Here are just several of the disposable items you can get out of your life forever:

Water Bottles. Drinkingbottled wateris a common and expensive habit. If you go through a $7 case of bottled water every week, that’s $364 per year for something you could get out of a tap for less than $1.Invest in a $17 reusable water bottle instead, and it will pay for itself more than 20times over in its first year of use. Atthe same time, you’ll keep more than 1,200 disposable plastic bottles out of the waste stream Lastly, according to a report from thePacific Institute, you’llsave more than 100kWh of energy.

Shopping Bags. According to theNatural Resources Defense Council, the average American familytakes homeclose to 1,500 plastic shopping bags each year. Those bags require more than 8,000 barrels of oil to manufacture, andonly about5% of them are recycled.You can avoid all this waste by carrying a reusable bag. There are dozens of kinds to choose from, including canvas, nylon, and string bags – and there are evenbagsyou can fold up andtuck intoapocket, purse, or backpack, soyou’ll never be caught out shopping without one.

Dishes and Utensils. You probably usewashable dishes, glasses, and silverware for yourmeals athome. But during the workday, you might not think twice about grabbing a paper cup full of coffee or a plastic fork to eat your lunch. Then, whenyou’re done eating or drinking, itgoes right in the trash. Here’s a greener alternative: keep a plate, a mug, and a set of silverware at work. Then you can serveyour takeout food in style and just wash the dishes when you’re done.

To-Go Containers. Speaking of eating out, it’s likely you often findthelarge food portionsat restaurants today are more than youwant to eat in one sitting. If you ask to take home yourleftovers, the server brings you a giantfoamclam shell that just goes straight in the trash when the food is gone.So when you’re planning to eat out, avoid both food waste and packaging waste by bringing along a reusable container.

Napkins. Many people use paper napkins all the time – even at home. Afamily of four that used one napkin at every meal would utilize and discard 4,300 napkins in a year – roughly $65worth. That same family could buy a dozen cloth napkins for $10 and reuse them over and over. They’d save $55 just in the first year, produce less trash, and save trees.