7 Creative Ways to Cut Back on Waste on a Daily Basis

I have one refillable water bottle that lives in my backpack (which is basically on me at all times), so I never need to purchase a bottle of water. I refill it at airports, casual restaurants, or anytime I spot a water fountain. The same goes for coffee mugs, too. Bonus: many coffee shops will actually give you a discount when you supply your own mug. It's a win for you and Mother Nature.

Many places have begun using paper straws to cut down on plastic waste, but you can take it one step further and carry your own metal straw. Every time I order an iced coffee or smoothie, I ask them to hold the straw. You can do this at restaurants, too. I simply dry it off with my dinner napkin when I'm finished and wash it when I get home.

We use plastic frequently in the kitchen, from plastic forks, knives, and spoons to plastic containers for food storage. It's time to put our kitchen on a plastic detox; use reusable glass containers to store leftover food, and always opt for real silverware over disposable utensils. If you order takeout, ask the restaurant to skip the plasticware. There are also great reusable bamboo options if hosting a picnic or BBQ.

Take your empty wine, kombucha, or sparkling water bottles and put them to design use! You can turn them into candles to store your homemade beauty products, or even use them as decorative vases or lighting fixtures.

There are a host of ways to cut down on paper waste by going digital — forego the paper boarding pass and store it on your phone, opt out of paper receipts and have them emailed instead, and choose to go paperless on all of your bills. It's also a stellar way to cut back on clutter in your home. Trust me, finding an old receipt in your inbox is much easier than rifling through all your purses.