Anyone Can Create A Zero Waste Home and Save Big by Being Less Trashy
Why not enjoy the health, economic, and environmental benefits of creating a zero-waste home? Everyone can enjoy the benefits of a zero-waste home—especially you and your family.
Ok, I admit creating a zero-waste home is unattainable for many people. Actual zero waste is not the goal. The benefits realized from creating a zero-waste home are what we seek.
There are clear health, economic, and environmental benefits that are easy to achieve.
Just practice the simple tips I use to enjoy the benefits of creating a zero-waste home. LOL. Give this process a try. Reaching these goals is less painful than most people think.
Creating a zero-waste home is not difficult. All you have to do is be less trashy 😉.
Zero Waste Home: Being Less Trashy
Reducing waste is the foundation of a zero-waste home. Follow these tips to become less trashy on your path to reaching your zero-waste home goal.
Cook More Meals
Cooking more of your own meals saves waste. Restaurant and fast food waste in the United States is alarming. Try not to contribute to the problem, save money, and create healthier meals.
Buy In Bulk
Bulk buying creates less waste and saves you money. Be careful not to overbuy. Be cognizant of shelf life and storage issues. You don’t want to make additional waste.
De-clutter your Cleaning Supplies
Do you really need a different cleaner for every surface and item you own? NO! Try to incorporate natural cleaning supplies. They have multiple uses and clean multiple surfaces. This will also help reduce waste.
Edit Traditional Mail
Use online bill pay and decline paper bills by mail when possible. Ask your letter carrier not to deliver junk mail (this works sometimes). Try these services to limit junk mail: optoutprescreen.org, dmachoice.org, and catalogchoice.org.
Reusables
Reuse, don’t buy new, when possible. Bring reusable bags to the grocery store. Many people have a drawer in their kitchen filled with empty plastic shopping bags. A few reusable bags will eliminate that drawer and free up space in your kitchen.
Exchange disposables for reusables whenever possible. Use cloth rags and napkins instead of paper towels, bottles, and similar items.
Swap disposables for reusables (e.g., handkerchiefs, refillable bottles, reusable bags, cloth napkins, rags). You might find you don’t miss paper towels and instead enjoy the savings.
Avoid Freebies
Free does not always equate to good. We seem to be pre-wired to jump at a free offer, whether we need it or not. Do you really need the free stuff given at conferences, fairs, and other gatherings? No! Where will you put it?
Other Zero Waste Home Tips
Now that the heavy lifting is done and you are generating less waste, use these tips to help you on your path to a zero-waste home.
Declutter Your Home
You can’t be successful on your journey to create a zero-waste home if your home is cluttered. Use these Home Decluttering Tips, or create a decluttering system that works for you and stick with it.
Kitchen Composting
Composting? Yeah, I know, but it works. Try these Kitchen Compost Solutions to find one that will work for you and your family. Composting will eliminate significant amounts of waste and convert it into something more useful.
Composting is practical and will eliminate more than the usual suspects, such as food waste. You can add items such as dryer lint, hair, and other waste you believe is biodegradable.
Shopping Habits
Shop less. Only buy what you need. Be mindful of packaging. Experts recommend bringing reusable bags and shopping only the perimeter of the grocery store (produce, deli, bakery) to avoid processed, packaged foods, which can increase waste.
Rally The Troops
Get family and friends involved in your journey to creating a zero-waste home. You will need their support to be successful, and they all will benefit the more successful you are. Get everyone you know to learn, help, and change behaviors.
Conclusion
I am new to the zero-waste home concept and am not an expert. Here are some tips that work for me. I am sure I am missing a lot. I would love to learn more tips and tricks. Please let me know what I may be missing and what works for you.
I love achieving ever-increasing success towards reaching my zero-waste home goals. I am enjoying the health, economic, and environmental benefits, and I strive to create a zero-waste home.
Great article, Tony – I really relate to your goals, if not to actually attaining them. My wife is my favorite person, but she is a challenge in the zero waste space. Her dad had a janitorial business when she was a kid, and she is wired to see trash as a profit center. She finds joy in filling the can.
With that in mind, let me make a practical suggestion. When there is durable packing material that you must deal with, look for ways to re-use it. There are often many fun projects that can start with that throw-away bottle, bag or mailing tube. I use the heck out of this stuff.