6 Simple, Effective Tips to Embrace a Zero Waste Lifestyle
If you’re in charge of taking out your home’s trash and recycling, you’ve probably noticed that you can produce a lot of trash on a daily basis, especially if you have a big household. Despite our best efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle, the notion of reaching “zero waste” can seem daunting — even impossible. Yet, with the right habits and intentions, you can drastically reduce the amount of waste your household tosses in the bin.
Read on for guidelines and tips to help even the busiest homes move toward zero waste.
First, what is zero waste?
The term "zero waste" lacks a universal definition, as different organizations interpret it in their own ways.1 The Zero Waste International Alliance defines it as “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.” 2 What does that mean in basic terms? Essentially, “zero waste” means contributing no waste to the environment through packaging, production, or consumption.
Why is zero waste important?
Although challenging, striving for zero waste is essential for the health of our planet. All of our waste contributes to the creation of landfills, which result in serious issues such as groundwater contamination, the release of harmful methane gas that contributes to global warming, and health risks for nearby residents. 3, 4, 5 On a larger scale, the more we discard, the more we need to replace — leading to greater depletion of natural resources, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and further environmental harm. By consuming less, we can significantly reduce the strain on the planet.
Learn the zero waste mindset: The 5 R's of sustainability
Adopting a zero waste lifestyle is challenging for anyone. Luckily, there are a lot of great organizations, communities, and individuals paving the way. One of the most important things to learn when it comes to zero waste is the “5 R’s” of sustainability — an expanded, modern take on the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle), which you may have learned growing up.
The 5 R’s of sustainability are:
Refuse: Avoid using any product or service that’s known to be wasteful.
Reduce: Minimize the amount of waste-producing products and services you use.
Reuse: Choose products that can be used again and again.
Repurpose: Upcycle or rethink how an item can be used rather than tossing it out.
Recycle: Choose recyclable materials and recycle items through appropriate centers.
In some circles, “repurpose” is swapped with “rot” instead, which stands for composting organic waste. This more extensive list is centered on stopping waste before it's created by refusing what we don’t need and using what we already have for as long as possible.
6 simple tips to go zero waste
1. Use reusables
Reusable alternatives exist for almost every single-use plastic item you can imagine. Start by assessing your home to identify single-use items, then explore reusable options to replace them. Great examples include water bottles, shopping bags, produce bags, straws, and paper towels.
2. Refuse single-use items whenever possible
Stocking your kitchen with reusables is a great first step, but single-use items can easily sneak in during everyday activities like grabbing coffee, grocery shopping, or ordering takeout. Make it a habit to refuse single-use plastics by bringing your own reusable items, such as cups, straws, and utensils. These small, consistent efforts can significantly reduce your plastic waste over time.
3. Shop bulk and refill stores
Instead of buying a small bag of your favorite trail mix or a single bottle of hand soap, try purchasing in bulk. This simple shift can greatly reduce packaging waste. It’s not just about heading to Costco — many zero-waste grocery stores and local co-ops offer bulk bins filled with grains, coffee, and other essentials. You can bring your own reusable containers to fill.
4. Support sustainable businesses
As you adopt a zero-waste mindset, some stores may not align with your values. Look for businesses committed to reducing waste, such as B Corporations and companies that offer plastic-neutral programs or plastic-free products.
5. Buy used
A great way to reduce waste is by purchasing used or donated items. Whether it’s clothing or electronics, buying secondhand helps minimize the production of new items and reduces the consumption of raw materials. You can even check out “buy nothing” groups on social media sites, where you can trade free items with neighbors.
6. Consider home composting
Composting is excellent for the environment and an ideal way to manage food and garden scraps.6 Even if your neighborhood doesn’t have a local composting service, there are great home composting solutions available, perfect for even the smallest kitchens.
Zero waste is for everyone
While it may take some time to truly reach zero waste, all of us can work hard to reduce the amount of waste we create. By changing a few habits and incorporating simple tricks, we can all have a day where our trash sits empty. Keep in mind that every small step counts, and even imperfect progress toward reducing waste can help us all move toward a zero waste future.
Sources:
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). How communities have defined zero waste. Retrieved December 6, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/transforming-waste-tool/how-communities-have-defined-zero-waste
2 Zero Waste International Alliance. (n.d.). Zero waste definition. Retrieved December 6, 2024, from https://zwia.org/zero-waste-definition/
3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2015, August). Municipal solid waste in the United States: 2013 facts and figures (EPA Report No. 530-R-15-002). https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-08/documents/mgwc-gwc1.pdf
4 SL Recycling. (n.d.). What are the negative effects of landfill? SL Recycling. Retrieved December 6, 2024, from https://www.slrecyclingltd.co.uk/what-are-the-negative-effects-of-landfill/
5 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2014, March). *Health effects of residence near hazardous waste landfill sites* (EPA Report No. 540-R-14-001). https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/health_effects_of_residence_near_hazardous_waste_landfill_sites_3v.pdf
6 Rominger, A. (2020, June 29). The 15 benefits of composting for the environment, the economy, & our communities. Grow Ensemble. https://growensemble.com/benefits-of-composting/
