9 Small Things We Do That Are Actually Wasteful

Little things add up! But you can make a big difference by going tube-free with Scott Naturals®. Take a stand against wasteful cardboard tubes in toilet paper rolls — Pledge and Save today!

1. Brush your teeth? Good!

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But you're likely to go through 156 toothbrushes in a lifetime. Make sure to recycle them or even use them to clean up scuffs around the house.

2. Work at an office and drink things there?

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On average, Americans toss out 500 disposable cups a year — and that's just office workers. Bring a signature mug or Thermos to work with you. You'll help the environment AND make a ~statement~.

3. Drink water? Smart.

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What isn't smart, however, is that over 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown out every DAY. Pick up a metal or glass water bottle that you can call your own and help prevent 22 billion ending up in landfills every year.

4. Make multiple trips to the grocery store every week?

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Food packaging adds about 8% of additional costs. This ratio goes down if you buy in bulk, so stock up and save money — and space at the local dump.

5. Eat at local restaurants?

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Great, but don't just eat at a local place — eat at a place that buys locally, too. It takes less time for the ingredients to get there, saving emissions, and it'll also probably take you less time to get there. Find a place here!

6. Clean your house? (At least when it's spring?)

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Household cleaners are necessary, but many of the things that go into 'em aren't. For starters, you can use vinegar to clean counters just as effectively without any of the environmental hazards.

7. Celebrate the holidays?

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The holiday season won't just add pounds to your waist, but your waste too. From recycling Christmas trees to wrapping gifts in newspaper, there are plenty of ways to reuse in the winter.

8. Wash your clothes? Great! Wash them in hot water? Bad.

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Switch to cold — 90% of a washer's energy is consumed heating the water, and it'll preserve those colors, too.

9. Put your electronics to sleep when you're not using them?

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Don't sing your consoles a lullaby. Studies have shown that computers and video game systems use almost the same amount of power while idle versus turned off. Unplugging those bad boys could save you up to $100/year.

Edit: An item has been removed that appeared in a previous version of this post regarding the donation of potentially expired food. Scott Naturals supports the practice of safe and healthy food donation — check with your local food donation center for more information about what can be donated.

Another small thing? Pledge to go tube-free with Scott Naturals and get yourself a coupon.

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