Think about how much waste you produce on a weekly basis. Now, what if I told you that that was the amount of garbage you could have a month? How about per year? How about for the rest of your life? No, I’m not crazy, living a zero waste lifestyle can cut your typical four bags of waste into four pieces of waste.
Sounds impossible, but people are doing it, and it’s pretty simple!
What Is a Zero Waste Lifestyle?
According to Zero Waste Canada, Zero Waste is a philosophy, a target, and it is a call to action that aims to bring an end to the current take, make, and waste mentality of human society.
Essentially, Zero Waste is a way of living without producing any waste. Pursuing this type of lifestyle means putting a stop to our wasteful consumer habits and replacing them with zero waste eco-choices. The key to Zero waste are the five R’s: Refuse what you do not need, Reduce what you do need, Reuse what you consume, Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse, and Rot (compost) the rest.
Don’t think that it’s possible to live a zero waste lifestyle? Get this; one family has been doing it for years! The Johnson family (aka The Zero Waste Family) has been living a zero waste lifestyle since 2008 and said that they not only feel happier, but they now lead more meaningful lives based on experiences instead of on the stuff the they own. They have been able to reduce their waste production down to only one quart-size jar of waste per year!
Once you take your first steps towards a zero waste lifestyle, you’ll be hooked in no time.
How to Get Started
One
One of the biggest contributors when it comes to waste are those notorious disposable products. That’s right kids, stay away from paper towels, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, paper plates and cups and any other disposable that can easily be substituted for a reusable Swap out paper towels for a reusable washcloth, and bring out the real dishes when company comes over instead of those flimsy paper plates.
Doing this will cut back on a lot of unnecessary waste
TWO
Go paperless! In an age where we depend on technology, it is a no brainer to see it as an opportunity to go paperless. Cancel getting bills in the mail and stop flyers and newspapers from being All of these things can be found online. Not only is this going to cut back on the amount of paper being wasted but it also adds convenience.
Fun fact: some stores, including LUSH and Apple, will even send receipts directly to your email instead of printing off a hard copy. There is no need to use paper when it can all be found online or be done through email.
THREE
Try Zero waste shopping. Buying in bulk can substantially reduce packaging and other waste materials right from the get-go. While you are at the grocery store, take advantage of those reusable cotton shopping bags that they sell, use them instead of plastic bags. Are you already using them?
Good job!Try going the extra step by avoiding products that have a lot of packaging that is going to go straight into the trash.
FOUR
Use websites like Freecycle or Craigslist. These two sites give you the opportunity to find and get rid of items for …wait for it… free. This avoids having to waste any extra packaging that comes with brand new items and keeps any of your old items out of the trash!
You never know what you might be able to find and what people will be willing to take off your hands! One man’s trash truly is another man’s treasure! Give it a try, let me warn you, it can be pretty addicting!
You have zero time to waste, and it’s time to start living a Zero Waste life!
Sources:
http://www.earth911.com/home-garden/7-steps-zero-waste-lifestyle/
http://www.treehugger.com/green-home/5-steps-toward-going-zero-waste-kitchen.html
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/10-ways-to-adopt-a-zero-waste-lifestyle/
