We’ve all heard the phrase “zero waste,” but what exactly does it mean? It’s a goal to reduce the amount of trash you produce to as close to zero as possible.
In this guide, we’ll discuss how you can go about making your own home more sustainable and environmentally friendly by achieving zero-waste status.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Zero waste living is a lifestyle that aims to reduce the amount of waste that is produced in daily life as much as possible. |
| Creating a zero waste kitchen is an important step in reducing waste and living sustainably. |
| Living a zero waste lifestyle has numerous benefits for both the environment and our personal well-being. |
| Upcycling can be a creative and rewarding way to decorate your home while also benefiting the environment. |
| It’s important to address common misconceptions and myths surrounding zero waste living in order to successfully achieve a zero waste lifestyle. |
Getting Started
Getting started with zero waste living can be a really exciting endeavor. It means you’re taking control of your household and your impact on the environment, which is something we should all strive for.
But there is always a learning curve when it comes to anything new and different, so here are some tips to help you navigate your way through this new journey:
What is zero waste? According to Bea Johnson [7], author of Zero Waste Home (2008), zero waste means “producing no trash at all.”
That doesn’t mean that everything has to be reused or repurposed; it just means that whatever you do produce has to be composted or recycled instead of ending up in a landfill.
Why should I try it? There’s no better reason than reducing your carbon footprint! When you reduce what goes into landfills, not only are you helping save our planet but also saving yourself money by reducing energy usage at home thanks to lower transportation costs for goods that aren’t packaged in plastic or glass containers anymore either because they’ve been eliminated from existence altogether
Think about how much less packaging those candies might have used before being wrapped individually back in their day versus now.
Building a zero-waste lifestyle may seem overwhelming, but it can be simple and affordable. Check out our guide on 8 Simple Ways to Start Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle for practical tips on reducing waste and living sustainably.
Refuse
It’s important to start by reducing the amount of things you buy in the first place.
Refuse single-use plastic, including bags and coffee cups (a reusable travel mug is a must).
Refuse items that are not recyclable. For instance, don’t buy juice in glass bottles; they can be recycled but only with a lot of additional effort on your part. It’s better to get them in cardboard or plastic containers instead!
Refuse to buy things that are not needed: If you have an old pair of shoes sitting around your house collecting dust and cobwebs, there’s no reason why you need another pair—and probably shouldn’t replace them just because they’re out of trend (you know this). Instead, donate those old ones so someone else can enjoy them too!
| Example Items to Refuse | Why to Refuse |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags | They are a major source of pollution and contribute to the plastic waste crisis. |
| Single-use straws | They are unnecessary and often end up in the ocean, harming marine life. |
| Disposable cutlery | They contribute to the waste stream and are often made of non-biodegradable materials. |
| Junk mail | It wastes resources and contributes to deforestation. |
| Free promotional items | They are often made of low-quality materials and are quickly discarded, contributing to the waste stream. |
Reduce
Reducing the amount of single-use plastic you consume is a great first step to adopting a zero-waste lifestyle. When shopping for food, look for items that are sold loose or in paper bags instead of their plastic counterparts.
Avoid buying packaged foods and beverages, as they all come with at least some type of packaging, even if it’s just a plastic spout or lid.
Finally, try to buy food in bulk when possible so that you only bring home what you need; this will help reduce waste because there’s less packaging overall!
Creating a zero-waste kitchen is an important step in reducing waste and living sustainably. Learn how to achieve a waste-free kitchen with our guide on The Zero Waste Kitchen: Tips and Tricks for a Waste-Free Home and start making a positive impact on the environment.
Reuse
Bring your own bag to the grocery store
Buy a reusable water bottle and use it instead of disposable plastic or paper cups. That way, you won’t have to deal with all that waste every day. Reusable bags are also great for shopping trips because they’re sturdy and can hold quite a bit of stuff.
Use old t-shirts as rags around your home. If you don’t want to wear them anymore, try cutting them up into rags for cleaning purposes you never know when you’ll need one!
You can buy reusable cloth napkins instead of paper ones too; just make sure they’re machine washable so that they last longer than their single-use counterparts (which tend not to be).
Reuse glass jars for food storage purposes or as containers for leftovers the options are endless here!
You could also save up empty jars from condiments like mustard or ketchup so that when there’s some leftover sauce left in the bottom of yours at restaurants (or even when out with friends), fill up those extra spaces with more food so nothing goes to waste later on down the line—and don’t forget about jams and jellies too!
| Example Items to Reuse | Why to Reuse |
|---|---|
| Glass jars and containers | They can be used for food storage, as drinking glasses, or as planters. Reusing them reduces the need to purchase new containers. |
| Cloth bags | They can be used for grocery shopping, carrying items, or as produce bags. Reusing them reduces the need for single-use plastic bags. |
| Cloth napkins | They can be used in place of paper napkins, reducing paper waste. They can also add a touch of elegance to meals. |
| T-shirts and fabric scraps | They can be used to create reusable shopping bags, cleaning rags, and even jewelry. Reusing them reduces the need to purchase new items. |
| Reusable water bottles | They can be used in place of single-use plastic water bottles, reducing plastic waste. They can also save money in the long term by eliminating the need to purchase bottled water. |
Recycle
Recycling is the next best thing to being zero waste. It’s not as good because it uses up energy and resources to make new products, but it’s better than throwing things away or burning them for energy.
Recycling is especially important when it comes to plastic and aluminum. You can recycle both of these materials at most grocery stores (check your local store’s policies before bringing in your recyclables).
However, some recycling centers might refuse old containers or bags if they have food residue on them, so make sure you clean out any remaining crumbs before dropping off your items.
If you’re not sure what goes where when recycling or if there are certain types of trash that need special treatment then check out our guide on what kind of recycling makes sense in each situation.
If all else fails, just give us a call! We’ll let you know which products are best suited for reuse or disposal (and why).
Living a zero-waste lifestyle has numerous benefits for both the environment and our personal well-being. Discover the advantages of zero waste living with our guide on The Benefits of Zero Waste Living: Why It’s Worth the Effort and see how you can make a positive change.
Rot
Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste you produce and reuse the nutrients in your food scraps. It’s also a good way to save money on fertilizer (since you’ll be using less), as well as keep your plants happy with nutritious composting materials.
To get started on composting, it’s best to set aside some space in your yard or garden—a dedicated compost bin or pile will work best, since this will allow you to separate out any stray items that might not belong in there.
If you’re at all familiar with making sure something gets broken down properly (for example, if you’ve ever thrown away an old pair of running shoes), then making a careful pile should come naturally for most people!
The Bathroom
The bathroom is where you’ll find the most room for improvement when it comes to going zero waste.
That’s because of all the little products that can add up and cause a lot of waste! Here are some things you can switch out:
Toothbrush – Instead of buying disposable plastic toothbrushes (which will then be tossed into landfills for 500 years), try using a bamboo or wooden toothbrush instead. They’re far more durable and biodegradable. You might also want to purchase a compostable toothbrush or floss since those aren’t recyclable like regular plastic ones are.
Floss – Use floss made from bamboo fibers instead of plastic! It may take some getting used to, but this should help reduce your overall amount of trash in the long run.
Soap – Switching out bar soaps for liquid soap bars is another great way to reduce waste in the bathroom—and save money too! Make sure they’re not loaded with chemicals though; natural or organic brands will do best here since they tend not contain any unnecessary ingredients (like parabens).
Also consider switching out your facial cleansers for bars instead; these are often less expensive than liquid counterparts because they have fewer ingredients as well as being more environmentally friendly (they don’t need bottles!).
Reducing waste and upcycling can be a creative and rewarding way to decorate your home while also benefiting the environment. Learn how to upcycle waste into beautiful home decor with our guide on How to Upcycle Your Waste into Beautiful Home Decor and start transforming your waste into something beautiful.
Eating and Drinking
The first step in reducing your waste is to identify what you’re throwing away and stopping it from happening.
As someone who has been a zero waster since the early days of the movement, I know that it can be difficult to see where all that waste comes from, especially if you live in an urban area with a lot of restaurants and food delivery services. But there are some simple things here, too:
- Avoiding bottled water
- Buying lunch at work instead of getting it delivered or ordering takeout (if possible)
- Bringing your own reusable container when buying takeout
- Buying food directly from farms or farmers’ markets instead of grocery stores
The Kitchen
Here’s the bottom line: if you want to avoid waste, you need to carry your own containers. You can get reusable bags and containers in any number of materials (including glass, plastic, metal and even paper) that will last a lifetime or longer.
The best strategy is to have a variety of different sizes on hand so you can take whatever you’re buying home without generating any new packaging waste.
You’ll also want some small bags or pouches for things like nuts or candies that come in single-serving packages at the grocery store.
And don’t forget about straws! Most restaurants now offer reusable straws in lieu of plastic ones and if yours doesn’t yet offer them, feel free to bring along your own bamboo straws from home instead of asking for one when you order your drink.
If possible, it’s worth investing in glass storage containers so you can take leftovers back home from restaurants as well as bulk food stores such as Whole Foods Market® or Costco Wholesale™ (your local grocery store may also sell silicone lids for its produce bins).
These containers are easy-to-use just wash them out with hot soapy water before using them again—and they create virtually no waste once they’ve been thoroughly cleaned after each mealtime use
Shopping and Beyond
After you’ve done your research and made a conscious decision to live a zero-waste lifestyle, the next step is to begin shopping.
This can be a challenge at first because many products are packaged in non-recyclable materials and don’t come with instructions for how to reduce your waste.
The best way to avoid this problem is by educating yourself on what items need recycling and which ones don’t, so that you can avoid buying them altogether.
The most important thing about shopping for zero waste is knowing what packaging should be avoided at all costs (like plastic food containers) and what types of products are available for purchase without it (like unpackaged bulk foods). The resources below will help!
To successfully achieve a zero-waste lifestyle, it’s important to address common misconceptions and myths surrounding the practice. Learn the truth about zero waste living with our guide on Common Misconceptions About Zero Waste Living and start your journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide has given you some practical tips to start living a more sustainable lifestyle and helped you see the big picture of zero waste.
Remember that it’s good to start small but don’t forget to dream big—after all, there are plenty of things we can do as individuals and communities to help save the planet!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on zero waste living:
The Beginner’s Guide to Zero Waste Living: A comprehensive guide that covers everything from why zero waste is important to practical tips for reducing waste in your daily life.
Zero Waste: A Beginner’s Guide: A guide that provides an overview of the zero waste lifestyle, as well as tips and strategies for getting started.
The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Zero Waste Journey: A comprehensive guide that covers the basics of zero waste living, as well as tips for reducing waste in different areas of your life.
FAQs
What is zero waste living?
Zero waste living is a lifestyle that aims to reduce the amount of waste that is produced in daily life as much as possible, with the ultimate goal of sending zero waste to landfills.
Why is zero waste living important?
Zero waste living is important because it helps to reduce the environmental impact of waste, conserve natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Is zero waste living expensive?
Zero waste living can be cost-effective over the long term, as it involves reducing consumption and reusing items instead of constantly buying new ones. However, some initial investments may be necessary, such as purchasing reusable containers and bags.
What are some easy ways to reduce waste?
Some easy ways to reduce waste include using reusable bags and containers, avoiding single-use plastics, buying in bulk, composting, and repairing items instead of replacing them.
Can I still enjoy my favorite products and hobbies while living zero waste?
Yes, you can still enjoy your favorite products and hobbies while living zero waste. The key is to find ways to reduce waste in these areas, such as by buying products in sustainable packaging or finding eco-friendly alternatives.
I am Hellen, I’ve been passionate about sustainability for as long as I can remember. It’s something that my mom taught me from a young age, and it’s something that has shaped my life in so many ways.