Artile Overview: Zero waste changes that are easy to make to reduce your impact on the planet.
Living a zero-waste lifestyle is something anyone can strive for because it isn’t about perfection or not sending anything to the landfill. It is about doing your best to make zero waste changes to reduce your impact on the world.
A zero-waste lifestyle is attainable because every change you make positively impacts our planet. The best part is the changes are simple to implement into your normal routine.
What is the purpose of a zero-waste lifestyle?
According to the EPA, in 2019, the average American generated about 4.9 pounds of waste every day. That equates to 1,788.5 pounds of waste per year.
Making a few small changes towards a zero-waste lifestyle can drastically reduce the pounds of waste you produce, which means landfill space will last longer than the predicted ~20 years currently estimated across the United States.
Can we live with zero waste?
The truth is that no one can be 100% zero waste, but we can strive to reduce our waste to help save our planet. There is no Planet B, so doing what we can is essential to our survival.
What are the five concepts of zero waste?
Let’s briefly discuss the five concepts of zero waste, also known as the 5Rs of Zero Waste.
1 // Reduce
The first thing you can do is reduce your consumption. Stop using shopping as a pastime activity or hobby. Only buy what you need and nothing more.
2 // Reuse
Opt for things that can be reused, like cloth napkins in lieu of paper towels, to not only reduce waste but also expenses.
3 // Repurpose
Have something that is no longer useful for its original intent? See if you can find another use for it. For example, an old shirt can be cut up into tissue-size pieces and used as tissues. This example not only saves an old shirt from the landfill, but it saves your nose, too!
4 // Recycle
Things like paper and some plastics can be recycled, which means they can be created into the same product or a similar one. Make sure to look up local and big box store programs to see what all you can recycle versus toss in the trash.
5 // Rot
Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste, which we will discuss later. The important thing here is to realize that anyone with any kind of living situation can compost versus toss organic waste into the trash.
5 Easy Zero Waste Changes Anyone Can Make
1 // Replace single-use with reusable options
This is where I believe everyone should start because it is the easiest switch to make, and it puts a large dent in your waste.
By switching out all the single-use items in your home for reusable options, you are also upgrading with better quality items, which creates a better experience.
A few of my favorite swaps include:
- Paper towels for cloth napkins
- Paper plates for real plates
- Cotton balls swapped out for reusable cotton rounds
- A plastic water bottle is upgraded to a reusable water bottle
- Makeup wipes for reusable cloth wipes
- Plastic bags for reusable bags
- Throw away or plastic containers for a reusable containers
- Plastic toothbrush for bamboo toothbrush
- Click here for more ideas
These are just a few of the swaps you can make to reduce waste within your home.
All of them feel like upgrades because you replace low-quality single-use items with things that will last you for years.
Not only do you get an upgrade, but you also save a lot of money.
2 // Purchase items locally
Do you know where your meat or produce is sourced? Most of the time, it isn’t local, which means that a lot of resources are used to get food on your table.
By connecting with your local farmers market, you support reducing resources to get food on your table, are able to find better quality foods and support your local community.
Connecting with local farmers allows you to ask all about how the animals were treated, about their diet, and really anything your heart desires. The same goes for produce.
You get to support locals and put quality food on the table. There aren’t any guessing games here.
The best part is that you can find some very creative foods to try that you won’t find in a supermarket due to recipes being handed down by that farmer’s ancestors.
It is a real treat to connect with the local market.
Another way to support your local community is to not order online if you can find these things locally.
Again, transportation resources are significantly reduced when you source things you need locally, and oftentimes, you can find some pretty good savings.
3 // Compost and recycle
Another finding by the EPA is that as much as 50% of our waste is organic, compostable waste.
By composting food waste instead of tossing it in the trash, you can potentially reduce your waste by half, which is a huge win for a small change!
Different areas provide different programs, so be sure to do your research and make every effort possible to stop tossing things in the trash that are still useful.
Composting has become more accessible in the past couple of years, which means you can compost anywhere you live.
Here are a few options available:
- Lomi Composting
- Kitchen Counter Composting
- Compost Pile or Compost Bin in the backyard/garden
- Curbside Recycling/Composting
If these don’t work, you can put your food scraps in a bowl in the freezer until you can go to the farmers market to give to a farmer.
You can also connect with one specific farmer and arrange for meetups for the off-season.
The important thing with recycling is to do your best. Not all single-use plastics are recycled in all areas, so give yourself grace and do what you can.
Check with your local charities and homeless shelters to see if there are any materials they use that you normally throw in the trash.
My homeless shelter collects lint and toilet paper rolls to hand out as fire starters to the homeless to keep them warm during the winter. Before knowing that, I simply tossed both of those items, and now they are helping someone.
Places I currently recycle include:
- Target – plastic and glass bottles, ink cartridges, old tech, and plastic bags
- Walmart – soft, stretchy plastic, including plastic bags, plastic wrap, packaging, etc.
- Best Buy – old tech, batteries, cables, etc.
Here’s a great resource for finding recycling options near you: earth911.com
4 // Purchase secondhand where possible
Zero waste changes aren’t just for reducing waste but also helping to conserve using new resources when possible.
By shopping secondhand, you’re helping the planet keep vital resources it needs. Whether you shop secondhand for clothing, furniture, kitchen items, etc., it helps.
Did you know that one cotton t-shirt needs about 2,700 liters of water just to produce the cotton? [source]
So each time you purchase a secondhand cotton t-shirt, you are helping the planet keep 2,700 liters of water. Amazing right?
Imagine the impact you will have when your entire wardrobe consists of only secondhand pieces or when you choose the used furniture you need for your home. It doesn’t take much to make a big impact.
5 // Have a zero waste kit in all of your vehicles
When you’re on the go, it is easy to accumulate a lot of trash. However, when you have a few essential items in your vehicle at all times, you can reduce this waste significantly.
Items I recommend for your zero-waste kit:
- Stainless Steel Straw
- Reusable water bottle
- Silverware – spoon, fork, and knife
- Reusable shopping bags and produce bags
- Cloth napkins or save any napkins you acquire
- Food storage containers
Each of these items saves you from items that aren’t recyclable or necessary in the first place.
Having them with you at all times enables you to refuse waste.
Related Post: How To Create A Zero Waste Kit For On The Go
Bonus Zero Waste Tip
Don’t purchase things just because companies market them as zero-waste or zero-waste options.
If you already have something that will work as a replacement, use that item.
For example, you don’t necessarily need an on-the-go silverware set. You can grab them from your current silverware drawer and wrap them in a cloth napkin.
I have reusable plastic straws that I purchased years before I learned that the planet was in trouble, and I use them all of the time. They work great, too!
QUICK LINKS FOR ZERO WASTE TIPS
- 101 Ways to Reduce Waste
- The Ultimate Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps Guide
- Zero-Waste Cooking: What it is And How to do it
- 5 Zero Waste Blogs that Will Inspire Your Low Waste Lifestyle
Final Thoughts
Zero waste means that you use the things you have until they are no longer useful, and then you dispose of them consciously.
Making these changes isn’t difficult. Just be sure you start slowly.
Once you conquer one zero-waste change, move on to the next thing you can implement.
Transitioning slowly to ensure these easy zero-waste changes stick is more effective than trying to make all of the changes at once, becoming overwhelmed, and giving up entirely.
Sustainable changes happen over time, so make a plan for implementing these easy changes, then move on to other areas of your life.
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