Summer vacation will be here soon, and if you want to travel for the season, you’ve probably already started planning. You may know where you want to go and even what you want to pack. But what’s your plan for your waste management? It can be easy to forget about the amount of waste you create on vacation. After all, the point is to relax. However, there are a few easy ways to reduce waste and still enjoy your vacation. Here are some of our favorite tips:
Get a Water Bottle
We all know how important it is to stay hydrated when on vacation. If you go somewhere tropical, staying hydrated will keep you from becoming overheated. If you plan to generate a lot of foot traffic as you go from museum to museum, drinking lots of water will keep you refreshed and energized. However, throwing away plastic bottle after plastic bottle can be overly wasteful. Instead, bring your own water bottle and fill it up wherever you can. That means before you leave the hotel and at any cafe or restaurant where they might allow it. You can also consider bringing your own coffee mug or thermos, as some coffee shops will be willing to use that in order to save on paper or plastic cups.
Pack Your Picnic Right
Planning breakfast on the beach or a picnic in Central Park? With the sun shining and the warm weather, it’s the perfect time to enjoy eating outside — and reducing waste while you’re at it. Skip the ziploc baggies and the paper lunch bags. Instead, use reusable containers, preferably those with an airtight seal. Mason jars will keep your picnic goodies safe from pests and external contaminants, as well as providing a rustic chic aesthetic. At the end of the day, you can wash them and pack them back up to use next time.
Buy Souvenirs Sparingly
It can be easy to be bought in by every other cute souvenir that you see when you’re in that rose-colored vacation feeling. But how often do you actually pay any attention to those souvenirs when you get home? Often they end up collecting dust in a closet for a few years before going to Goodwill. That’s not to say you can’t pick up a trinket or two for a friend that might appreciate it, but be judicious when shopping for souvenirs. Where will you actually display this souvenir? Will it add anything to your home? As Marie Kondo famously says, does it “spark joy?” If not, let it go. There will be other vacations and other souvenirs.
It’s important to manage your waste and be conscientious when you’re on vacation. However, when you’re home, trash and recycling is easy. Brazos Valley Trash Valet & Recycling offers an affordable monthly trash subscription with one bin for complimentary single stream recycling. Contact us today for more information or to order your own trash and recycling service today.
