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Jan 04, 2024

31 Ways To Reduce Waste In Your Home

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Side effects may include fewer trips to take out the trash and shorter shopping lists.

BuzzFeed Staff

Bamboozle is an independent brand comprised of designers, manufacturers, and content creators making products inspired by their obsession with the health of our planet.

Promising review: "This compost bin is the perfect accent piece to our newly remodeled kitchen. I love the matte finish and the terracotta color surprised me with how well it goes with my pale-green and gray Ikea cabinets. It works well too. The filters and design of the top keep the odors trapped inside and it holds plenty of food waste. So happy with my purchase!" —Alisa L

Get it from our Goodful shop for $40 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "Size fits nicely in the freezer door and holds a few days worth of scraps before taking outside. I live somewhere with no AC so we leave our windows open a lot. We wanted something that could hold compost but also not collect flies and this bin in the freezer definitely does just that. The silicon is easy to pop out and clean. No need to buy any additional composting bags." —KalicoKat

Get it from Amazon for $20.46+ (available in green and black).

ChomChom Roller is a Massachusetts-based small biz creating an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to sticky lint rollers.

Promising reviews: "We were wasting a lot of lint rollers to remove our cat's hair as my wife is obsessed with having everything clean. This product is not just saving my money but also it works great on anything — sofas, clothes, bed, etc. Easy to clean up the hair as well. I wished it worked a little better in removing hairs with fewer tries but it does the job when you are persistent. Definitely recommend for any cat lovers out there." —Mohammad Kabir

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Turbo Mops is a small business that launched in 2018 on a mission to create top-quality cleaning accessories to help you get through your to-do list as sustainably and cost-effective as possible.

Buying disposable Swiffer pads just doesn't make sense when these beauties exist. It's wildly more cost-effective, it's more absorbent, and it washes up well in the laundry. I also have (and love) the Swiffer WetJet mop pad, and can't come up with a single complaint for either one of them other than that they should be the default option when you buy a Swiffer.

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $17.75.

These BPA-free plastic cups are designed to work in any Keurig brewer, old or new!

Promising review: "Really like these reusable K-Cups. I hated wasting so much plastic using regular K-Cups and found this to use as an alternative. I have had these for two years and they have held up great! Easily to fill, clean really nicely, and no complaints! And it's great you can put your own coffee in so you're not stuck to certain brands or flavors. Highly recommend if you are trying to be more environmentally friendly." —Amazon Customer

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $6.99.

This dripper is carefully engineered to fit most branded coffee carafes including the 6-, 8-, and 10-cup Chemex Coffee Makers and Hario V60 02 and 03 drippers. To clean, just dump out the coffee grounds and rinse it under warm water. It's also recommended that every two weeks or so, you descale the filter by soaking it with white distilled vinegar and warm water for an extra good clean.

Promising review: "Love this! We purchased a Chemex to minimize the amount of plastics or additional waste associated with making coffee. Also, due to the pandemic, we find we make a lot more coffee at home, which means we go through more filters — this solved our filter waste issue! We now don’t worry about a ridiculous amount of paper filters being tossed out and also the way this filters is fantastic. It fits perfectly, is easy to wash, and makes for a great lid to keep the coffee warm. Would 100% recommend to others!" —Jaycob Simpson

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in three finishes).

Kind Laundry launched in the midst of the pandemic on a mission to reduce global plastic waste with their planet-friendly alternative to bulky, traditional laundry detergents.

Why did we ever invent liquid laundry detergent when sheet detergent is just so much better? It feels ridiculous that it's taken so long to make this switch. These squishy sheets are so easy to use, mess-free, and are MUCH easier to store than big ole jugs. A pack lasts me a verrryyy long time, since you can easily rip sheets in half if you're doing small loads. Plus, the packaging is 100% recyclable cardboard and I still get the same clean I've come to expect from regular grocery store brands.

Get a 60-pack from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in unscented and ocean breeze).

Friendsheep is a small biz creating handmade wool home goods. Their products are handmade by Nepali artisans and are sourced from factories and cooperatives that enforce fair trade labor policies.

Promising review: "These dryer balls really are adorable and make the chore of laundry more cheerful. Be sure and follow the instructions to dry a load of dark clothes the first time you use the black penguin balls. After that, you will have no problem with using them to dry whites or light colors. Dryer balls really work and are a good investment. I am going to be giving these as gifts!" —Auntie m

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $32.

Promising review: "I started baking with these at Christmas time. They are great! They really save me a lot of money as I haven't needed to buy parchment paper to line my cookie sheets anymore. I use them to roll out sticky doughs also. I am a fan! They fit a regular size cookie sheet very well. They are easy to clean. I wish I would've discovered these sooner!" —Tamara white

Get a pair from Amazon for $14.24.

Promising review: "I had actually seen/used them in Europe, but forgot all about them until I saw them on Amazon. They are easy to clean — I throw them in the dishwasher or clothes washer almost daily. They save me from using so many paper towels and, in most cases do a better job than paper towels. I also keep one upstairs in the bathroom to clean up water splashes in the sink there. These are a really good idea. You don't realize it, but you need them in your life :)" —Frequentfliermom

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $19 (available in eight colors).

They're made from organic bamboo, are machine-washable, and are SUPER strong! They can be used ~120+ times~ before discarding (ideally in your compost!).

Life hack: If you're puzzled on how to store your soiled rags between washes, try hanging a lined wet bag on the inside of a cabinet door. This tip is from iHeart Organizing and has been a life-changing tweak to my routine.

Promising review: "Don't let the quantity discourage you. I cut mine in half! One half-sheet takes the life of dozens of sheets of regular paper towels and cloth towels! My regular cotton towels can't compete with one sheet of these bamboo towels! No lint left behind, it doesn't break apart in my hand, and it is as strong as Magic Erasers if you've tried them before! Using them is not gross when you think along the lines of using rags. One sheet has lasted over a week with rinsing with hot water and soap and hang drying. This is a game changer!!!" —Neela921

Get a roll (20 sheets) from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in packs of two and four).

The underwear can absorb the equivalent of two tampons so you can go about your day (or night) without fretting about unexpected leakages. Then just toss them in the wash between cycles, and line-dry.

Similarly, the cup holds the same as 2–3 super tampons, and can be left in for up to 12 hours (can't say the same about tampons...).

I have three pairs of period underwear and this menstrual cup to manage my cycle, and I have not bought or used a disposable pad or tampon in close to three years!

Get it from Amazon: the underwear for $17.49+ (available in women's sizes 4–13, sold individually or as multipacks in various colors) and the cup for $34.96 (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "I got the three-pack, one for me and two as gifts to friends who are trying to reduce waste. We all love these lighters because a single charge really does last, we don't have to buy any more disposable lighters for the foreseeable future, and the length is perfect for hard-to-reach wicks. Getting used to how to place the arc on the wick and understanding that there was a safety timeout took me a bit to get used to but wasn't frustrating." —Salim

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 12 colors).

TS Designs is a Michigan-based Etsy shop that specializes in home products and country, rustic, and vintage-styled gifts and decor.

Psst — the seller notes that this works best with Swiffers with the yellow handle, but also is compatible with the blue handle. You should avoid using fabric softener when washing this duster so it won't lose its static cling.

Promising review: "Great washable duster replacement tops. They vacuum off and wash up easily, and they grab dust and cobwebs every bit as well as the disposable ones I was using. Considering it means putting a bit less into landfills and also saving money in the long run; I only wish I had bought these years ago, sincerely. Also, they shipped very promptly and arrived sooner than expected, so that was a pleasant surprise. Thanks!" —otherlings

Get it from TS Designs on Etsy for $4.99 (available in 10 colors and in multipacks).

These containers help keep your produce fresh by keeping moisture away. And they're designed with a special vent filter, which you never have to replace, to regulate the carbon dioxide and oxygen flow to your produce.

Natalie Brown, an editor here at BuzzFeed, actually tried these containers for herself, and, well, you just gotta read her full Rubbermaid FreshWorks container review.

Promising review: "These are great. My vegetables stay fresh so much longer. No more throwing away food and wasting money." —Cindys27

Get a four-piece set from Amazon for $18.99.

Tushy is a small biz founded in 2015 with the goal of promoting booty bliss and reducing wastefulness. Their line of easy-to-install bidets make is easy to go toilet-paperless and reduce overall water waste. Plus, a portion of Tushy profits go toward building community toilets in impoverished Indian communities.

It comes with everything they need to install their bidet in under 8.5 minutes! And there's a 60-day money-back guarantee, so if they find the bidet life isn't for them, you can get a refund and buy them something else.

Promising review: "This has been such a godsend!! As a Crohn's patient, this has helped me so much. No more wiping myself raw on bad days and feeling gross after. It leaves me feeling so clean. I've also found it helpful during my period. It has literally changed EVERYTHING about going to the bathroom for the better." —Alicia S.

Get it from Amazon for $134.95 (available in seven colors) or from Tushy for $129 (available in nine colors).

Subscribe to have jumbo rolls of recycled toilet paper delivered straight to your door every 1, 1.5, or 2 months!

Buying toilet paper as an apartment-dweller without a car is the actual worst. It's awkward to carry when you've already got arms loaded up with other groceries, and buying the tiny four-pack of TP is not particularly cost-effective. We just got our second shipment of Who Gives A Crap and it's been nothing but delightful. It's high-quality TP without any plastic packaging that helps those in need. I doubt your current TP brand can say the same! Plus, the rolls are wrapped in paper with fun prints that are cute enough to display on the back of my toilet. An unnecessary (but appreciated) bonus!

Get 24 rolls from Who Gives a Crap for $38 (save $10 on your first order).

Promising review: "The Buddeez Sandwich Bread Dispenser is great! It does exactly what it was intended for. I live alone and I don't quite go through bread often enough before the last quarter section of the loaf starts to go stale. I was originally looking for something to put a loaf of bread in as a shell for my vacuum sealer, that would keep the bread from getting crushed from the pressure. This dispenser solved all of my problems. Thank you!" —DRMcQuaig

Get it from Amazon for $13.97 (available in white and red).

Promising review: "I use these for my kids almost every day, usually for apple slices or other snacks on the go. They are very sturdy and wash well in the dishwasher. The only one that hasn't lasted more than a year is one that my son purposely tore by ripping the sides." —thenoteshed

Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in eight colors and in additional sizes).

AND they include a mesh laundry bag for easy washing!

Promising review: "These cloths are super soft and perfect for removing makeup, cleansing with micellar water, or applying toner. I like these better than washcloths because they are not abrasive at all (don't buy these if you were hoping for a little exfoliation). They are easily washable and nicely absorbent. I go through a lot of cotton squares in my skincare routine, and I wanted to be less wasteful. These are a great solution. I am planning on buying more!" —Steve P

Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in six color combinations).

This kit includes three reusable spray bottles, a reusable soap pump bottle and refill tablets for each. Just drop the correct cleaning tablet into your forever bottle and fill it with water! That's it!

Promising review: "The low-impact packaging is what attracted me to Blueland, but how well the products actually work is what made me fall in love. Hands down, this is the best nonbleach bathroom cleaner I've ever used, and the joyfully colorful bottles make me actually want to pick them up and clean. Not to mention, they smell good!" —Alyson D.

Get it from Blueland for $39.

Promising review: "I was skeptical, but always hated the waste of plastic brushes. WOW! They have a nice finish, so the wood doesn't 'stick' like you'd expect. The bristles are incredibly soft, as my dentist recommended, and SO fine! It takes less effort to clean between teeth, because the bristles get in deeper, but don't hang up; or shed. They are also quite small, like the nicer brand-name brushes- so you can reach further back. I will be purchasing these again, and again." —Sarah Gibson

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $6.74.

Cleancult is a small business creating a low-waste solution for household essentials like dish and hand soap that come in carton packaging that's broadly curbside recyclable. Plus, they carbon offset all their shipments!

You can use most any pump dispenser you'd like, but if you're in the market for some, check out Cleancult's two-pack of dishwasher-safe, shatter-resistant soap dispensers.

And you better believe they have liquid dish soap refills, too!

Promising review: "This liquid hand soap lives up to its billing. It is the softest, most gentle liquid hand soap I have ever used. It comes in easy to use 'milk carton' containers, which are very easy to pour into your bathroom décor liquid soap dispenser. I have a dispenser full of Cleancult liquid soap at every sink in my house. The best!!!" —redapple

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $28.99.

Promising review: "Wow, why have I not tried beeswax wrap sooner? I used this as a makeshift lid for my dog's wet canned food and it stays fresher for twice as long as when I was using foil or plastic wrap because those don't have a seal at all. This wrap is amazing, plus it has the added benefit of being eco-friendly. These last a year, so I will never have to waste money buying plastic wrap again :)" —Sarah

Get an assorted three-pack from Amazon for $14.87+ (available in four prints).

Doggie Lawn is a small biz founded by dog lovers looking for a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to other indoor potties.

I live on the sixth floor of an NYC walk-up, so when my partner and I made the decision to get a dog we knew the bathroom situation was something we had to consider carefully. We settled on Doggie Lawn as the best balance of convenience and price, without the environmental concerns I had with relying on disposable pee pads. Our dog took to it immediately, but you can purchase a training spray to help attract more skeptical dogs. It is a live plant, so by the time our next shipment is due to arrive the grass is matted and browning (surprise, surprise, it doesn't stay cute forever), but we've had zero issues with bugs or weird smells. I have asked every human who walks into my apartment if I've gone nose blind to the scent, and they assure me they don't smell a thing. And when we're done, the grass is taken to our nearest compost drop-off — something you could never do with the synthetic lawns. Doggie Lawn has been such a lifesaver for us and we'll be regular customers for the foreseeable future.

Get it from Doggie Lawn for $32.20+ (available in four sizes).

Huppy is an Asian-owned small biz creating plastic-free toothpaste tablets out of sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients. Everything is vegan, GMO- and cruelty-free. Best of all? Huppy donates 2% of revenue to fund sustainability initiatives!

I love how zero-waste the process is with Huppy. You get a forever tin and then buy refills that come in compostable pouches. The whole chewing thing can be weird at first but both my partner and I got used to it quickly. With water, the tabs foam up pretty instantly, and after that it's just a normal teeth-brushing experience. In fact, I'm finding that not dealing with drippy toothpaste and tiny screw-on caps is actually pretty delightful, especially for travel. Recently, I also added their mouthwash tablets to my routine and love them just as much! A cleaner process both in and out of my mouth.

Get a trial size (62 tablets) from Huppy for $13 (available in larger packs and three flavors; subscribe and save 33%).

I can't and I won't shut up about my Baggu. It was sort of an impulse purchase in a situation where I needed a bag and I have gotten SO much use out of it ever since. It folds up tiny enough that I can pack it along with my other out-and-about essentials without hogging too much space in my purse. It's massive and holds so much stuff, making it perfect for almost any impromptu shopping excursion. Because of its size, I worried getting the bag folded back into its small carrying pouch would be a struggle. It's surprisingly simple and very forgiving of a poor fold job. The fact that it wipes clean and is safe to machine wash makes it even more versatile. I've been known to lug bags of food scraps to my compost drop-off with it. If I was president, I'd make sure everyone had a Baggu!

Get it from Baggu for $14 (available in 21 colors/prints).

These straws come with two brushes for easy cleaning.

Promising review: "There is always a concern with glass. Is it sharp? Is it too small or too large? I have to say, I was very impressed. The glass straws are about the same size as a 'Golden Arches' straw so the size is just about right. The ends are rolled and polished for smoothness and durability. I can detect no difference in size between the straws — all are uniform and well-made. A very good purchase!" —Ron C

Get an eight-pack (four bent, four straight) from Amazon for $6.99.

Sqwishful is an Asian-American, woman-owned small biz that launched in 2018 with a mission to create useful, effective cleaning products that don't make the world less clean in the process.

I was audibly excited the first time I ran one of the super-thin cardboard-like sheets under water and watched it almost instantly puff up into a plush sponge. It was (and remains) genuinely fun. But more importantly, the sponges themselves are larger than average and beefy, meaning they stand up super well to lots of cleaning action. And because they aren't made with any plastic or dyes, they are better for the planet when it's time to say goodbye — the sponge and packaging are 100% compostable! There's nothing to not like.

Get a three-pack from The Container Store for $7.99 or Sqwishful for $8.

Leaf Shave is a eco-minded small biz founded by two Adams who set out to create a better razor that is also better for the environment. Their packaging is 100% plastic-free, and through financing initiatives to offset 100% of the company's CO2e emissions they've become Climate Neutral certified.

I know, I know — $80+ for a razor feels pretty steep, but plastic razors really add up over time and this thing is STURDY. When first trying to eco-swap my shave routine I tried a regular safety razor because it was a lot cheaper and I basically bled to death (kidding, but I did cut myself a lot). It works really well for some people, but I had really come to rely on the pivoting head of the plastic razors I learned on. So imagine my pure delight when I finally snagged one of these beauties and could return to shaving without all the cuts and blood. It's really easy to change the blades, and I find myself getting a better shave because I'm not putting off buying another razor like I would before. It's proven to be a great investment that not only keeps plastic razors out of landfills, but all the plastic packaging they come in, too!

Get it from Amazon or Leaf Shave for $84 (available in six colors).

And if you're looking for a low-waste skincare addition, check out their dermaplaning facial razor!

Dip is a woman-owned environmental awareness brand creating top-notch hair care that's so good, being plastic-free is just a fun bonus. Products are made locally in the USA and are suitable for ALL hair types.

This is not only my favorite shampoo bar, but my favorite shampoo — period. I am not fussy with my hair, so I tend not to notice subtle differences between shampoo formulas, but even I noticed how much better my hair felt and looked after using this shampoo bar and the corresponding plastic-free conditioner. So soft and SO much less frizzy, even when I let it air dry. Don't be deterred by the price. My partner and I are three months into our first bar and there is still PLENTY of life left, so do yourself a favor and try it yourself!

Get it from Salt + Snow (available in four scents) or Dip (available in a travel size and additional scents) for $24.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.