Cut your waste and your spending: 5 things you no longer need to buy

By Katelyn Marie Poyntz

Want to save a bit of money while doing a favour for our environment?

Stop buying these five things:

1. Paper towels

Old clothes cut into squares do just as good a job cleaning up messes, and you can wash and reuse them.

Also, did you know that a scrunched-up newspaper is the best way to clean mirrors and windows?

2. Cleaning rags

Clothes that are no longer good for wearing make great cleaning and polishing rags! C

otton and flannel fabrics typically work the best, and old towels make for good scrubbers. Just cut them into squares, and you’re ready to go!

3. Painting drop sheets

Going to make a mess? Whether you’re crafting, painting, or renovating, save those old sheets and use them to cover and protect your work area.

4. Storage containers

Do you buy peanut butter, pasta sauce, or other things that come in jars? Save those jars and reuse them for all sorts of storage.

Plastic containers work well for nails, screws, or other knickknacks, such as sewing buttons, while glass jars are great for storing shelf-stable foods such as grains, dried beans, and pasta.

5. Organic (green) bin liners

Compostable green bin liners are not only expensive but the City of Toronto doesn’t accept them in the green bin! So you can stop buying them immediately.

Instead, save and use things such as frozen veggie bags, milk bags, paper bags, or cereal liners.

So what will you stop buying to start saving?

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