Take a minute to consider how much paper ends up in your household's wastebaskets every day. If you're like many Americans, in an effort to keep your home and yourself clean and fresh, you dispose of countless paper towels, tissues, napkins, and wipes. You probably also toss out many a post-it note, piece of scrap paper, old notebook, magazine, or piece of used printer paper.

 

It's easy to lose track of what you throw away, especially when the items are so small and so readily available. Plus, no one can argue the convenience of a thick paper towel when cleaning up a mess in the kitchen, or the practicality of using post-its and memo pads. However, when you really consider the amount of paper thrown away in your household, it's hard not to imagine it all piling up in a landfill somewhere.

 

But don't be discouraged! There are many ways to maintain your clean and organized lifestyle while cutting back on your paper usage.

 

Let's start by reevaluating the paper we use in our bathrooms and kitchens--primarily, paper towels, disinfecting wipes, and napkins. These are all available for purchase in bulk at pretty much any local grocery store or corner store.  And no wonder: any normal person's life involves a constant cycle of messes and meals. Cleaning up counter tops and dirty hands is something that just has to get done. But do we really need to use paper to accomplish our day-to-day tasks?

 

Fortunately for us--and our landfills--there has been an increase in the availability of paper alternatives. Try switching out your:

 

-Paper napkins for cloth ones,

 

-Paper towels for super absorbent shams,

-Disinfecting wipes for several old rags and a new favorite eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner.

 

All of these items are inexpensive, can be thrown in the washing machine with your other loads, and can be reused for years. It can take a little getting used to, but I can say from experience, you will quickly see a decrease in the size of your trash bags and in the amount of money you spend on cleaning products. You and your home will still be clean, and you will (hopefully) feel pretty good about the switch to reusable towels, napkins, and wipes.

 

Now let's reevaluate the other paper we use around the house--post-its, memo pads, scrap paper, etc. I suggest two different ways to cut down on your paper waste in these areas:

 

First, change your system of written communication within your household. If you use the most paper while leaving messages for your loved ones, or writing down things to remember, try putting a dry-erase board up in part of your home. You can use one large centrally located dry-erase board to jot down phone messages, grocery lists, and even your weekly calendar.

 

Second, because some uses for paper just can't be eliminated (you can't very well turn in a homework assignment on a dry erase board), you might want to try replacing your conventional paper with eco-friendly options like recycled paper or tree-free paper.

 

And lastly, always recycle (location permitting) your old newspapers, magazines, and other paper items you're finished with. If you don't have recycling pick-up at your house or apartment, check out a local college or university. Many schools make money by redeeming paper, plastic, and aluminum products, so it's likely that there will be a paper receptacle somewhere on campus that you can put your recyclables into. For more information about how or where to recycle paper, check out earth911.com.