Did you know that the average American produces over 4.5 pounds of waste every single day? That’s over 1600 pounds per person annually!
That’s a lot of waste! And it’s harming our environment by polluting our land, air and water.
Our oceans are being contaminated as a result of plastics breaking down into microplastics. Eventually, those microplastics enter the food chain! Yikes!
Our landfills are releasing methane as well as toxic chemicals that can leach into soil and groundwater.
And the burning of our waste leads to air pollution, which can eventually impact our health.
I hope you realize that more than ever, we need to take steps towards a zero-waste lifestyle.
What is a Zero-Waste Lifestyle?
A zero-waste lifestyle is a way of living that aims to send as little trash as possible to landfills and incnerators.
In order to do so, we will need to make smarter choices that are aligned with the 5Rs of zero waste. So we need to:
- Refuse things we don’t need
- Reduce our consumption
- Reuse items
- Recycle
- Rot organic waste at home (allow food scraps to rot in a compost heap)
Imagine what our world would be like if we adopted a zero-waste lifestyle.
Our streets, oceans, and landfills would be nearly free of trash, and products would be designed to last or be fully recyclable.
That would be amazing! So let’s get into ways that you can start this lifestyle.
10 Ways To Adopt A Zero-Waste Lifestyle
Here are 10 ways you can adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. You can start by adopting just 1 way on this list.
As you get more comfortable, you can add more ways to your lifestyle. I have organized this list into beginner, intermediate and advanced ways so you can start where you’re comfortable.
Beginner Ways to Adopt a Zero-Waste Lifestyle
Here are simple swaps or habits you can adopt right away with minimal effort or investment.
1) Switch to Reusables
When I talk about reusables, I am referring to water bottles, bags and travel mugs. You can start small by replacing one disposable item at a time.
- So, try carrying a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones.
- Grab a few cloth shopping bags and keep them in your handbag or car.
- If you often buy tea or coffee in the morning, you can purchase a travel mug.
- You can even consider purchasing metal straws.
By switching to reusables, you will send less paper cups, straws and plastic bags to the landfill. Remember reusables often last for years so they will keep a lot of trash out of landfills.
2) Go Paperless
If it is possible, try going paperless. This may look like requesting that your utility bills be sent electronically. And this can be done online for some places.
You can use your phone for grocery lists and notes instead of paper. And if you can, ask for e-receipts when shopping.
This will help you to have less clutter around the house, which could also mean less stress! You will also have fewer piles of paper to organize or shred. Additionally, you’ll save trees and reduce water pollution from paper production.
3) Cook at Home
I know that not everyone likes to cook but you can start with just one or two homemade meals each week.
Make sure you plan these meals ahead so you have the ingredients you need. Try simple recipes with few ingredients, like one-pot meals, which are perfect for beginners.
You can also keep some easy backup meals in your freezer for busy days instead of resorting to takeout.
Cooking will help you to save money, and it tends to be healthier than takeout. Did you know that the average takeout meal can cost 5 times more than cooking at home?
And of course, you will be sending less plastic containers and utensils to the trash.
4) Practise Conscious Gift-Giving
One of the ways you can send less trash to the landfill is to give experiences instead of stuff! For example, you give:
- Massage gift certificate
- Concert or theatre tickets
- Cooking classes
- Subscription to audio books
And if you still prefer to give physical gifts, choose items that are practical and will actually get used. You can give things like:
- Homemade treats
- Re-usable coffee cup
- Plants like succulents
- Homemade cosmetics like body butter
One of the good things about experience gifts is that they create lasting memories and stronger relationships. And sometimes, zero-waste gifts tend to be more meaningful, so people appreciate and use them.
Intermediate Ways to Adopt a Zero-Waste Lifestyle
Here are some ways to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle that require a bit more thought, time, or planning but are still very doable.
5) Conduct a Waste Audit
You can do this by simply placing a sheet of paper by your trash can for a week. Each time you throw something away, write it down.
Then, at the end of the week, look for patterns. What do you discard of the most? Is it lots of food packaging or paper?
Identify your top 3 waste sources.
This will help you to know where you need to change your habits the most. You can’t fix what you don’t measure.
6) Practise Conscious Consumption
Before you buy anything, stop and ask yourself: “Do I really need this?”
It’s best to wait 24 hours before purchasing anything that is not essential. And remember to choose quality over quantity.
You want things that will last longer and higher-quality items tend to work better and you tend to be more satisfied with them.
Also look for items with minimal packaging when shopping. Remember the goal is to send less things to the trash.
I want you to keep in mind that the less we buy, the fewer resources are extracted from the earth.
7) Shop Package-Free
One way to do this is to buy food in bulk. So, I want you to start looking for bulk food stores in your area where you can fill your own containers. This could even be in some of your local supermarkets.
Normally, you can get items like rice, pasta, beans, or snacks, so start with those.
You can also shop at farmers’ markets, where food often comes with less packaging.
One of the benefits of shopping in bulk is that it is often cheaper per pound, so you will save some money.
And of course, less packaging means less plastic pollution in oceans and landfills. We don’t want microplastics in the food chain because that may end up on our plates.
Advanced Ways to Adopt a Zero-Waste Lifestyle
Here are some actions that require more consistent effort, knowledge, or habit change.
8) Make Your Cleaning Products
You can start by making an all-purpose cleaner. To do this, just mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. And you can add a few drops of lemon essential oil if you want a nicer smell.
If you need something to scrub, you can use baking soda. So you can use this for your sinks and tubs.
Make sure you store your mixtures in glass bottles or reuse old plastic spray bottles you already have.
This practice will help you to save money because it’s way cheaper. Plus, they are safer, especially if you have children or pets, since they don’t have harsh chemicals.
You’ll also bring fewer plastic bottles into your home, which means…..less plastic bottles will end up in the trash. #zerowastelifestyle
9) Repair and Repurpose
If you have clothes that have small holes or missing buttons, you can fix them at home. Just watch some YouTube videos and follow along.
You can do the same for some of the broken things around your house. Again, watch some YouTube videos and follow along.
And if you have old T-shirts, turn them into cleaning rags. You can even repurpose your glass jars from pasta sauce or salsa and turn them into food storage containers.
These things can help you to save money as they extend the life of items you already bought. Plus learning a skill can give you a nice self-esteem boost and sense of accomplishment.
Remember, every item kept in use means one less thing in the landfill.
10) Start Composting
You can start this journey with a small countertop compost bin for fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells. If you live in an apartment, you can get a worm bin, which tends to be compact and odor-free if you maintain it properly.
Composting is great zero-waste habit because it helps to reduce methane emissions from landfills since that’s where you would be sending your food scraps.
And if you’re into plants or gardening, you’ll create rich soil for your plants.
Takeaway
A zero-waste lifestyle is not about perfection. It’s a journey, not an overnight transformation, so you have to take it step by step.
You can start this journey by adopting just 1 or 2 ways from this list. Start small then you can gradually adopt new ways to your lifestyle.
And eventually, those small steps will get you closer to the goal. Remember small changes lead to big impact.
And there is strength in numbers, so encourage your friends and family members to join you.
You can start by sharing your favourite zero-waste habit in the comments and on social media. Then you can encourage others to share their favourite one as well.
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