10 Eco-Friendly Household Swaps That Make Living “Green” So Much Easier [Video]

Americans throw away nearly 5 pounds of trash per person, per day, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency—with only about 30 percent of that waste ending up in the recycling bin or compost pile. But while trimming your own environmental impact can feel overwhelming, it’s easy to start small with low-effort swaps in your home that minimize waste and lower your energy usage.

“My key principle is to repurpose what already exists and get creative!” says Sheila M. Morovati, founder of Habits of Waste and author of Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet. “I like to repurpose things that already exist instead of purchasing anything new—that’s the ultimate scenario.” Ahead are 10 easy swaps you can make today that will reduce your carbon footprint.