One-third of household trash is packaging.  When you shop bulk bins, you skip waste on goods like grains and spices.  Also, try to cut back on processed foods, which product 30 percent more waste than homemade.  Swap individual bottles for mixes in family size containers, and invest in a water filter.

Bulk bin items cost 30 to 60 percent less than their packaged counterparts.  And skipping single serving beverages could save the average household up to $850 a year.

Avoid imported produce.

Produce shipped from far flung countries is three times more likely to harbor illness causing bacteria like salmonella, and up to four times more likely to contain illegal levels of pesticides than domestic.  To track down domestic goods, look for the country of origin label.  And keep an eye out for locally grown produce, which big retailers like Wal-Mart and Wegmans are stocking now more than ever.

Seasonal produce typically costs about 50 percent less than out of season produce that’s shipped in.  Plus, local produce generally takes less time to get from farm to table-and is more nutritious, since key nutrients like vitamin B and C degrade rapidly after harvest.

Make the most of your reusable shopping bags.

About 40 percent of shoppers bring their own shopping bags to the store.  Take it to the next level by using them while you shop.  Stand totes in your cart and place produce directly inside to eliminate disposable produce bags.  Just place the produce on the scale at checkout.  If you tend to forget your bags, jot a reminder on your shopping lists or stash a few in your purse or glove compartment.

Shopping with reusable bags helps foster a green mind set that could lead to more eco friendly decisions while you shop.  Plus many stores offer cash back for bringing your own bag, and that adds up to about $50 a year if you are committed.

Use old fashioned and all natural cleaning supplies.

Antibacterial items are more popular that ever-about 75 percent of liquid soaps now contain triclosan, which eventually ends up in our waterways, and harms marine life.  Instead of reaching for harsh cleaning products, use household items.  Vinegar is highly acidic, so it kills germs-swap it in for a disinfectant.  Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge as a substitute for soft scrub.

Crossing chemical cleaning products off your shopping list can save more that $600 per year.  You’ll also be doing your part to reduce the likelihood of antibiotic resistance and protecting your family from strong fumes that can cause breathing problems.

Shop less often.

American  average five trips to the grocery store a month, and end up trashing about 14 percent of that food.  Cutting back by just one trip can slash impulse buys and reduce the amount of food and packaging that’s trashed.  Instead of swinging by the supermarket on your way home, wait to shop until you have a list.

The fewer rotten bananas and stale cookies you toss, the more you save.  If you get creative with what you’ve got in the pantry and keep waste to a bare minimum, you can save up to $1,800 per year.