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The amount of waste each American generates has almost doubled since 1960, from 2.7 to 4.5 pounds per day. And the best way to stop this trashy trend, according to the EPA, is to prevent waste in the first place - for example, by reusing items or donating them to those in need so you delay their entry into the waste stream. This saves all the raw materials and energy that would have gone into manufacturing a new product and the greenhouse gas emissions that would have been generated in the process. Of course, buying less new stuff can save you money too. Here are some easy ways to reuse more of what you own and replace single-use products with durable ones:
Beverage Bottles
Why: The Container Recycling Institute estimates that in 2005, 52 billion plastic bottles and jugs were not recycled and instead wound up in landfills, incinerators, or as litter.
How: Invest in a reusable stainless steel water bottle and a system to filter the water from your tap rather than buying bottled water.
More than ten million tons of textile waste ended up in U.S. landfills in 2008. 
Office Paper
Why: Paper products make up the largest portion of our trash. And the EPA estimates that the average American consumes approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products every year.
How: Make double-sided copies, set your printer to print on both sides, and collect and reuse paper that's already printed on one side for fax cover sheets, printing drafts, and for taking notes. This video shows how to make notebooks from recycled office paper. You can also shred scrap paper to use as packing material.
Dish Towels and Napkins
Why: Americans use 50 percent of the world's tissue paper products, consuming approximately 50 pounds per person per year. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, if every household in the United States replaced one roll of virgin fiber paper towels with a dish towel for cleaning up spills, we could save 544,000 trees.
How: Instead of buying paper napkins and paper towels, invest in some pretty, reusable dishtowels and cloth napkins.
Building Materials
Why: Residential renovation projects in the U.S. generated 37.8 million tons of waste in 2003. Much of this material winds up in landfills even though it could be reused.
How: When you're renovating your home, donate any used or surplus tiles, lumber, windows, bricks, roofing materials, cabinets, doors, or plumbing and lighting fixtures that are in good condition to your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore or other nonprofit used building materials store. They'll be sold to the public for a fraction of their retail price, making home improvement affordable for more people. And proceeds from the sale of materials at Habitat for Humanity ReStores fund the construction of homes for people in need.
Clothing and Textiles
Why: More than ten million tons of textile waste ended up in U.S. landfills in 2008. And only 17 percent of clothing and textile products currently get recycled.
How: You can donate clean clothes you no longer wear, plus textiles like old towels and curtains, to local charities or collection programs (enter your zip code here to find one near you). Then they'll be sold in thrift stores, given to those in need, or recycled into other products such as wiping and polishing cloths. Organizations like The Glass Slipper Project and The Fairy Godmother Project accept donations of formal dresses and provide them to high school students who would not otherwise be able to afford a prom dress (or tux), while Dress for Success and The Women's Alliance seek donations of professional attire for disadvantaged women who are seeking employment.
Can you recommend any clever ways to reuse or donate household items? Share them with us by commenting below.
