18 Quick Ideas to Help You Live Zero-Waste Now

Jaceybonavia/ Lifestyle, Zero Waste

This month I challenge you to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle by creating as little trash as possible!

What Does Zero-Waste Mean?

Zero-waste means generating little waste.

Everybody creates some waste. In our society, there is no way around it. Even Bea Johnson’s (@zerowastehome) family generates a jar of trash each year, and she is the queen of zero-waste.

How Can I Reduce My Waste?

You can reduce your waste by employing the six Rs of sustainability: rethink/refuse, reduce, reuse/repair, repurpose, recycle, and rot. In particular, reuse is exceptionally beneficial for creating less waste.

You can often find reusable items to use instead of things that manufacturers designed to be discarded, which we call “disposables.” We should probably not consider much of anything disposable. (There are obvious exceptions. Somebody cannot safely reuse items like condoms and specific hospital tools.)

Unfortunately, many of the zero-waste options are more expensive than the single-use items they replace. If some of these swaps are out of your reach right now, that is okay! It is not your fault. We need significant political, economic, and social changes so sustainable options are accessible to all.

Even if you can afford to make several swaps, use up what you already have first. Also, don’t feel like you immediately have to make all of these changes. Go at a pace and to a level that feels comfortable and sustainable for you. Even one seemingly small change will make a difference.

Please note that many of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these items through the affiliate links on this page, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you to help keep this site running.

Zero-Waste Kitchen

1. Buy bulk food in reusable containers like glass jars and cloth bulk bags rather than buying food in disposable packaging (if possible).

I love Outpost Natural Foods and The Glass Pantry–two options near me. You can find bulk food near you using Bea Johnson’s Bulk Finder.

Some food is cheaper in bulk, but often the stores that sell in bulk have more expensive items than other stores. If you don’t have an affordable option near you, don’t worry; you can still do so much. Read on.

2. Use ceramic dishes (plates, bowls) rather than single-use plastic plates and bowls.

3. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.

4. Use cloth rags instead of paper towels.

5. Use a compost pail to collect organic scraps (e.g., apple cores) instead of the trash can.

6. Use glass snapware, metal tiffins, wax wraps, silicone food storage bags, or cloth snack/sandwich bags instead of disposable plastic baggies.

7. Use glassware instead of plastic party cups.

8. Buy unpackaged food at farmer’s markets when possible.

Zero-Waste Bathroom

9. Use a bidet and family cloth (aka toilet unpaper or reusable toilet paper) instead of traditional toilet paper. If that sounds creepy to you, try toilet paper rolls made from recycled or tree-free materials and that aren’t wrapped in plastic if possible.

10. Use a cloth handkerchief instead of paper tissues, like Kleenex.

10. Use a metal nail file instead of disposable emery boards.

11. Use a metal safety razor instead of disposable plastic razors.

12. Use reusable menstrual products, like a menstrual cup, cloth pads, or period panties, instead of traditional single-use pads and tampons.

Zero-Waste in Other Rooms

13. Donate clothing and other items that are in good condition that you no longer want instead of throwing them in the garbage.

14. Reuse tattered clothing as rags for cleaning. You can also donate textile scraps to many thrift stores for recycling if you don’t want to keep them. Some animal shelters may accept fabric items, too.

15. Use reusable metal paper clips instead of using staples.

Zero-Waste Out and About

16. Use cloth bags instead of plastic produce bags and plastic bulk bags.

17. Use cloth tote bags rather than plastic grocery and shopping bags.

18. Use a reusable metal water bottle instead of a single-use plastic water bottle.

Learn More About Zero-Waste Living

I only included zero-waste swaps and practices that I use because I cannot recommend things I have not tried. Because I am relatively new to this, this list is not exhaustive. I recommend two books: Bea Johnson’s Zero Waste Home and Kathryn Kellogg’s 100 Ways to Go Zero Waste.

May #WildSustainabilityChallenge

Adopt a zero-waste lifestyle by creating as little trash as possible!

You can do it! Let us know how the challenge is going in the comments below, Facebook, or Instagram! Tag me @wildsustainability, and use the hashtag #WildSustainabilityChallenge.

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