How to Get Started with Zero Waste Living
Choose better and less packaging to eliminate superfluous waste.
Zero waste is a movement that has gained popularity in recent years as people strive to reduce the amount of trash they generate through everyday consumption. The ultimate goal is to produce no trash whatsoever, but as that's challenging in today's world, zero waste can also refer to individual, standalone efforts to replace disposable products with reusable ones.
Reducing one's waste is a noble aspiration these days because the quantity of trash being generated globally is staggering – and very little is recycled. The average American produces 4.5 pounds of waste daily.1Estimates of plastic recycling rates range from 9% to 14%, but of that a mere 2% is recycled effectively, meaning it's actually turned into something that's as useful as its original form.2
Bea Johnson, the author of a book called "Zero Waste Home" (which is widely regarded as kicking off the modern zero waste movement) describes the mantra as "Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot." The most important thing is to refuse offers of over-packaged items and superfluous junk that you'll then have to deal with in the waste stream. "Refuse" is a powerful act of protest that sends a message to the world about where your priorities lie. "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" are standard phrases, followed by "Rot," which refers to composting. Buy products and packaging that will biodegrade at the end of their use and leave no trace of their existence; plastic does not readily biodegrade and does not fall into this camp.
There are several ways to embrace zero waste living. Here are some beginner-friendly tips.
Shop With Reusable Containers and Bags
Learn How to Make Things From Scratch
Buy Items With the Least Amount of Packaging
Wean Yourself Off Disposable Products
Create a Zero-Waste Kit to Carry With You
Compost Your Food Scraps
Strive for Progress, Not Perfection
Zero waste living takes a bit more work and planning to execute, but it pays back in money saved and waste eliminated. It's deeply satisfying to see your trash bin shrinking (and your compost heap growing) and to know that you're doing your part to keep the Earth clean and healthy.
Excerpts from Treehugger Newsletter Jan. 24, 2023
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LYTKOWSKI. "Think Twice Before You Throw Out Your Plastic Water Bottle". Dumpsters.Com, 2020.
"The Story Of Plastic". The Story Of Plastic, 2020,
Hello
ReplyDeleteIt is a challenge to live waste free. We do our best. Take care, have a wonderful week!
I haven't really tried, but I do have some times with a little less weight to my weekly trash bag.
DeleteI've managed to do three of those things.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Marcia. A good incentive for me.
Delete...zero waste is tough, I'll settle for reduced waste.
ReplyDeleteI think only those people who want to publish their story are able to go zero waste. Yes indeed, reduced waste is very worthwhile!
DeleteThe amount of waste that we produce is a bit embarrassing even though we recycle pretty well.
ReplyDeleteWeekly I carry out one huge garbage bag, mainly with food containers. Bi-weekely I have the recycled bag full of more kinds of food containers. I can't practice what I preach at all!
DeleteGood information.
ReplyDeleteThanks William.
DeleteThat sounds like a good resource. They have made plastic bags illegal here in Ontario. We must take our own bags. Same with plastic straws. We use metal water bottles, too.
ReplyDeleteThe tricky part is wrapped food. Our butcher does use paper, but not the big stores.
The stores have made it impossible to go plastic free. Even salad greens are wrapped up in plastic. I think it ruins the taste. I used to like frozen vegetables when they came in cardboard, but now they are wrapped in plastic.
ReplyDeleteYou must be sensitive enough to taste the gas that the greens are packed in in the plastic bags...it's what keeps them fresh a bit longer, but when they're opened and regular air hits them, bye bye. My freezer burns everything, so I don't use frozen things much. Need to get landlord onto that soon.
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