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How much waste does your average household produce?
It’s a question that I’ve been asking myself and others, and it’s one that’s brought up an interesting conversation.
In today’s world, many people are trying to live as sustainable a life as possible. This includes trying to reduce the amount of trash that they generate. Whether it’s because they’re trying to cut down on the number of plastic bags they use or the amount of waste they produce, many people are looking for new ways to reduce their household waste.
Most of us are fans of zero-waste living, but the problem is we all want to go zero waste while enjoying our convenient lives.
Below are some of my first-hand experiences to shift my family to zero-waste living:
What is Going zero waste?
The idea behind zero waste is that you want to consume as little as possible and as often as possible. It’s like the goal of minimalism, but instead of focusing on the amount of stuff in your house, it’s about the amount of waste.
Going zero waste is when you throw away less of your trash. It’s when you reuse what you already have instead of buying new products. You can go zero waste by making smarter decisions about the products you purchase, the packaging you use, the containers you store your items in, and the trash you put out.
Reasons to Adopt a Zero-waste Lifestyle
Reduce our impact on the environment
We should be concerned with what’s happening around us and do our part to protect our planet. In order to do that, we need to make sure that we aren’t contributing to the problem by generating more trash than we can dispose of.
Nowadays, zero waste is not a solution but a way of life, and it’s getting more popular globally. By reducing our waste, we can also reduce the number of resources we need to use and decrease the amount of environmental damage that we cause.
Zero waste is more sustainable than other forms of living.
Mindful Purchase and Money Saving
If you a fan of zero-waste living, you’ll pay more attention to every purchase decision. Instead of buying in single-serving packets, you may be more likely to buy things in bulk, such as beans or rice. Also, you may want to shop at thrift stores or garage sales instead of going to the mall or big box stores.
By being mindful of how much you spend on certain items, you can save a lot of money. For example, you may decide to skip the paper towels at the grocery store, use your reusable bags for all purchases, and wash your clothes less often. When you are conscious about how much you spend, you can make small changes that add up to big savings over time.
Tips to Go Zero Waste
1. Prioritize reusable items
Take your own coffee mug to the coffee shop.
Use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic containers or plastic wrappers.
You can use your empty soda or water bottles to store nuts or other dry goods.
Compost your organic waste to help reduce the amount of trash that you generate.
Bring your own bag to the store. After coming home, you can wash this bag and use them over and over again.
Use reusable cutlery. For example, instead of using disposable cutlery, use wooden utensils. This way, you can avoid using disposable cutlery and avoid contributing to landfills and oceans.
2. Change your shopping habits
Only buy things that you need, not what you want.
For some things like clothes, bags, furniture, car, etc., you can buy second-hand. In doing that, you not only ensure your zero-waste lifestyle but also save a lot of money.
Buy food in bulk: To help you on your journey to be more eco-friendly, it is a good idea to buy food in bulk since you don’t have to worry about the trash or the paper. You also can have a special price for buying in large quantity.
Buy products without packaging whenever possible or that come with recyclable packaging.
Prefer natural items.
Buy less and use more: Buy durable items instead of buying cheap items that will end up in the trash. Use what you have instead of buying new items.
3. Some others tips
Donate used items: Donate clothing and household items that you no longer need to charities and thrift shops.
Don’t waste food: Instead of throwing away leftovers, store them in the fridge or freezer. This will save you from the temptation to eat it later on.
Go paperless: No doubt, going paperless reduces paper usage and saves trees. Switching from paper to digital also helps you not deal with ink, mess, and storage space.
If you have a refrigerator, make sure it’s set to a cold temperature enough for food not to spoil. In doing so, you reduce the amount of food that ends up in the trash.
Invest in a compost bin: Composting is an effective and inexpensive way of transforming kitchen and garden waste into something useful. In addition, it helps with the environment, reduces food waste, and supports wildlife. And the most exciting thing about it? You can do it yourself!
Final Thought
Above are just a few of the tips that I’ve been using to zero waste in my family over the years. Of course, there are plenty of other ways to achieve this goal, and small changes can lead to big differences. I hope you have a positive experience on your journey to a zero-waste lifestyle. And, don’t forget to share your thoughts in the section below since I’d love to hear you.
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