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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
"If you love something, let it go." —you re: all that disposable plastic you used to use so much of.
Check out Fix for more information on how compost is nature's real "black gold."
In general, things that are ok to compost include: fruits, veggies, eggshells, coffee grounds, yard trimmings, cotton, newspaper, and even HAIR! That's SO much stuff that you would normally throw away and can instead turn into compost.
BuzzFeed writers and Amazon reviewers alike (over 1,000 five-star reviews!) are loving this bin. Check out our full OXO compost bin review for more details!
Promising review: "First-time composters over here, and this bin has made the experience simple and enjoyable. I love the small, simple design that allows it to sit on the kitchen counter without bringing too much attention to itself. The lid seals securely but also opens easily with the side of your finger so that you can easily throw in your remains as you cook. The handle makes it effortless to carry out and dump into the compost bin. I can be a bit nit-picky about cleanliness but this washes out so easily and is a smooth non-porous surface that has yet to stain. The top is uncomplicated to remove, and the inside is seamless and allows for a perfect rinse without any chunks left behind. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a simple and aesthetically pleasing way to collect your compost goodies." —erica summers
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).
Used coffee grounds can easily be added to your compost pile. If you don't have one, learn how to start one below *or* check out these 34 (!) unexpected uses for coffee grounds!
Promising review: "I love these organic hemp filters! I feel so much better about using them than paper filters. They are easy to use — just compost the coffee grounds, rinse out, and let them dry. I have two and alternate using them, but they dry quickly and can be used multiple times a day. I have used them both for months now, and they show no sign of wear. The coffee still tastes great, too!" —Jessie Hallowell
Get them from Amazon: $8.95 for the pour-over filter and $5.99 for the drip basket.
Don't forget to add these grounds to your compost, too!
Promising review: "Fantastic item — it is everything it is marketed to be and more!!! I don't know how we ever drank coffee without the french press. It is so easy, tastes awesome, and doesn't waste all that plastic like some other coffee makers do." —Deena H.
Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in two finishes).
Promising review: "My Bee's Wrap products have been amazing, and when I use them instead of disposable plastic wrap or plastic bags, I feel even more amazing for being eco-friendly. They work BETTER than plastic because the Bee's Wrap sticks to itself and can be molded around the product so there is less air in contact with the food. For example, when I cut up a cucumber and only need half, I would usually put it in a plastic bag and put in the fridge. When it came time to use the other half, the first inch or so of the cut side would be dried out and gross. So, I would have to cut that part off and throw away, causing both plastic and food waste. But with Bee's Wrap, because there is a seal around the end, the produce stays fresh and there is no need to cut off extra food to be wasted. I will be giving these out as gifts as well later in the year because they are so awesome. I would highly recommend." —Stephanie
Get a set of small, medium, and large sizes from Amazon for $18+ (available in four patterns).
Stasher bags have so many uses! They are obviously great for storing and transporting food, but they can also be used to sous vide, marinate, and microwave. And they are — I cannot stress enough — DISHWASHER-SAFE!
Promising review: "What's not to love about Stasher bags? They are so versatile, colorful, and easy to care for. Bonus: you are keeping plastic out of landfills! I use these for meal-prep and kids' lunchboxes. Easy to open and, again, so easy to clean. Stop browsing for environmental alternatives, and order these today!" —Drea_reviews
Get a sandwich-sized bag from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five sizes and eight colors).
Head to SheKnows for more kitchen tips and hacks. Also check out Tasty's recipe for veggie stock from food scraps!
These silicone beauties store inside one another and will be reusable for a long, long time and can also be used over half-empty cans, lidless mason jars, and small Tupperware!
Promising review: "I did a side by side comparison: half an avocado in plastic wrap next to half an avocado in a hugger. Did the same for half a tomato. These food huggers did a better job! No browning and very minimal wrinkling. Made a delicious salad after my little experiment too!" —Barkley
Get a set of four sizes from Amazon for $7.26.
Check out Tasty's overnight oats recipes for more sweet deets on the goodness above!
Don't have any glass jars lying around? You can get a pack of 12 on Amazon for $13.92 and use them for a loooong time to come.
This lunchbox is made of 100% stainless steel and is BPA-, PVC-, phthalate-, and plastic-free!
Promising review: "I pack my lunches everyday. I have been using plastic containers for years, but I am frustrated by using plastics so much, as there are a lot of studies about leached chemicals from plastics being in our food. So, I LOVE the Bento boxes. There's no plastic, cleanliness is super easy, and if I forget to clean them for a day or two, there is no worry about some lingering aroma of rottenness because they are metal and they clean right up. The stackability is great! I packed a bean burger the other day and put the frozen burger in the bottom with the metal little oval box filled w BBQ sauce, mustard and pickles, and then in the upper box I put a brioche bun and some slices of cheddar cheese. Everything was all separated so it did not get gooey. I might get some for holiday presents for all the lunch-packers I know!" —Felice M. Pierce
Get it from Amazon for $29.89.
Promising review (of metal set): "I am trying to minimize single-use plastics in my life, but my job often requires me to eat on the run. While I am trying to carry my own food more, when it is not practical, I carry these and stainless steel straws to cut back on my plastic waste. This set is a convenient and compact package to carry in my purse and have ready to avoid grabbing those plastic utensils. The silverware is your basic stainless — nothing fancy — but the neoprene pouch is well-made and handy. Very pleased to have this option to help me move toward a minimal-waste lifestyle." —R. Koenig
Get them from Amazon: the metal set for $9.99 (available in 17 colors) or the bamboo set for $11.99.
Promising review: "I've been using these for a few months now, and am impressed with their durability. I've been really working on reducing the amount of waste I produce with my lifestyle, and this has helped a lot. Much less plastic being used unnecessarily! Canvas bags are step one, and these are step two to green-ifying your grocery routine. The bags are see-through enough that grocery store checkers can tell what's in them, which is also great. The size is good too — just slightly smaller than the typical plastic produce bag." —stormymonday
Get a set of five from Amazon for $12.99.
Not quite convinced? Check out "These Miracle Plastic Containers Keep Berries Day-One Fresh For Almost 2 Weeks" for more details!
Get a four-piece set from Amazon for $26.99.
These are also great for anyone who has their own chickens, which lmao is something I have done. They're great! You give them your food scraps and they give you free eggs?! Little planet-savers.
Get it from Amazon for $14.39.
You can find your local recycling rules through Keep America Beautiful and more general information through the EPA. Learn more about one BuzzFeeder's journey to recycling know-how in "How The Heck Do I Start Recycling Correctly?"
When selecting loose leaf tea, try to to buy in bulk from a local store or find tea packaged in reusable and recyclable containers such as Harney and Sons ($7.59 on Amazon). Paris is my personal favorite flavor of theirs. It's subtly sweet and delicious and makes me feel like a grown up. Keep an eye out for it at your local grocer if you want to save the packaging from shipping.
Promising review: "This product is fantastic. I use it almost daily and I even leave the tea leaves in sometimes overnight. It hasn't rusted or discolored in any way. It's easy to clean and dry off. I especially love the little tray to set it in. Very handy! It looks a little small, but it holds plenty of leaves for a normal cup or even a larger cup." —Amostee
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
Promising review: "I've always been bothered by using plastic bags. While traveling abroad recently, I stayed at a house that used compostable bags and I decided to give them a try when I returned to the states. We've been using them for a few months now. No breakthrough messes. No stench. We really fill our bags because we try to minimize the amount of bags used, and we compost our food. These bags fit our trash can well and hold a lot. We'll never go back to plastic." —Cheryl Passalaqua
Get a 50-pack from Amazon for $16.95.
The rolls come with 20 sheets each and can be used exactly like normal paper towels.
Promising review: "I've had these bamboo towels for a month now and am incredibly impressed! They're much larger than a regular paper towel, thicker, softer and more absorbent. I've washed the first ones several times now and they DO survive the laundry and perform just as well afterward. I've only used five bamboo towels this month, washed them and re-used. Several times. I would have been through a whole roll of Brawny by now. When you wash them, you're supposed to air dry them, so I haven't sent any through the dryer. And I haven't needed to, because allowing them to air dry has not affected the quality of the towels when I 're-roll' them!" —A. Clark
Get them on Amazon for $9.99.
Promising review: "Nice weight and they wash up very well. We don't really use any paper products (plates, cups, napkins, etc.), and it really is no trouble to throw some napkins in the wash. If I was having company, I would probably iron them really quickly, but for everyday use they are fine to smooth and fold by hand. Once you get used to having a real cloth napkin at your meals you won't use paper anymore. Food tastes better and looks better on real dishes using real forks and napkins. I ordered the white ones and am very happy with them. Also, the shipping was fast!" —Jd chester springs
Get a 12-pack of towels on Amazon for $15.99 (available in two colors) and a 12-pack of cloth napkins from Amazon for $14.99 (available in eight colors).
Litterless tells you exactly what's available in bulk at each store. From grains to baking supplies to cooking oil, almost all of your basics are somewhere out there waste-free!
Bring your own reusable bags and jars that you've ~preferably~ upcycled! But, if you need a few starter jars, you can find some on Amazon for $13.92 for a dozen mason jars or $20.95 for two gallon-sized ones (I also use these for large-scale pickling, and they're GREAT to have around!)
Don't forget your produce bags!
Simply steep citrus rinds in vinegar for a few weeks, strain, and voila! You have a natural, all-purpose cleaner. You can either thoroughly wash and reuse an old plastic bottle or get some glass spray bottles from Amazon for $9.98.
Check out The Kitchn's breakdown of this DIY solution for more details.
Each Blueapple lasts for three months.
Promising review: "It works. Simple as that. I have even ordered more because it works wonders in my vegetable drawer and also in my fruit basket. Before it seemed things would go bad so fast (three to four days). Now I can see veggies last two weeks — some fruits a week longer than expected." —MFC
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $18.26.
Just put ground coffee into the cup and run it through the Keurig like normal! The cups are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
Promising review: "Easy to use and brews a delicious cup of your own choice of coffee. We like a half-caffeine cup and do not like the only half-caff option widely available. With these cups we can brew to our taste. Easy to clean up as well." —M Hayden
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.45.
Head to The Kitchn for more on the best way to recycle these bad boys.
You can always save Amazon boxes for when you need to ship something yourself, but if you have boxes stacked up to your ears, try some of these fun DIY projects!
The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.