9 Simple Swaps That Help Reduce Household Waste

Many of these are easier than you think.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Americans throw out 265.3 million metric tons of trash per year, with 28% consisting of packaging. This article provides tips from sustainability experts on easy swaps to reduce household waste, such as using reusable cloths instead of paper towels, stainless steel water bottles over plastic, beeswax wrap instead of plastic wrap, reusable grocery bags, eco-friendly cutlery, all-in-one cleaning supplies, composting food scraps, switching to digital mail, and using metal straws instead of plastic.

Why it matters

Reducing household waste is an important step in conserving the planet and minimizing one's environmental footprint. Many of the suggested swaps are simple to implement and can also save money in the long run by reducing the need to constantly restock disposable items.

The details

The article highlights several easy swaps to reduce household waste, including using reusable cloths instead of paper towels, switching to stainless steel water bottles, using beeswax wrap instead of plastic wrap, bringing reusable grocery bags, choosing eco-friendly cutlery over plastic utensils, using all-in-one cleaning supplies instead of multiple products, composting food scraps, opting for digital mail over paper, and using metal straws instead of plastic. These swaps can significantly cut down on single-use plastics and other disposable items that contribute to household waste.

  • The article was published on February 21, 2026.

The players

Polly Milne

Chief operating officer at FuturePlus.

Lauren Gropper

CEO and founder of Repurpose.

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What they’re saying

“Paper towels are convenient, but they're also single-use and not recyclable once dirty or wet. Keep a stack of washable cloths in the kitchen and bathroom and toss used ones into the laundry with regular loads.”

— Polly Milne, Chief operating officer at FuturePlus

“Traditional single-use plastic tableware is full of chemicals and gives off microplastics while you use them and as they break down in landfills later. Choose a better-for-you, better-for-the-planet option with tableware made of renewable resources, like sugarcane and wood pulp, to reduce single-use plastic waste.”

— Lauren Gropper, CEO and founder of Repurpose

The takeaway

Implementing simple swaps like using reusable cloths, water bottles, and cutlery can significantly reduce household waste and one's environmental impact. These changes are often easy to make and can also save money in the long run, proving that sustainable living doesn't have to be difficult.