5 Steps to Eco-Prep Your Home Before Vacation

Tip: Purge perishables from your fridge before leaving the house to reduce food waste. Photo: Flickr/Wesley Fryer

3. Reduce waste

Don’t let waste stack up while you’re on the go! Take a few simple steps ahead of time to keep those trash cans empty.

Before packing your bags, take an inventory of perishable food in your kitchen and give away anything that may spoil before you return. In most cases, unopened or unprepared food can be donated to a local food bank, shelter or soup kitchen, but restrictions may vary from one location to the next. So, call ahead to be sure.

Green Your Trip: 3 Waste-Reducing Tips for Travel Abroad

For food you can’t donate, try freezing or canning it before you leave the house, or simply give it away to a friend or neighbor to cut back on food waste. If you plan to be gone for more than a month, you can also empty out the fridge and unplug it if desired. But be sure to leave the door propped open to reduce the risk of mold damage.

If you have a daily newspaper delivered to your home, call the publication’s customer service center and ask to have delivery stopped until you return to reduce paper waste. Many publications will even allow you to donate your newspaper to a local school, rec center or church while you’re out of town. If all else fails, simply tell your neighbors that they’re welcome to snag the paper off your doorstep while you’re away.

Looking for a few waste-reducing tips for your journey? Try these seven eco-friendly travel ideas to get you started.

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