Small daily habits add up to massive waste.
Most people don’t think of themselves as wasteful. You recycle, bring your own bag to the store, and maybe even avoid single-use plastics. But waste doesn’t just come from obvious things like plastic straws or fast fashion—it hides in everyday habits that seem harmless but add up over time.
From energy use to food waste, these small, unnoticed behaviors contribute to environmental damage in ways most people never realize. The good news? Once you know where waste is sneaking into your life, it’s easy to cut back without making huge sacrifices. Here are 11 ways you might be wasting more than you think—and simple fixes that make a real difference.
1. Electronics left plugged in waste energy even when turned off.
Just because a device isn’t in use doesn’t mean it isn’t sucking up power. TVs, gaming consoles, and even phone chargers pull electricity from the outlet if they’re plugged in, leading to unnecessary energy waste. This “phantom power” accounts for up to 10% of home energy use, costing you money while harming the planet according to Sunset Green Home.
An easy fix is unplugging devices when they’re not in use or using a smart power strip that automatically shuts off power to idle electronics. It’s a small habit that lowers both your electricity bill and carbon footprint with almost no effort.
2. Frequent washing of clothes shortens their lifespan and wastes water.
Laundry habits are more wasteful than most people realize. Washing clothes too often not only wastes water but also wears down fabric, leading to faded, stretched-out clothes that get tossed sooner. As stated by the European Environmental Agency, detergents and fabric softeners also leave behind microplastic residue that pollutes waterways.
Unless an item is actually dirty, it doesn’t need a wash after every wear. Jeans, sweaters, and even some shirts can go multiple wears before needing a wash. Using cold water and air-drying when possible also reduces waste, keeping clothes looking better while cutting down on water and energy use.
3. Expired food isn’t always unsafe to eat, but most people throw it away.
Food waste is a bigger issue than most people realize. In the U.S. alone, around 40% of food goes uneaten, often because people misjudge expiration dates or forget about leftovers, as reported on the Feeding America Website. Every time food is thrown away, all the resources used to grow, transport, and package it are wasted, too.
A simple way to reduce food waste is to plan meals, store perishables properly, and use the freezer for anything close to spoiling. Learning the difference between “sell by” and “use by” dates also helps—most food is still perfectly safe past the printed date.
4. Half-empty dishwashers and washing machines waste water and energy.
Appliances are designed to run efficiently when full, but running a half-empty dishwasher or washing machine wastes both energy and water. A single dishwasher cycle can use 3–5 gallons of water, while a washing machine can use up to 20 gallons per load.
Waiting until appliances are full before running them makes a huge difference. Choosing the eco-cycle when available and switching to cold water for laundry also helps cut waste without changing your routine.
5. Paper towels add unnecessary waste to landfills.
It’s easy to grab a paper towel to wipe up spills, but this habit creates a surprising amount of waste. The average household goes through thousands of paper towels a year, contributing to deforestation and landfill buildup.
A better alternative is reusable cloth towels or rags that can be washed and used again. Even switching to cloth for half of your cleaning needs drastically reduces waste while saving money.
6. Single-use plastics pile up when reusable alternatives are forgotten.
Reusable bags, bottles, and utensils only help if they’re actually used. Many people own reusables but forget to bring them when needed, leading to unnecessary plastic waste from takeout containers, coffee cups, and grocery bags.
Keeping a reusable bag in the car or backpack, carrying a compact set of utensils, and making a habit of grabbing a water bottle before leaving the house makes avoiding single-use plastic much easier.
7. Running water unnecessarily wastes gallons every day.
Most people don’t think twice about letting the water run while brushing their teeth, washing dishes, or waiting for it to warm up, but this habit wastes thousands of gallons of water every year. A running faucet can use 2–4 gallons per minute, adding up fast.
Turning off the tap while brushing, using a basin for dishwashing, and collecting cold water in a container while waiting for it to warm up are small changes that prevent unnecessary waste.
8. Cheap, low-quality products don’t last long and end up in landfills.
Fast fashion, cheap electronics, and poorly made household goods seem like a bargain, but they wear out quickly and end up in landfills at an alarming rate. Items designed to fall apart force consumers to replace them often, creating a cycle of waste.
Spending a little more on well-made, durable products saves money in the long run and significantly reduces waste. Choosing quality over quantity means fewer items break, fewer purchases are needed, and less trash ends up in the environment.
9. Leaky faucets and toilets waste thousands of gallons of water.
A slow-dripping faucet or a running toilet might not seem like a big deal, but leaks waste an astonishing amount of water. A single faucet dripping once per second can waste over 3,000 gallons a year, while a leaking toilet can use up to 200 gallons a day.
Fixing leaks as soon as they’re noticed prevents this waste. Even small adjustments, like installing a water-efficient showerhead or checking for leaks regularly, make a significant impact on water conservation.
10. Paper receipts are unnecessary and create avoidable waste.
Receipts might seem harmless, but they generate millions of pounds of waste each year. Many are coated with BPA, making them unrecyclable and contributing to environmental pollution.
Opting for digital receipts whenever possible eliminates unnecessary waste. Many stores now offer emailed or app-based receipts, reducing the need for paper copies that often end up in the trash immediately.
11. Leftovers often get thrown out instead of being repurposed.
Leftovers often get shoved to the back of the fridge and forgotten until they’re too old to eat. This habit not only wastes food but also money, time, and resources.
Making leftovers a part of meal planning—whether by repurposing them into new dishes or having designated “leftover nights”—helps cut down on waste. Freezing portions before they spoil is another simple way to make sure extra food gets used instead of thrown away.