Submitted by Sarah Neal, Haddam Sustainability Committee
(April 2, 2026) — I recently saw a poster that read “There is no Planet B,” a reminder that we should do all we can to preserve and protect the planet we have. One way is reducing the waste in our homes, especially in our kitchens. Moving toward zero waste is a goal. In the words of Anne-Marie Bonneau, author of the book and blog The Zero Waste Chef, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
Here are ten tips to consider for reducing waste in the kitchen:
- Do a trash inventory in your kitchen. How much do you bring into the kitchen that ends up being thrown away? Think about how you can reduce what goes out.
2. Menu plan and shop first from your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Before going to the grocery store, check what you really need. Think twice about buying specialty ingredients for one recipe.
3. Bring cloth grocery bags to the store and use cloth produce bags.
4. If possible, avoid products wrapped in lots of plastic. You can buy nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes, etc. from a store (Food Works in Old Saybrook, for example) that has bulk bins where you can bring your own glass jars. Have the cashier weigh your empty jar first and have the tare marked on it.
5. Consider buying whole meats, for example a whole chicken, and whole fresh vegetables. You will save money and reduce the amount of packaging. Prep vegetables the night before if a lot of chopping is needed.
6. Save leftovers and store them in the refrigerator in glass containers and jars. If you are going to freeze food, leave some space in the container for the food to expand and avoid using jars with narrow necks.
7. Avoid single-use plastics such as cups, cutlery and straws. Make a take-along zero waste kit with your own reusable water bottle, metal utensils and cloth napkin.
8. Replace plastic wrap at home with beeswax wraps for covering food. You also can store food in a bowl with a plate for the lid.
9. Shop at a farm stand or store that carries fresh and, if possible, local fruits and vegetables that are not packaged in plastic. Bring your own produce and grocery bags!
10. Take advantage of the recycling and composting programs at the Haddam Transfer Station. Home composting is also a great option. If you have questions about whether something is recyclable, go to recyclect.com to find out. But remember that recycling is the last choice, after reduce, reuse and repurpose.
