If you care about the environment, you need to take an active role in the solution to current environmental problems.  Pollution is not something that happens far away, and it is not just factories and smokestacks that foul the earth.

Sometimes the problems are much closer to home, and sometimes those issues are even in your home.  If you are not doing your part to reduce the amount of waste in your household, you are missing out on a golden opportunity.  Here are 10 creative, cheap, and surprisingly effective ways to reduce the amount of waste your household generates, all without impacting your lifestyle.

1. Donate your used items.

   That old sweater may no longer be your style, but it can still keep someone warm.  Donating your old clothes, household goods and other items to charity is a great way to reduce your environmental impact.
   
   

2. Buy used when it makes sense.

   You can also reduce your environmental impact with the things you buy.  When you buy used instead of new, you give an old item new life - and you avoid using additional resources.
   
   

3. Recycle everything you can.

   A surprising number of items are recyclable, so check with your trash collector before you simply throw it away.  Increasing the amount of recycling you do is one of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of waste produced by your household.
   
   

4. Avoid excess packaging.

   When you go shopping, pay close attention to the amount of packaging in the products you buy.  Choosing the product with the least amount of packaging will send a message to manufacturers while helping the environment.
   
   

5. Use a home compost bin.

   A compost bin does not have to be a huge structure in the backyard.  There are home composters that fit on a kitchen counter, and you can use these devices to turn things like banana peels and salad trimmings into rich soil for your garden.
   
   

6. Cook smarter.

   If you want to avoid food waste, adjust your recipes to the number of people who will be eating.  You can also freeze your leftovers or give the excess to those in need.
   
   

7. Invest in a reusable shopping bag.

   Something as simple as a canvas or cloth shopping bag could reduce your household's waste production and keep dozens of plastic grocery bags out of local landfills.
   
   

8. Make your own rags.

   Instead of buying rags and throwing them away, cut up old unwanted clothes and put them to good use.  Old t-shirts are perfect for this purpose, but just about any type of cloth will do.
   
   

9. Put an end to junk mail.

   No one likes junk mail - not even landfill owners.  Those unwanted catalogs will last a long time in the local dump, so stop them before they arrive.  Contact catalog companies and retailers and ask them to take you off their mailing lists - the earth will thank you.
   
   

10. Encourage recycling at your workplace.

    Now that you have reduced the amount of waste your household produces, you can take what you have learned and move it to your workplace.  Encouraging recycling, or even setting up a donation bin for local charities, can further reduce your environmental impact.

The 10 tips listed above can help you live a greener lifestyle, and if everyone chips in, the impact could be truly historic!