19 Sneaky Wasteful Habits Virginians Have Without Knowing It

The average Virginian doesn’t think of themselves as wasteful.

They recycle their water bottles, turn off the lights when they leave a room, and maybe bring their own bags to the grocery store.

But behind the scenes, tiny bad habits are draining wallets, time, and resources.

From letting your phone stay on 1% battery to tossing out food that “might” be bad, we’re surrounded by sneaky little money pits that don’t feel wasteful… until you add them up.

Leaving Chargers Plugged In All the Time

Even when your phone or laptop isn’t connected, the charger still pulls electricity from the outlet.

These so-called “energy vampires” may only use a small amount individually. But over time—and across every room in the house—they can drive up your energy bill and waste significant power.

It’s a habit most people don’t even think about. The charger is small. It doesn’t seem like a big deal. But multiply that by the number of devices in the average American home, and the impact adds up fast.

Unplugging isn’t just about safety. It’s about reducing invisible waste.

Buying in Bulk—Then Letting It Go Bad

Warehouse stores can feel like a smart choice: more product, less money per unit.

But buying in bulk often leads to overstocked pantries, forgotten expiration dates, and spoiled goods, especially when it comes to perishables.

It’s great if you’re feeding a large family or hosting a party. But for everyday use, those bulk buys often get tossed before they’re used up.

Saving money up front doesn’t count if half of it goes in the trash.

Running Half-Full Dishwashers or Laundry Loads

We’ve all been there: a few dirty dishes sitting in the sink or a pile of clothes you want clean right now. 

But running these machines half full wastes both water and energy, not to mention shortening the life of the appliance.

It’s more efficient (and eco-friendly) to wait until you have a full load. Modern appliances are good at conserving water, but they still use a fixed amount per cycle.

Waiting an extra day could save gallons of water and a chunk off your energy bill.

Letting the Faucet Run While Doing Dishes or Brushing Teeth

This one’s an old classic—so simple, yet so easy to forget. Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth or scrubbing a pan wastes gallons per day.

Americans waste several gallons of water each time they leave the tap running during daily tasks.

That’s thousands of gallons per year for a single household.

Turning off the tap even for a few seconds at a time can make a noticeable difference.

Ignoring Leftovers Until They Spoil

Leftovers are a gift from last night’s dinner… until they sit untouched for a week and become science experiments.

Most people intend to eat them but forget, lose track, or get bored with what’s in the fridge.

The result? Spoiled food, wasted money, and added landfill mass.

And let’s not forget the guilt of tossing something you made or bought with good intentions.

Making leftovers visible and scheduling them into your meal plan can help cut down on waste.

Using Paper Towels for Everything

Paper towels are a household staple, but they’re also a single-use product that adds up quickly.

Cleaning spills, drying hands, wiping surfaces… then straight into the trash.

Most people use them without thinking, sometimes going through a roll in just a couple of days. Replacing paper towels with washable rags or microfiber cloths can save trees, money, and space in the trash bin.

They’re convenient, but convenience shouldn’t mean disposable by default.

Throwing Out Items That Could Be Repaired

The moment something breaks—a toaster, a chair leg, a zipper—we’re conditioned to toss it. Repairing things used to be common.

Now?

It’s a lost habit in a culture driven by quick replacements.

Small repairs are often simple and cost-effective. But the throwaway mindset dominates, especially with fast fashion and low-cost electronics.

Taking the time to patch, glue, sew, or troubleshoot can prevent unnecessary waste and stretch your dollars further.

Heating or Cooling an Empty House

Climate control is a beautiful thing, but heating or cooling a space when no one’s home is one of the easiest ways to waste energy.

Many people leave systems running all day, even if they’re gone for hours.

Smart thermostats help, but habits matter too. Setting a schedule or adjusting the temperature before leaving can drastically cut energy use.

It’s not about living in discomfort—it’s about timing comfort more efficiently.

Automatically Accepting Receipts

At the store, you’re handed a receipt, whether you want it or not.

Paper receipts might seem harmless, but billions are printed every year, many of which are tossed within minutes.

They use paper, ink, and resources to produce, and many aren’t recyclable due to chemical coatings.

Opting out of printed receipts or going digital is a simple switch that cuts down on waste instantly. It’s one small decision you won’t miss.

Overusing Single-Use Plastics

Plastic straws, utensils, water bottles, wrappers—it’s everywhere. And while it’s easy to blame fast food or big brands, a lot of single-use plastic waste comes from our own kitchens and lunch bags.

Grabbing a plastic fork with your takeout when you’re eating at home? That’s waste.

Buying bottled water when your tap is fine? Also waste.

Simple swaps—reusable bottles, metal straws, washable containers—can shrink your plastic footprint in a big way.

Leaving Lights and Electronics On When Not in Use

It seems harmless: a lamp left on in the other room, the TV humming while no one watches. But multiplied across a household, this habit quietly wastes energy every day.

Electronics in standby mode also pull power, even when they’re “off.”

It’s called phantom energy, and it costs money without doing anything useful.

A simple switch-off habit (or a smart power strip) can help stop the drain.

Buying Clothes You Rarely Wear

That trendy piece you wore once? Or the shirt you bought just because it was on sale? Closet clutter isn’t just a space issue—it’s a resource drain.

Fast fashion fuels this problem.

Many people buy more clothing than they need, much of it poorly made and quickly discarded. Such garments may only be worn a handful of times before being tossed or donated.

Buying less—and buying better—saves money and cuts back on textile waste.

Printing When You Don’t Need To

Old habits die hard. For many, clicking “print” is still a reflex, even when a digital version would work just fine.

Meeting notes, travel itineraries, recipes—most don’t need to hit the printer anymore.

Wasted paper, ink, and energy add up fast, especially in offices and households that print daily.

Unless it’s truly necessary, viewing on a screen is the simpler and more sustainable choice.

Ignoring Small Leaks Around the House

A dripping faucet. A running toilet. A hose that never quite turns off. These “minor” leaks are easy to overlook, but they can waste hundreds of gallons of water over time.

Most Americans don’t think of leaks as urgent repairs.

But they add up fast, on your bill and on the environment.

Fixing small leaks now saves big later.

Using Too Much Product—From Soap to Shampoo

The bottle says “a dime-sized amount,” but many of us pour like we’re washing a car.

Whether it’s laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, or lotion, we often use way more than we need.

This leads to faster depletion, more money spent, and more packaging waste.

A little restraint goes a long way—and your results won’t suffer.

Not Donating or Recycling Unused Items

Old books, barely worn shoes, kitchen gadgets collecting dust—many of these go straight to the trash during spring cleaning.

But most could be donated, repurposed, or recycled.

Americans often underestimate how valuable their “junk” might be to someone else, or how easy it is to drop things off at a local center.

With a little extra effort, you can clear space and keep usable items out of landfills.

Tossing Packaging Without Breaking It Down

Online shopping has taken over, and with it comes a mountain of cardboard, bubble mailers, and plastic wraps.

While much of this is technically recyclable, many people throw it out as-is or skip the breakdown process entirely.

That means recyclable materials end up clogging landfills, or worse, contaminating recycling batches and rendering the whole lot unusable.

A flattened box makes a big difference, but many people simply don’t take the time.

It’s a small habit shift with a big environmental payoff.

Forgetting to Cancel Subscriptions You Don’t Use

Streaming services, fitness apps, monthly boxes, cloud storage—you name it. Many people are subscribed to things they haven’t used in months, if not years.

And even when they remember, they often forget to cancel before the next charge hits.

Not only is this a financial drain, but the physical products—like unused meal kits or promotional items—can end up wasted too.

Companies count on customers forgetting, and auto-renewals quietly rack up.

Doing a quick monthly audit can help prevent waste and keep your budget under control.

Throwing Away Batteries Instead of Recycling

Batteries power everything from remotes to toys to toothbrushes. But when they die, many people simply toss them in the trash, not realizing they can contain hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and lithium.