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Deciding on a zero waste, or as close to it as you can manage, lifestyle doesn’t have to be a super dramatic, turn your life upside down change. Most of the effort goes into changing the way you think about and put consumerism into action. Everything that we bring into our lives and home is something that we are now taking responsibility for using and disposing of. Once you begin to see how much stuff we accumulate and where we can reduce the amount of stuff, it becomes easier and easier to turn away unnecessary waste.
Creating a zero waste home is not something you are going to be able to do overnight, or even a few months, but it is possible and families across the country are doing it right now. Even if you can’t totally embrace the lifestyle, there are five steps that you can begin taking today that bring you closer to a zero waste lifestyle and will have you seeing change and working even harder to keep a clean lifestyle.
Only Buy Reusable Items
One of the biggest sources of waste are one time use products that we purchase to save a buck and time. The thing is, if you sit down and add up how much those one time products cost us months and years down the road, the cost of buying durable, reusable products looks so much better. Try to keep purchases to items that can and will be reused, first for their intended purpose and when that no longer is possible, reuse in another way.
Recycle What You Can’t Reuse
When bringing products into your home, inspect all the wrapping and makeup of the products to determine if it can be recycled once you are done using it. If the product and its wrapping can be recycled once you are through using it, then it is a purchase you can feel good about making and bringing in to your zero waste home. Think outside of the box when it comes to recycling too, not everything is going to be able to be added to your curbside bin. Find ways to reuse fabric, recycle electronics with the city and offer still good items, but no longer useful to you, to friends and family.
Reduce Regular Purchases
Purchases that you have been used to making on a monthly or seasonal basis can be reduced if you change the way you shop for and use things. Items like clothing can and are made to last, but we tend to buy more clothing for cheaper prices in order to accumulate an overstuffed closet. Minimize the amount of clothing that each member of the household has, and begin purchasing clothes that is more durable and of better quality. Learning to make simple repairs to clothing is also a great way to extend the life of our clothes.
Buy In Bulk & Locally
Buying products in bulk, and locally, cuts down on a lot of the waste that you might bring back into your home. Being able to provide your own containers, bags and ties for purchases that you make leaves less garbage for you to deal with later. Not only is this switch god for your own budget, but it supports small, local grocers and farmers.
Start a Compost
The compost pile is basically a recycling bin for food and natural waste, only you get to see and maybe even use the result. A small compost bin can be used to collect kitchen scraps, vacuum cleaner dust and even hair.
What changes can you make to create a zero waste household?
Excellent post. Everyone should be striving to reduce their waste. I drove by McDonalds yesterday and saw the trash being placed in the dumpster. My first thought was OMG – McDonalds alone must fill a mile of landfill on a daily basis. That is truly horrific.
My husband and I were just talking about this and how we can cut down our waste as a family. One major thing we need to do is start recycling. Our town does not pick up recycling or over any type of service like that, you have to transport your recycling to various collection sites, which can be a pain, but I think as much waste as we, a family of six, have it’s time to just start doing it! Thanks for the great tips!
We reuse and repurpose a lot of thing in our home.
I can’t wait until we have a yard that’s big enough to compost, garden and grow our own vegetables.
I have a greenhouse and compost. It is amazing how much waste you save in doing that.
These are all great ideas. I really need to start a compost. I try to buy as much reusable stuff as possible too.
We recycle our plastic/cans/glass a few times a year. I have been wanting to start some sort of compost in our back yard . Thanks for the ideas.
As a person with an environmental science degree I have been doing as much as is humanly possible for many many years now. I do what I can, re use and recycle (if our city takes it!)-do not have a large apartment so can not buy in bulk nor do I have a garden or backyard for a compost pile. For those of you who can–you really should!
Recycling is great! We have mandatory recycling here for newspaper, glass, cardboard and plastics.
Great post. I try to recycle waste as much as possible
I am saving stuff up for my first terracycle shipment, but have to figure out recycling beyond that. They don’t collect at my home.
I buy my kids clothes consignment, but am going to start buying my own the same way again. Love the emphasis on reduction!