Buy less stuff! Buy second-hand

A huge portion of our trash may still be very usable for other people. Instead of throwing things in the trash, we can sell them at flea markets, tag sales and thrift shops, where they will find a new home, instead of ending up in the dumpster.

Refuse packaging where possible

For every single dollar that you spend in purchasing a certain product, an average of 30 cents is for the product’s packaging.

The delivery of every item that you purchase is in complete unnecessary packaging. Even though the item has a plastic packaging, after payment to the cashier, you get it in another bigger plastic bag. All these packaging materials end up in the trash. Hence, it is just better to refuse any packaging when you go shopping, so you can help reduce our waste. It is always better to carry a reusable shopping bag with you, when you go shopping. You can also buy products that are loose and not wrapped in some kind of packaging, such as plastic wrap or blister packs. The Germans are setting a good example at the checkout point by removing the unnecessary packaging of the items that they buy, so that the store can segregate it accordingly.

Buy quality goods when you can

When you buy products that are of good quality, you are actually helping reduce the waste. Do not buy products that will not last for a long time. It is a fact that the more durable products are also the more expensive ones. If you have the money to spare, then it is better to stay away from the cheap, low-quality products and just buy the more expensive, durable one. If you are on a limited budget, then you can check out auctions and thrift shops for second-hand products that are very durable as also affordable. To help reduce the waste, some designers have come up with the concept of anti-obsolescence, which means that the product will not become obsolete once the trends or the technology changes.

Buy local, think global, and support your local economy

Organic food may be more expensive than the food sold in supermarkets. However, if you have an organic market near the place where you live, then you will be saving a lot of money when you just buy your food there. It is actually more expensive to shop for food at a supermarket that is far from your home, if you consider the cost of the gasoline that you will use to drive to the supermarket. If you buy at a local, organic market, then there is no need to spend money on gasoline, the food is extremely fresh and the packaging is always recyclable.

• Buy products that are handmade and locally made. You can reduce waste and at the same time support the local crafts industry. These products are very durable and can pass down from one generation to another, in the future.
• When buying flat-pack furniture that is mass-produced, it is best to choose those made from materials