Does your heart break at the sight of all the waste around you? Do you wish you could do something about it but you feel like your contribution would be too small to help? No contribution is too small. Take a step towards zero waste living and together we can eliminate waste. Granted, this won’t happen overnight. But, it’s important to start taking small steps to minimize the waste we produce. You don’t have to go all out hippie and do everything at once. Take baby steps and be patient with yourself and the process. If you and I combine our little efforts towards zero waste, we’ll go a long way to reducing landfill waste.
What is Zero Waste Living?
It’s true that creating no trash at all can feel like it’s close to impossible but when you choose a zero waste lifestyle you pay more attention to how your consumer habits impact the environment. You are more alert to what you consume and how you consume it. In short, we commit to reducing what we need, reuse as much as we can, send little to be recycled, and compost what we cannot.
Why Minimise Waste?
What’s the big deal about waste anyway and why should you and I work harder to reduce the waste we’re producing? We have adopted a disposable lifestyle and no longer value our belongings. We get stuff just because we can, and consequently, we’re consuming way too many resources. The more we consume the more waste needs to be sent to landfills. Landfills are toxic and are a big contribution to pollution. We need to reduce our consumption and reuse more to reduce this kind of toxic waste. A lot of our trash actually doesn’t even make it to the landfills. It’s the waste you see on the sides of roads. A lot of this is plastic which then makes its way into the ocean. This plastic is very dangerous to the ocean, marine life, and our health. Can we fully depend on recycling? No. it’s not enough. Many countries have really good recycling systems but it’s not enough to just recycle. There’s simply too much to process, and we’re just consuming way too much. Recycling isn’t a perfect solution. While it plays into the solution, we have to lessen our dependence. It’s more important to consume less and produce less waste in the first place. One person can make a difference by simply committing to consuming less and be more conscious about waste. So it’s important we each start doing our part.
Related article: Facts About Waste
35 Ways to Reduce Waste: Beginner’s Edition
There’s a lot that we can do to reduce waste and it can feel overwhelming. Our advice is to try to do one thing and once that becomes a habit, try another thing. Each step is a step towards a better, more sustainable way to live. Here are a few ways you can start doing zero waste:
1. Consume less
If you don’t need it don’t buy it. If you take a moment and just think about it, a lot of what you have you don’t need it. You honestly can do without it. The less you consume, the less there will be to waste.
2. Use what you have
You don’t need to buy new items to adopt a zero waste lifestyle. Check around your home for what you already have that can minimise wastage. Use empty glasses to store dry foods and consume your leftovers instead of throwing them out, as long as they’re still fresh of course.
3. Eliminate single-use
Take a trash audit for a week noting down what you throw out after just a single use. Most common culprits will be plastic utensils, paper napkins and plastic water bottles. Where you can, replace the stuff you use once with reusable items. For instance swap plastic utensils with reusable cutlery.
4. Choose reusables
Always opt for reusable items especially bags. Studies show that an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year. Plastic bags and bottles cause the biggest strain on our environment. Replacing them in our day to day lives is one of the quickest and easiest changes towards zero waste living. Invest in a few reusable grocery bags and use them for your shopping. Use glass jars more and get an eco-friendly reusable water bottle instead of buying a plastic bottle each time.
5. Buy in bulk
Buying in bulk is another great way to reduce waste at home. You not only get to save the environment but your wallet too! Small items accumulate the amount of packaging used increasing the amount of waste. These days, there are lots of food stores and markets selling food items in bulk especially dried fruits, nuts, cereal, rice, beans, spices, etc. Some supermarkets even offer stations where you can refill your shampoo, soap, and other toiletry items. Most bulk stores won’t mind if you take your own containers/jars/boxes. So carry your reusable containers and bags when you go shopping next time for some zero waste shopping.
6. Compost if you can
Compost what you can. Food scraps and paper are some items that you can compost at home. Shop around for an indoor composting system or better still make a home garden. Also, try to switch from non-compostable items to stuff that can be composted. Look for takeout joints that use packaging materials that can be composted.
7. Bring your own
Take away meals contribute so much waste, yet they’ve become the norm today. Reduce waste by bringing your own food and drink. Not only is it waste-free, but you’ll also save money too. If you must have takeaway bring your own set of dishes and utensils. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a lunch container with a fork, knife, spoon, cloth napkin and cup will do. Keep them in your car and use them for takeout, potlucks, picnics or a doggy bag.
8. Take reusable bags for grocery shopping
One reason why most of us use plastic bags during shopping is that we always forget our reusable bags at home. A neat trick is to put one reusable bag in every bag that you take out with you so that you always remember to take one. By switching to only reusable bags, you can make a huge impact on the environment.
9. Ditch the paper towels
Paper towels are quite convenient for cleaning or drying your hands, but it’s convenience we can easily do without for the sake of the environment. Use sponges and reusable and washable cloths instead. By reducing towel use by just one, you’ll contribute towards diverting 571,230,000 pounds of paper waste each year. Imagine that!
Related article: Paper Wastage Facts
10. Use bar soap
Use bar soap for all your cleaning needs instead of liquid soap. Bar soaps come wrapped in a wrapper instead of plastic bottles that are quite harsh to the environment. Also, consider using zero waste laundry detergent.
11. Repair your things
Don’t throw out stuff just because they are broken or old. Repair them when necessary to avoid waste. Got a lamp that won’t work? Check if it’s fixable before rushing to buy another one and throwing the old one in the trash.
12. Plan your meals
In doing so, you shop smartly and reduce your waste. When you know what you’ll be making you’ll know exactly what to buy and avoid excess produce that might go to waste before you use them. A meal plan will also encourage you to cook at home more and avoid takeout.
13. Swap to a zero waste toothbrush
Instead of using plastic toothbrushes, consider switching to bamboo brushes. They’re more eco friendly. Don’t forget to opt for a zero waste toothpaste too.
14. Buy loose produce
Instead of buying packaged fruit and vegetables, buy them loose. Then pack them yourself in small reusable bags. This will help you reduce the amount of plastic bags used.
15. Bring your lunch to work
I’m sure you don’t even give it a second thought when it comes to your kids’ lunches. You pack them. How about doing the same with your lunch? According to RecycleWorks.org, disposable lunches generate 100 pounds of trash per person each year. Pack your lunch and reduce this trash.
16. Stop using cotton buds
Cotton buds are usually made with plastic, and can only be used once. Give them up for a better environment.
17. Donate unused items
Do you have stuff around your home that you no longer want or use? Don’t throw them out, donate them instead. There are people who will find these items to be useful. So go on and give them out.
18. Buy second-hand
When you go shopping consider buying second-hand items whenever possible. Preloved items are a good way to reduce waste as a community. You also get to save money and even afford big brands that you might not otherwise be able to afford.
19. Bring your own coffee cup
Buy an insulated coffee mug and fill it up at home with your daily coffee Instead of buying coffee every morning. This way, you don’t have to use a plastic or paper cup every time you need coffee and you save money too. That $2 per cup of coffee daily can quickly accumulate by the end of the year. Use this money for something else.
20. Go paperless for all your bills
This is a perfect way of going zero waste. Cancel all your paper bills and instead view them online. The same goes for bank statements. Going paperless will save paper and the environment in the long run.
21. Swap tea bags for loose leaf tea in a reusable strainer
Did you know that tea bags have plastic in them? Switch to loose leaf tea and use it in a teapot with an infuser. You’ll end up saving a lot of waste.
22. Get a safety razor
2 billion non-recyclable razors are thrown out annually in the US. To stop contributing to this waste use a zero waste razor that is all-metal and has recyclable blades. The cost of refilling these type of blades is a fraction of what you pay for plastic razor refills.
23. Ask yourself, “how much use will I really get out of this?”
Another great way of having a zero waste home is to always ask yourself this question whenever you’re shopping. Don’t pick up stuff if you won’t be needing them much.
24. Wire pegs
Stainless steel pegs are a great alternative to plastic pegs which easily snap anyway. Wire pegs may be more expensive than plastic ones but they last forever and won’t need constant replacing.
25. Go digital
The average employee uses two pounds of paper per day. We may be in the digital era but we’re still using too much paper. Save paper and take notes on your laptop instead of a notepad. Use email instead of paper when communicating with your colleagues.
26. Get a library card
Donate old books that you no longer have use for to your local library. Don’t be a hoarder, instead donate and support your local sharing economy.
27. Choose natural items
Buy all-natural zero waste products and be part of decreasing our overall trash output. Replace plastic with natural alternatives. For instance, instead of using aerosol cans or packages of air fresheners, use natural potpourris. Use wooden kitchen utensils instead of plastic ones. Natural materials can easily be composted instead of adding them to the landfills.
28. Invest in high quality
Go for quality instead of convenience and good deals. High-quality items such as furniture and clothing are built to last and you don’t need to replace them every few years. The truth is that the too-good-to-be-true deals usually end up costing you more and creating more waste in the long run.
29. Use the cloud instead of memory sticks or external drives
Save your files on the cloud instead of using memory sticks and external drives that cannot be recycled. The cloud has zero waste and in most cases, it’s free to use. Google Drive, iCloud and Dropbox are good file storage and sharing services.
Related article: E-Waste Facts & Stats
30. Buy products without packaging wherever possible, or at least with recyclable packaging
When shopping, always look for eco-conscious products that come in zero waste produce bags such as recyclable cardboard boxes, reusable jars or containers. Buy your fruits and vegetables loose and carry them in your reusable shopping bags.
Related article: Styrofoam Facts & the Impact on the Environment
31. Stop using cling wrap and other plastic wraps
Cling wrap is rarely recycled hence, it only adds to our waste. Swap it and other plastic wraps with silicon snack pouches and silicone wrap. These can be washed and reused. The pouches can be used for storing things other than foods such as accessories.
32. Replace dryer sheets with reusable dryer balls
Replace your dryer sheets with dryer balls. The balls soak up more water hence reducing the drying time by up to 25 percent. And you know what this means? Your dryer will use less energy allowing you to conserve more energy and save on electricity bills.
33. Shop local
Local shops use less plastic wraps. By shopping local, you’ll not only support your local economy but also waste less plastic. So instead of heading to the supermarket, turn back and head to the local farmer’s market or green grocer’s.
34. Say no to trends
It can be tempting to jump on every new trend in fashion, gadgets or games, etc. Before you jump onto a trend ask yourself if you will want that item a year from now. It might just be a fad that will pass in no time.
35. Have a zero waste bathroom
Fill up your bathroom with zero waste shampoo, zero waste toilet paper, and eco-friendly detergent. Go even further and use zero-waste makeup and zero waste deodorant. All these products will quickly help you adopt a zero waste living. Moving towards a zero waste life can seem scary but as you can see, it really doesn’t have to be. We can all do it, we just have to be more conscious of our habits. Just take one step at a time. Zero waste living will push us to be more mindful of our environment. In addition, it will help us avoid consuming more and being wasteful.
Jamie - Cofounder
Hi, I hope you enjoyed reading this article.
If you are looking for more ways to live an eco-conscious lifestyles, then check out our complete guide here.
Thanks for stopping by - Jamie