consumption.

Waste Reduction Week is a great opportunity to develop some new habits. Start with adopting  mindful shopping habits—simply questioning everything you buy. If you’re ready for a bigger challenge, consider a Buy Nothing Challenge like the one I did in 2021.  

Bring your own container

I love BYOC (Bring Your Own Container) programs and have been so happy to see their growth in popularity.

If there’s a refillery or bulk food store in your area, drop by and check it out. My first visit to Molloy’s was simply to refill the hand soap bottle I’d received as a gift. I was inspired by the number of other products I could refill at their store. These days, I buy all my laundry soap, dishwasher tabs, and many other products there.

I also shop at Bulk Barn for many grocery items. They have an excellent reusable container program and offer a 15% discount on Sundays if you bring your own containers.

Get naked!

No…it’s not what you’re thinking. Packaging waste is a big problem, but there are solutions.

Beyond BYOC, switching to naked bar products is the single swap I’ve made that has reduced the most waste. I use unwrapped bar soap, stain remover bars, shampoo and conditioner bars, moisturizer, and even deodorant. Read about the bar products I love in Bars! The simplest plastic-free swap you can make!

And…you can get naked at the grocery store too. Bring your own reusable shopping bags, produce bags, and stay away from pre-packaged items as much as possible.

Try some simple DIY

I’m not a big fan of DIY cleaners and personal care products, mainly because most of these concoctions involve ingredients that I don’t have in my house. But, if I can make something in less than 10 minutes with ingredients I already have, why not? Here are a few of my simple DIY recipes you can try:

• 4-ingredient toilet cleaner
• Natural foot scrub
• Jewellery cleaner
• Body powder
• Face powder

Give toothpaste tabs a try

Toothpaste was one of the last zero-waste swaps I made. It was tough to find a low-waste product with fluoride. Now, I love my toothpaste tabs. Like my favourite bar products, they’re especially handy for travel. Learn more in My quest for plastic-free dental care products.

Cook your own meals

Eating out is expensive and the restaurant industry generates a lot of waste, especially when it comes to takeout. You can significantly reduce your impact by making your coffee at home and cooking your own meals. When you do indulge in takeout, try to patronize businesses that don’t use plastic containers. Pizza anyone?

Don’t leave home without it

There are a lot of simple things you can do to reduce waste at home, but what about when you’re away from home? I have a few “on-the-go items” that I rarely leave home without:

• Reusable shopping bag
• Refillable water bottle
• Travel mug
• Metal straws
• Reusable cutlery

You’ll find these items in my work backpack, my travel carry-on, and my car. I also keep a few containers in the car to take home leftovers from restaurant meals.

Reuse single-use items

Nobody’s perfect, so it’s inevitable that you’ll end up with a few single-use items. Before tossing an item in the trash, consider if you can reuse it. Here are a few ideas:

• Plastic yogurt or margarine containers are great for food storage or sending home leftovers with your guests.
• Glass jars are also excellent for storing dry goods and freezing homemade soups and sauces.
• Plastic bags from frozen fruits and veggies are a low-cost alternative to freezer bags.
• Plastic cutlery can be washed and reused multiple times.

Imagine how much waste we’d reduce by reusing every single-use item at least once.

Rethink gifting and celebrations

At this time of year, you’re probably starting to think about holiday shopping. There’s nothing worse than getting a gift you don’t want and won’t use. Talk to your family about changing up your holiday celebrations. Consider experience gifts, charitable donations, a recycled gift exchange, or even regifting.

Repurpose old items

Finally, once an item has outlived its usefulness for you, consider alternatives to just tossing it in the trash. In my 2021 decluttering challenge, I sent very few items to the landfill. Check out 6 ways to turn your junk into treasure for ideas on how you can find new homes for your items.

Ways to continue your learning

Waste Reduction Week provides an opportunity to learn and adopt some new habits. The Circular Economy Month website is an excellent resource.

For residents of Waterloo Region, our local landfill is operating public tours on Saturday, October 26. I did this tour in April for Earth Day. It was eye-opening and educational. Read about my experience in this post and visit the Region’s Waste Management site to register for the tour.

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What changes will you make this Waste Reduction Week? Do you have other waste reduction tips to share? Drop me a comment below and join the conversation.