If you are a kitchen pro, you must be in regular habit of taking out garbage; and if you believe in segregating your waste, all the more good. But what if your non-biodegradable waste is more than your biodegradable waste? Maybe you need to reconsider your activities and give a thought to your daily habits and change them. Kitchen produces the maximum amount of waste in a household and the majority of it comes is generally non-biodegradable, meaning it is all the more harmful for us and the Earth. Today we discuss some of the best tips to minimize waste in your kitchen and have a healthy kitchen.
Less packaged material: The materials we use in kitchens today are generally well packaged. And by well packaged I mean excessively packaged. Small vegetables are packaged separately in plastic wrap to avoid decaying but this action encourages harmful practices. Try to avoid extensively packaged food as much as possible and try to buy from local markets only. They have fresher product and are sold freely.
Shopping bags: Try to use reusable shopping bags. Everything we buy is packaged ultimately in a shopping bag. Try to use reusable shopping bags as much as possible. It would be better if you can carry a reusable bag in your purse. The flimsy bags are more harmful and should be avoided at all costs.
Bulk buying and storage containers: Buy your raw food in the bulk. Bulk buying can reduce your costs and give your pockets a break. When you buy in bulk, you reduce waste and cut down on your expenses. Also you only buy what you need. You can use large containers, mason jars, and large reusable bulk bags to reduce packaging waste.
Plastic straws: On a busy day, I used to drink coffee in a cup and mix sugar with a small plastic straw. In the afternoon, I drank a glass of mixed juice with a straw and whenever I wanted a sip of lemonade, I would grab a piece of straw. When I realised the amount of waste I was generating, I was amazed. Plastic straws pollute the water and choke ocean creatures. So stop using plastic straws and reduce waste.
Plastic water bottles: Use reusable plastic bottles. Plastic bottles create a large amount of waste. In the US only 23% plastic bottles are recycled and this statistic is even more less in India. Stainless steel bottles or glass bottles are very efficient options to plastic bottles and can be recycled in a better way.
Single use disposables: Disposables such as plastic cling wrap foils, tissues, paper towels, disposable paper cups, plates, takeout dishes and containers are a very big part of the waste generated in a kitchen. They are hardly degradable and cause more harm than benefits. Ditch them and use environment friendly alternatives.
Compost: Last but not the least, Compost. All your vegetable peel and organic waste can be composted. You can compost vegetable peels, fruits, meats, eggshells into a natural fertilizer that can cut down on your garbage drastically.
