Things I do:
-I've already talked about baggies and plastic bags as trash can liners, etc.
-Paper bags-I reuse them as either lunch bags (the small ones) and use them until they are too torn up, or the larger ones I use for paper recycling and under my dish drainer (I don't have a drip tray for it right now.) They dry out and never actually get wet enough to fall apart.
-Rags. Except for cat messes, I use rags for everything, including as napkins. I do keep paper napkins on hand for guests--I don't care if the napkin I'm using is a rag, but other people probably would. LOL! I do intend to get cloth napkins---or make them--eventually.
-Boxes
-Carry out containers. I rarely buy tupperware type stuff, because I reuse carry out containers and other plastic containers and tubs.
-Mesh produce bags. Some of them get used as scrubbies, and some of them just get used as shopping bags.
-I'm doing my best to switch over to cloth/my own shopping bags. I keep forgetting to leave some in the car.
-Fabric/clothing. If it's a pattern or color or fabric I really like, I keep it for crafting.
I basically reuse anything and everything I can. I put out a full garbage can once a week (we have pick up twice a week,) but that's only because I have 8 cat boxes that get scooped every other day and changed every 2 weeks! If it were not for the cats, heck, I'd probably put out one small bag a week!
Jen M.