10 small tips that make a big impact
When it comes to caring for our planet, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Instead of trying to do everything perfectly, remember that creating simple habits is worthwhile—if you want to send less to landfills, you can do it without aiming for zero waste. Small actions matter!
Below, we’ll suggest ten sustainable habits that make a big impact over time without big lifestyle changes.
First, let’s talk about the number one habit to avoid: wishcycling. Wishcycling is what you do any time you put something in a recycling bin because you hope it will end up getting recycled, even though you’re not sure it’s actually on the list of things that are recycled locally.
For example, plastic shipping envelopes aren’t recycled by curbside services, yet it just feels wrong to toss them in the garbage. However, that’s where they belong (unless you’re a Ridwell member—we take them!). Putting them in your curbside recycling bin is wishcycling.
Wishcycling causes more work and slowdowns at recycling facilities. Luckily, it’s not difficult to avoid. Make sure you’re familiar with your local recycling guidelines and stick to them.
Now, on to our tips!
10 waste-less tips
Each of these tips represents a habit that will make a big environmental impact over time—without heroic effort.
1. Score your garbage
If you want to send less to landfills, it helps to understand how much you currently send. Without harsh judgment, assign your garbage can a score out of 5 on pickup day. No need to be scientific about it—just eyeball. A full can is a 5, empty is a 0.
Remember that you don’t have to strive for perfection! Maybe your personal goal is a 3. Track for a few cycles and see if you can lower your score. Just knowing where you stand might be enough to encourage you to make small changes.
2. Choose metal, glass, and aluminum when you can
These materials can be recycled again and again without degradation. The same isn’t true of plastic. So if you have a choice between a single-use aluminum can or plastic bottle, reach for the aluminum—when you recycle it, it’ll stay “in rotation” longer. With the popularity of brands like Liquid Death water, it’s getting easier and easier to choose near-infinitely recyclable options.
3. Clean your recyclables
Recycling facilities need your materials to be reasonably clean in order to make something new out of them. Dirty containers contaminate mixed recyclables, like paper, sending them to landfills. They don’t need to be squeaky clean, however, so you don’t have to think of cleaning as a huge task.
Rinse out jars, bottles, cans, and tubs. If some peanut butter or mayo sticks to the sides, no problem. They just can’t be dripping.
Shake out plastic bags and snack wrappers (both accepted by Ridwell, but not curbside) and rinse anything sticky.
Make sure everything is dry. A drying rack with rods that are typically used to separate plates can be super helpful.
4. Sort shipping materials right away
Ever leave a delivery box with air pillows and Styrofoam inside on the floor to deal with later? And then another delivery comes the next day and the pile grows? One of the reasons we make recycling mistakes is that sorting a bunch of stuff all at once can be overwhelming. The habit of sorting as soon as you get a delivery helps avoid tossing things in the wrong bin or can.
Cardboard, paper packing slips, and receipts go in curbside recycling. A little tape is OK.
Plastic shipping envelopes, bubble wrap and air pillows go in your Ridwell plastic film bag or curbside garbage.
Packing peanuts and Styrofoam go in your Ridwell orange bag or curbside garbage.
5. Compare hard plastic to the size of a credit card
Whenever you’re not sure if a piece of plastic is recyclable curbside, imagine the size of a credit card. Anything smaller goes in the garbage. (Ridwell takes loose plastic lids and bread tags, though!)
These pieces are too small for the machinery, so they fall through the cracks and are sent to landfills. Note that some cities accept smaller-than-two-inch coffee pods, when separated from foil lids and emptied. Check your local guidelines.
6. Keep bags in your closet
Thirteen million tons of textile waste are created every year and only 1% is recycled. On a personal level, an easy way to responsibly get rid of clothes, shoes, socks, and more that you no longer want is to set up a bag (or bin) system in your closet: one for reusable items you can donate, one for beyond-use items you can recycle. Ridwell members can use their Threads bag for that! Parents may want a third for outgrown kids’ items to save for a younger sibling.
Never reach for that one t-shirt? Pop it in the donate bag. Find a hole in your sock at the end of the day? Into the recycle bag it goes. Once a bag is full, take the next step. This way, you avoid the workload and decision fatigue of weeding through a closet all at once.
7. Opt for refillable household cleaners
Single-use cleaning bottles may be recyclable when empty, but the sprayers aren’t (because of the metal parts). Instead of constantly buying new single-use products, consider a refill system.
You can find tons of long-lasting bottle options online and even in stores like Target. We like the glass series from Grove Collaborative.
You have tons of choices for the actual cleaning products, too. Supernatural offers liquid concentrates with essential oils, Blueland makes tablets that come in paper packages, and Clean Cult does liquids in paper cartons.
8. Dry cleaning? Take your own garment bag
Here’s a super simple idea that can really add up. Bring a garment bag to the dry cleaner to avoid their soft plastic cover—those bags are big, hard to reuse, and not recyclable curbside (Ridwell accepts them.) Bonus points for taking your own hangers, too.
9. Keep a recycling bag in the car
Even someone who’s set up for maximum recycling at home can run into difficulty away from home. Whether it’s a road trip or just a day out and about, you’ll find yourself glad to have a bag or bin in your car for bottles, cans, and paper you accumulate on the road. Keeping it in the trunk can be handy, so it’s out of sight as it fills up, but still accessible when you need it.
10. Know what goes to the household hazardous waste center
During the course of a year, you’re likely to need to visit your household hazardous waste center to dispose of products including batteries, light bulbs, aerosol cans that aren’t empty, antifreeze, nail polish, paint, and more. Take the time now to do a quick check of your local guidelines so you can get in the routine of making a trip when you need to.
Want to make it easier on yourself? Ridwell picks up batteries and light bulbs regularly.
Your effort makes a difference
Small actions add up over time. That’s why we’re fans of choosing what works for you, even if it’s just one or two little changes.
Ridwell itself is proof that small acts make a big impact. In five years, our community has kept over 18 million pounds of waste out of landfills—one small bag at a time.
Remember, you’re not in this alone. We’re here to share tips like these to do what we can to make sending less to landfills easier through our services.
