Reduce, Reuse and Save

Saying no to disposables is the best way to reduce waste, but did you know that choosing reusable products can also save you money? Every paper lunch bag, plastic water bottle and zip-top plastic bag we toss out may as well be cash in the garbage can. We’ve compiled some of our favorite money-saving tips to get you started.

Reusable Bottles

According to Earth911.com, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each in 2006, but only recycled about 23% of those bottles. That amounts to 38 billion water bottles in landfills and $16 billion spent on something we can all get nearly for free at home.

Produce Savers

We’ve all thrown away rotten fruit or wilted greens and made special trips to replace the produce that spoiled before we got to use it. Not only are we wasting resources used to grow and harvest all that food, but we’re also wasting gas on trips to the store and contributing to greenhouse gasses in landfills. Most of all, we’re wasting money. 

  • Debbie Meyer Green Bags, Reuseit Produce Savers & ExtraLife Disks When used correctly,  &  can extend the life of produce up ten times longer than conventionally-stored fruits and vegetables.
  • Save money on expensive fresh herbs by placing them on a dry towel inside a Green Bag — place the bundle in your crisper drawer and have fresh, green herbs on hand for weeks.
  • Long lasting- Debbie Meyer Green Bags can be washed and reused 10 times each. Reuseit Produce Savers and ExtraLife Disks last for two months.
  • Continual value — after they’ve lost their effectiveness with produce, Green Bags can be used waste basket liners or pet waste bags.

BYO Mug

A cup of coffee, for many of us, is the best way to start the day — and if you’re like most groggy commuters you’d rather grab a cup to go than put in the effort to brew your own at home. Not only do disposable paper coffee cups contribute to about 3.7 million pounds of solid waste a year, but for at least $2 a pop, it really adds up. 

  • A pound of freshly roasted coffee costs between $5-8, conservatively, so brewing your own at home costs about $0.15 per cup. Specialty coffee houses charge $2-3 for a medium regular coffee.
  • Brewing coffee at home could save an average of $444 per year.
  • Save even more by starting a coffee fund at the office — split the cost, buy in bulk and use reusable mugs and thermoses to reduce waste.
  • Some coffee shops like Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee and Tea will knock a few cents off the cost of your joe when you BYO mug.
  • You’re saving coffee shops money on supplies and trash bills when you BYO, so don’t be shy about asking for a discount.

Waste-Free Lunches

Brown-bagging it isn’t just for kids — adults have caught on to the money-saving benefits of packing a lunch as well. But when you factor in the cost of paper napkins, disposable baggies, bottled water and single-serving packaged foods, are you really saving anything but time? 

  • Wastefreelunches.org estimates that eliminating disposable packaging and single-serving items can save families $250 a year.
  • A family of four can save $130 annually by switching from paper napkins to reusable napkins, according to Sierra Club.
  • Sierra Club also estimates that families spend $85 a year on disposable plastic baggies. Keep that cash in your wallet by switching to Wrap-N-Mats for your sandwiches and snacks or reusable drawstring snack bags for dry snacks like granola and nuts.
  • Wash and reuse plastic baggies with Bag-E-Wash or a Plastic Bag & Bottle Dryer.
  • Buying in bulk reduces packaging waste and saves money — pass up the single-portion yogurt cups in favor of the family size, for example.
  • Cut back on wasted food by letting the kids pack their own lunches, they're more likely to actually eat food they chose for themselves.
  • Stop throwing away your money with every brown paper bag. Switch to a safe and sturdy reusable lunch bag and save.
  • Plastic flatware is convenient, but it’s wasteful and expensive. Instead, keep a set of reusable utensilswith your waste-free lunch kit.
  • One year of disposable lunches: Brown paper bags ($26 @$4/50 pk) + snack baggies ($85) + bottled water or juice ($260) = $371
  • One year of reusable lunches: Cloth lunch bag ($7) + reusable water bottle ($12) + wrap n mat ($7)+ snack bags ($2) + hemp napkin ($8) = $36

Reusable Bags

One high-quality reusable bag can eliminate as many as 1500 plastic bags from landfills in its lifetime, making reusable bags an easy way to consume less. 

  • Many stores offer a discount on groceries as an incentive to bring your own bag. Some stores offer as much as $0.10 off per bag you bring — that adds up!
  • A well-made bag can last years and years, which means you can buy fewer of them. ACME Bags™come with a Lifetime Warranty, which makes them a great investment.
  • Bringing your own bag can help you shop smarter, opting for items with less packaging which are generally less expensive.
  • Reuse the plastic bags you do receive as small waste bin liners, pet refuse bags or to cushion breakables when moving or shipping. Store them neatly in a Recycled PET Stuff Sack.

Learn More

There are hundreds of ways reusable can save you money while conserving our natural resources. To read more about ways you can Reduce, Reuse & Save™ check out these links: