With environmental concerns on the rise, many homeowners are looking to reduce their carbon footprints and the amount of waste their households produce. Fortunately, there are easy ways to do this without disrupting one's lifestyle. Below, a few small but actionable waste management best practices are explored in more detail.

How to Reduce Waste at Home

1. Recycle

Many waste management companies offer recycling services and will pick up recyclables along with the trash on certain days. Buy a few recycling bins for your home and educate each member of the household on what items go in which bin. To make the best use of space and ensure all items can be accepted by the facility, flatten all boxes and cans, rinse items of food and grime, and remove lids from bottles and jars as these often cannot be recycled.

2. Store Food in Reusable Containers

Glass and airtight, high-quality plastic containers are ideal for food storage. They can be rewashed and reused repeatedly, and they get rid of wasteful plastic, paper, and Styrofoam® packaging. 

3. Stop Using Plastic Bags & Water Bottles

Single-use plastic bags are an environmental nightmare. It can take thousands of years for these bags to decompose, and the toxic substances they contain leech into soil and groundwater. Invest in several sturdy, reusable shopping bags, and keep them in your car so they're always on hand for supermarket trips.

Single-use plastic water bottles are equally problematic from an environmental perspective. Purchase reusable water bottles for every member of the family; choose glass or sturdy, BPA-free plastic varieties, and give them a good rinse with soap and water at the end of every day.

When you need recycling services in the Lincoln, NE, area, contact Industrial Services. They have more than 100 years' experience in waste management. From recycling and garbage collection to junk removal and dumpster rentals, they are here to streamline your home’s or business's waste removal needs. Learn more about these capabilities online. Call (402) 467-3581 to schedule service.