There are many pieces of the going green puzzle: reducing energy use, switching to local groceries, and using less gasoline, to name a few. But one of the biggest ways we can reduce our carbon footprint is by cutting down on waste in our homes. The average American produces 4.4 pounds of garbage a day—that’s 1,600 pounds a year!

Try utilizing these tips to go greener in your home, and make the world a kinder, less wasteful place for the future.

Pack a green lunch. How many times do you pack a lunch for school (or do you pack a lunch for your kids) that has much more food than …