Zero waste has become this trendy thing where you go out and buy new things like metal straws, special travel cutlery, and a dozen glass waterbottles.
While there’s nothing wrong with those things, I think often we miss the point which is to actually reduce our waste. I absolutely believe in the value of purchasing high quality, sustainable items when we need to purchase something. However, there’s also so much we can do without going out and buying anything new.
Today I wanted to share ways you can reduce your waste today without going out and buying anything new!
START COMPOSTING
Food waste is responsible for a huge percentage of the garbage we produce! When I started being intentional about compost, I noticed a huge difference in how much garbage we produce in our home! While we are no where near zero waste yet, there’s been a huge improvement.
I made this a habit by always keeping a food scrap bin on my counter so it’s easy to put scraps in! I’ve also become very aware of other items such as paper towels, egg cartons, newspapers which our city allows in the compost bin! Whether you start your own compost pile in your backyard, through the city you live in, or a local farmer that will accept your compost, there is a solution for everyone!
Learn more here about starting your own compost pile and 50+ items you can compost!
USE UP THE FOOD YOU HAVE
They say Americans throw away 40% of the food they purchase! This is INSANE to me, and sooo wasteful! 🙁 Always be sure to check what’s in your fridge before going grocery shopping to avoid duplicates.
Also, 1-2 times a week be sure to look through your fridge and use up things that could go bad. If you see veggies that are starting to look wilted, or wrinkly, try to use it up right away! Some good ways to do that are making a batch of soup and throwing in extra veggies. Bake muffins with apples that have passed their prime. Or just throw extra spinach or berries into the freezer to use for smoothies or baking later!
USE UP YOUR MAKEUP PRODUCTS
Along the same lines…use up the makeup, personal care products, cleaning products that you have before grabbing new ones! I never have more than one of a product on the go, and make a point to actually finish my products. So many people who have 5 different mascaras or a dozen eyeshadow palettes on the go which is so wasteful! If you truly don’t like a product, that’s a different story…and if that’s the case, just get rid of it. But stop purchasing new things just for the sake of trying them!
CLOTHING SWAP
Personally, I have zero luck thrift shopping for cloths. But I love the idea of setting up a clothing swap with friends! You could even turn it into a large scale event by hosting it at church, a yoga studio, or even just at a friends house. This would be a fun way to get rid of clothes you no longer love, find new treasures for free or begin a zero waste lifestyle!
REPURPOSE JARS
Repurpose jars from spaghetti sauce, salad dressings, etc. When I purchase products, I always try to purchase glass. I love that glass is a healthier alternative to plastic. Reusing your jars truly produces zero waste!
RECYCLE PROPERLY
If you don’t have a purpose for items like empty jars in your home. If they are recyclable, be sure to wash them very thoroughly before throwing them in the recycling. Recycling plants are very picky, and not cleaning your containers can get an entire batch of recycling thrown into the landfill! Make sure items are clean and dry before recycling! Be sure to review the recycling laws in your city to make sure you are taking full advantage of them!
STOP USING PAPER TOWELS
We’ve never used paper towels on a regular basis. We did use them when we were house training our dog, which I feel is a pretty valid excuse. However, as far as every day messes we just use a rag to clean things up! Paper towels are one of the top things in a family’s garbage can, and sooo easily avoidable! I know reusable paper towels are an option, but honestly all you need is rags or dish cloths which I’m sure you already have in your home! If you don’t…go through your closet and find an old t-shirt that you don’t wear, and cut it into rags!
STOP USING MAKEUP WIPES
Stop using makeup wipes for the exact reasons as paper towels! I just use my hands and/or a face cloth and it does just as good of a job, doesn’t have any harmful chemicals, fragrance, and is cheaper! Again, I’m sure you already have face cloths in your home. You really don’t need to buy any sort of fancy, reusable makeup wipes!
SAY NO TO BAGS
I know everyone knows about this, but do you actually practice it? When I worked at a grocery store, I had several people every day say “Oh no, I left my reusable bags at home/in the car”. I get it! I still do that sometimes. But have a system in place to help you remember your bags! Maybe that means always putting them back in your car immediately after unpacking groceries. Maybe they need to sit on the passenger seat so you always see them.
If you do forget them…really consider if a bag is necessary. If you purchased 2 items, you don’t need a bag. Honestly, even if you purchased 8 things at the grocery store, you can probably manage to carry them to your car! If you’re shopping in the mall and don’t have a bag, just get one at the first store and then skip the bag at the next stores and put your items all in one bags. So often, I awkwardly carry like 10 items to my car because I forgot my bag.
If this helped you with ideas to pursue a zero waste lifestyle, be sure to pin it for later or to share with a friend!
