No matter your level of experience or resources available to you, there is always some way to reduce waste and improve sustainability. Don’t let lack of resources or capability stop you from trying!
These zero waste lifestyle tips for beginners are simple and will have a significant effect on their lives. Give it a try – remembering only to recycle when absolutely necessary!
1. Think Before You Buy
Zero waste lifestyles involve many changes to your daily routine, which may seem overwhelming at first. Instead, focus on changing one thing at a time to prevent feeling discouraged and overwhelmed.
Making a list of your favorite items, and switching them for items that create less waste (e.g., replacing paper towels with reusable cloths or water bottles). Consider purchasing second-hand items before investing in new ones; for instance, if you need a coffeemaker but can’t find one without packaging – perhaps asking a friend or neighbor who might have one might help save both money and waste!
If you want to go even further, consider installing a home compost system in your house. Not only will it reduce food waste but it will also lessen energy used during manufacturing of new products.
Start composting today by investing in a worm bin, bokashi bin or just a large compost heap and divert household food waste from landfills. There are plenty of resources online that can help get you going with home composting systems; to further decrease food waste join a food rescue organization or find an app which connects producers of food waste with those in need of their produce.
2. Buy Second-Hand
Finding your motivation to adopt a zero waste lifestyle may come from any number of sources – perhaps you are tired of seeing trash littered along hiking trails and beaches, wanting to create a better world for your children, or perhaps you simply hate filling your garbage can each week. No matter the motivation for making the change, finding one strong “why” will keep you on the journey even when times get tough or inconvenient.
One effective way to reduce waste is through second-hand shopping. By purchasing these clothing items second-hand, not only are you saving money and helping save clothing that would have otherwise been discarded but you may find unique, stylish pieces you cannot find elsewhere! Zero wasters often turn to this tactic as a means of cutting waste levels further and finding unique, fashionable pieces you won’t find elsewhere.
Cookware, electronics and furniture can all be purchased second-hand to help reduce waste – it may even be easier than trying to locate brand new versions!
Shopping bulk helps reduce waste by cutting down on plastic and cardboard packaging waste, but this doesn’t have to mean being a Costco member – many grocery stores now offer bulk sections that allow customers to bring in their own reusable containers to be filled (just be sure that you weigh first!). Another alternative would be shopping locally; doing this reduces shipping needs while meeting food needs faster.
3. Compost Everything
If you are committed to living a zero waste lifestyle, you must ensure that all food scraps, paper products and plastic containers end up where they belong – this means learning how to compost.
Setting up a small compost bin in your kitchen or hiring a commercial service are just two methods for returning nutrients back into the earth’s ecosystem. Or you could drop off waste at an urban garden or community green space for composting as part of returning nutrients back into nature.
Avoid purchasing products with greenwashed marketing, yet do not truly benefit the planet. This practice is known as greenwashing – click here for more information about it.
One effective way to reduce waste is to shop at farmer’s markets with reusable bags to reduce plastic use. You could also bring along your own utensils and flatware so as to save on purchasing disposable ones from stores. When dining out, choose restaurants offering real dishes and request no plastic straws or utensils as options.
Recycle only when necessary – refuse, reduce and reuse are best! Recycling should only ever be seen as a last resort and should never replace attempts at waste reduction or avoidance altogether. Keep in mind that recycling can often end up in landfills or oceans, so do everything possible to avoid turning to recycling by following the first three Rs first!
4. Grow Your Own Food
Farming food yourself reduces waste significantly. Not only can it lower your carbon footprint, but you’ll save money and avoid food that might otherwise go bad before it ever reached you in stores. Plus, everything from roots to stems (except strawberries, celery and cucumbers which contain higher concentrations of pesticide residue ) can be used in making delicious fresh meals!
Growing food at home is often less costly than purchasing prepackaged goods from grocery stores, and there are numerous resources available to beginners looking to start growing their own food, including gardening forums, local gardening clubs, and community gardens.
Start Composting Now: All it takes to begin diverting food scraps and paper products away from landfill is investing in a compost bin – whether that means using a worm bin, bokashi bin or even just an ordinary garden compost heap – is to purchase or build one in your yard or backyard. They provide nutrients-rich mulch for plants.
Purchase reusable kitchen ware: Choose plates, bowls, cups and flatware made of recycled or biodegradable materials when possible – such as plates, bowls, cups and flatware made of these materials will help save the planet! Rather than plastic straws and napkins there are now stainless steel alternatives to choose from; when out and about be sure to bring along a set of reusable flatware as well as cloth napkin and water bottle in order to reduce disposables from fast-food restaurants and cafes.
5. Invest in Sustainable Products
Sustainable products are key components of living a zero waste lifestyle. In addition to helping reduce trash output, investing in them also reduces demand for items that require massive energy input to produce. Utilizing renewable resources instead of producing and recycling materials that end up becoming landfills are much more eco-friendly alternatives.
Many who embrace a zero-waste lifestyle find they can live without some products they once thought essential, helping to reduce overconsumption and save money in the process. Utilize what you already own before purchasing something new to avoid unnecessary wasteful spending and save money!
When searching for sustainable products, certain things are key. When dining out or shopping for groceries, choose stainless steel utensils and straws over plastic ones; when buying groceries use cotton or mesh net produce bags instead. Also look out for locally produced goods which will likely contain less plastic packaging while supporting local economies.
Zero waste lifestyle changes require time. They don’t demand perfection; rather they focus on incremental steps that add up over time. While implementing these tips, remember to go slow and stay true to yourself and why living a zero waste life matters so much to you. Living it may prove challenging when friends or family don’t share these values; therefore it is vitally important that you remind yourself why living this lifestyle matters to you so much.
6. Keep the Conversation Going
Zero-waste principles go beyond recycling more, they also encourage refusing, reducing and upcycling. So if you’re uncertain if supporting that local brand with its plastic bags and paper napkins is a wise decision, talk with them first about their packaging to understand their stance on them and find out their views.
Transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle is both environmentally and time efficient; rather than spending hours a day taking out trash and tidying, zero waste living allows individuals to spend more time relaxing on their couch or playing games with family.
Starting your journey toward zero waste begins by first understanding your existing waste generation, and finding ways to decrease it. One easy way is examining both trash and recycling bins regularly for what is going into both, noting what practices work and which need tweaking, perhaps using old newspapers to clean windows or upcycling cans into DIY bags with old newspapers as cleaning pads or using them for upcycling projects (using recycled cans as DIY bags can also count). By keeping such habits and expanding them further you can achieve a more sustainable lifestyle while helping the environment as well as saving both time and money!
