1) Buy in Bulk
"Buying in bulk" means bringing your own jars and carrying containers to bulk stores, filling these containers with food from dispensers, and weighing them to determine the price. Buying in bulk is not only cheaper, but the items are often fresher and are more various in type. Most notably, buying in bulk can help you on your quest to producing less waste. Instead of purchasing goods from the store that need plastic wrapping and containers that are eventually thrown away, buying in bulk requires jars and reusable containers only, thus eliminating the waste we produce from shopping.
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2) Composting
Composting in the home is actually much more simple than it appears to be. If you live in an area with a large enough space, it is easy to build a small box in your backyard with soil, twigs/straw, and organic material. If you do not have the space, small compost boxes can be put in windowsills of apartments. If the compost is regularly attended to, it will not emit an odor. Composting is an essential part of living the Zero Waste Lifestyle. Composting in the home can reduce total house waste by over 30%, and is beneficial to the environment as it is much safer than chemical fertilizers. Finally, with this waste being composted and creating healthier soil, it reduces the amout of waste in landfills, which is beneficial to the atmosphere and soil quality of our ecosystems.
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3) Repurpose Clothes
Have a shirt that is worn and overused? A pair of pants that are way too small? Do not throw them away! There are millions of ways to repurpose clothing, whether it be turning that old shirt into a dress, or converting that small pair of pants into a scarf. Rather than contributing to your local landfill, find ways to reuse the materials you already have.
Ideas for repurposing clothing: http://www.listinspired.com/45-ways-to-reuse-and-restyle-your-old-clothes/ https://www.pinterest.com/explore/old-clothes/ http://www.lifebuzz.com/upcycle-clothes/ |
4) Zero Waste Cooking
This tip is associated with buying in bulk. Instead of cooking with disposable materials, cook with more fruits, vegetables, and bulk goods from your reusable jars. Not only will this reduce waste, but it will also promote a healthier lifestyle as you will now be eating more organic and less processed food. Zero waste cooking will also involve abstaining from ordering food, which can create healthier eating habits as well. Overall, the waste from this food can be composted, thus nourishing your body will nourish the earth's soil as well!
Zero waste recipes: http://www.goingzerowaste.com/recipes-1/ http://www.zerowastehome.com/2011/02/meal-planning/ |
5) Bring Your Own Bag
Instead of taking a paper or plastic bag from the grocery store when you shop, bring your own reusable bag. This will reduce the amount of plastic waste that accumulates in landfills, and reduce the amount of waste you create individually. Also, the amount of plastic in the ocean will be reduced as well, which benefits marine animals who are currently having their habitat destroyed by plastic waste. It takes plastic over 450 years to decompose, therefore it is clearly unsustainable to accumulate plastic waste. By bringing our own bags when we shop, we can eliminate another large factor of waste production in our lifestyles.
More information about bringing your own bag: http://www.peta.org/living/humane-home/top-five-reasons-take-shopping-bags-store/ |