This article originally appeared on Banish and has been republished with permission. 

The kitchen is arguably the epicentre of your home and because of that, it is probably the area in your household that creates the most waste. From plastic packaging to wilting greens and stale bread, kitchen waste can seem like a monstrous task. Here are eight simple ways to reduce your kitchen waste.

1 FOOD WASTE

An insane statistic that has always stuck with me is that one-third of the food produced in the world ends up in landfill. Do you best to reduce food waste in your kitchen by storing your vegetables properly and using what you’ve got rather than buying new. 

Herbs – give your mint, basil, coriander and parsley a lasting lease on life by storing them like a bunch of flowers in a glass of water in your fridge.

Vegetables – wrap them in a damp tea towel or better yet a swag bag to keep your vegetables crunchy and fresh. Shop Swag bags.

Fruit – if your bananas have turned spotty and your mango is perfectly ripe chop them up and freeze them in a Tupperware container. Simply add frozen to your smoothies or defrost and bake them into a cake. 

Meat – if you aren’t going to get to that last sausage pop it in the freezer, just make sure you label it clearly and it will last between three to six months. 

2 CLEAN AND GREEN

Disinfectant spray

Inadvertently you are going to be eating and drinking the cleaning products that you use in your home. Choose greener cleaners that aren’t filled with toxic chemicals and are made from rPET (recycled plastic) or glass bottles. Shop our cleaning range or make your own cleaner from kitchen scraps.

3 FOUR-BIN SYSTEM 

When it comes to waste the best thing you can do is separate it out so there’s less work for the folks at the other end. At home we have four separate bins: 

1- General waste 

2 – Recycling

3 – Compost

4 – Soft plastics

4 OH SNAP! 

 

Silicone food pouch

Say goodbye to single-use snap lock bags and hello to the reusable alternative that you’ve been looking for. Available in three sizes these silicone food pouches are leakproof and suitable for both liquids and dry foods. The airtight seal also helps keep your food fresh in your pantry, fridge or freezer. Shop now.

5 BYE-BYE MICRO-PLASTIC

Did you know that every time you rinse and squeeze out most of the popular brands of wipes you are squeezing microplastics into our oceans? It’s a truth that is hard to swallow but switching to Swedish dishcloths that are made from cellulose is a simple solution. Shop now. 

6 DITCH BAKING PAPER 

https://banish.com.au/collections/little-pepino/products/reusable-baking-mats-2-pack

A not so fun fact is that baking paper cannot be recycled, make the switch to these reusable baking mats and never have to buy it again. These mats fit perfectly on your oven trays and cake tins and can go in your oven up to 250 degrees. Little Pepino mats are made from BPA free, food-grade silicone which is safe for you and our planet. Shop now.

7 SEE-YA LATER PLASTIC WRAP

Adios cling film and plastic snap-lock bags and hola beeswax wraps and silicone food covers. These two products are kitchen game changes not only are the beeswax wraps fun and colourful you can throw them in the compost bin once they’re finished (in around 2 years!). Shop now.

silicone food wraps

Silicone food covers, on the other hand, will last between five and 10 years, they hug your food so tightly they won’t let anything spill and can go in the oven or microwave with your food up to 200 degrees! Shop now. 

8 CLEAN AND GREEN 

bamboo brushes

Turn your cleaning routine green with these all natural brushes. Little Pepino’s brushes have bamboo handles and the bristles are made from sisal fibres so which means they’re soft on your dishes and the planet. Shop now. 

Shop our full range Kitchen range

About the author

Lottie Dalziel is the founder and editor in chief of Banish. She has a passion for the environment and wants to help educate and inspire individuals to make small changes towards a more sustainable future. Stay up to date with her latest challenges on Instagram @banish.au.

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