Make no mistake about it: Trash is hurting the environment. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans produced more than 292 million tons of waste in 2018, which breaks down to around five pounds of trash per person a day. And since the bulk of that trash will eventually end up in a landfall — where it will decompose and eventually release a hazardous greenhouse gas — there's no doubt that the waste we generate at home can have a major impact on the planet.
Fortunately, there is an array of reusable everyday staples that can help you cut down on excess waste at home. From washable paper towels to reusable lint rollers and more, here are nine home essentials for under $25 that will help make the world a greener place while saving you some moolah.
Video of the Day
Video of the Day
If you rely heavily on paper towels for your various housekeeping routines, consider investing in ones that you can wash and reuse. Each of these bamboo paper towels can be hand washed in cold water and reused up to 100 times, meaning one roll will last the equivalent of three to six months of bulk single-use rolls.
Although some trash bags are composed of recyclable materials, when they are used to collect non-recyclable trash and disposed of, the whole package heads for the nearest landfill. Designed to fit most 13 to 16 gallon garbage cans, this machine washable and leak-resistant trash bag can be used over and over again, eliminating the need for disposable ones at home.
If you brew your own coffee every morning, chances are that you're tossing the used filter into the trash can after one use. But with zero waste and less cost, this reusable coffee filter, which is sustainably made from hemp and organic cotton, simply needs to be rinsed and air-dried after each use.
Newsflash: Every year around 8,000,000 trees are cut down to make facial tissues in the United States alone. This adorable reusable tissue pack is designed with the on-the-go availability of a packet tissue and a washable handkerchief, and saves the planet from more than 3,100 single-use tissues as well as their plastic packaging.
If you like to wipe down your floors with a Swiffer, then you already know how quickly you can go through mop pads. Designed to fit most standard Swiffer Sweepers, these microfiber mop pads can be washed and reused up to 150 times, and feature a scrubbing strip for removing stubborn messes.
For a chemical- and paper-free way to wash your face at the end of the day, look no further than these reusable makeup remover pads. Composed of 100% natural organic hemp cotton, these eco-savvy pads are gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin, and can simply be placed in the provided mesh drawstring bag and dropped in the washer and dryer.
If you thought there was no such thing as reusable lint roller, then think again. This handy set of lint rollers is designed with a powerful adhesive glue that can safely remove hair and debris from all different types of fabrics and furniture, and can quickly be refreshed with light soap and water — no sticky paper refills necessary.
Dryer sheets are bad for the environment for a lot of reasons. Not only are they packed with toxic chemicals, single-use dryer sheets are typically composed of polyester, which means they can't be recycled. Designed to naturally eliminate static from your laundry, each of these hypoallergenic tumbler sheets can be used over 500 times to soften your clothes without chemicals.
Whether you're in the midst of housetraining a puppy or like to keep pet pads around your pooch's play area in case of an accident, consider switching to reusable pee pads to help save money — and cut down on waste — at home. Composed of a moisture-wicking fabric that quickly absorbs and holds liquids, these washable dog pee pads are water and leak-proof, so your four-legged friend won't track their mess everywhere.