Zero waste lifestyle living aims to minimize trash production. Small changes toward that goal can yield significant results. US citizens produce some of the most wasteful households in the world; the zero waste habits mentioned in this guide can help reduce waste.
In this guide, you will learn about the meaning of zero waste living, its importance, and how to realistically incorporate it into your lifestyle.
What Is a Zero Waste Lifestyle?
Unsurprisingly, a zero waste lifestyle is a collection of habits that seeks to limit the amount of waste sent to landfills or incinerators. Rather than throwing things away, the focus is on waste prevention, (i.e., reuse, repair, recycle, and refuse).
The idea is governed by five major principles:
1. Refuse what you don’t need
2. Reduce what you use
3. Reuse what you can
4. Recycle what you can’t
5. Rot (compost) organic waste
These principles are the “5Rs of zero waste living.”
Why Zero Waste Living Is Important in the US
The average American produces several pounds of waste a day; most of it goes to landfills. This creates pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the depletion of natural resources.
The zero waste lifestyle has these benefits
- Less waste in landfill
- Less waste in the oceans
- Less carbon footprint
- Less spendings
- Better consumption
There are many benefits to living this lifestyle. For example, this lifestyle can limit waste that ruins the environment.
Partial adoption to a zero waste lifestyle can decrease your environmental footprint.
Steps to Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle
Living a zero waste lifestyle does not mean you have to change your entire lifestyle. You just have to adopt this lifestyle gradually.
Waste Audit
Look at what you throw away over the course of a week. You might recognize things like:
- Food packaging
- Plastic
- Single use online purchases
Knowing what you throw away can give you hints about what you have to work on.
Limit Single Use Products
One of the easy things to limit is single use products. Some things you can use instead of single use products are:
- Reusable plastic water bottle
- Reusable shopping bags
- Reusable coffee cups
- Cloth towels (instead of paper towels)
Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need
This lifestyle helps limit purchases. Before making a purchase, you should ask yourself:
- Do I really need this?
- Will I use this for a long time?
- Is there a durable alternative?
Fewer purchases that are high quality help this lifestyle and can save you money.
Focus on Reducing Food Waste
Food waste is a large problem in US households, but that can change by:
- Having a grocery list based on meals
- Knowing how to properly store groceries
- Finding creative ways to enjoy leftovers
- Composting food scraps when able
Composting is very effective because it creates soil for plants versus sending organic waste to a landfill.
Better Recycling Habits
Recycling is another good step toward helping the planet, but it’s often misinterpreted. Some things can’t be recycled, while some things can’t be recycled due to contamination.
- In order to recycle better, you should:
- Know the recycling rules of your area.
- Wash out containers before recycling them.
- Do not combine non-recyclables with recyclables.
- Don’t think of recycling as the main solution.
- Recycling should be done as a last resort, not the first.
Choose Reusable
When able, try to use reusable:
- Glass or metal containers
- Cleaning products
- Batteries
- Napkins
This actually helps the planet while also improving the products you buy.
Zero Waste Lifestyle at Home
The home is an area that creates the most waste but with small notable adjustments the waste can be greatly decreased.
The Kitchen
- Avoid individually.Only buy food in bulk.
- Put food in bulk reusable containers.
- Don’t buy food that is package
The Bathroom
- Use bar soap instead of soap in a plastic container.
- Switch to a bamboo toothbrush.
- Use personal care products that can refill the container.
Cleaning
- Use baking soda and vinegar to make your own cleaning supplies.
- Use cloths to clean that can be washed instead of cleaning wipes that can’t be reused.
Zero Waste Lifestyle on a Budget
A lot of people think that living a zero waste lifestyle is more expensive, but a lot of the time it’s actually less expensive.
You save by:
- Buying less
- Wasting less food
- Using items longer before replacing them
- Using items that aren’t disposable
- Prioritize changes that will cut costs in the short term.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these mistakes when trying to achieve a lifestyle with less waste:
- Trying to achieve a waste free lifestyle with the first attempt
- Throwing away things that you just want to waste
- Buying only expensive eco-friendly products
- Not following local recycling rules
- Not following local recycling rules
- Feeling defeated by minor mistakes
- Living with less waste is a mile long journey and not a dash.
Realistic Goal: Progress, Not Perfection
Living a lifestyle that is truly free from waste is a lifestyle that produces no waste. Rather, it is focused on continuously reducing the amount of waste produced.
For many families, an acceptable amount of waste is only 20-30% less than what they’ve been producing. The most important thing is to stay the course.
Final Thoughts
Making the decision to live with less waste is something that can be easily achieved with small focused decisions. The goal is not to make a lot of changes quickly, but to make a small amount of changes with the goal of keeping these changes long lasting.
Better habits lead to a healthier, less expensive, waste free environment.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to start zero waste living?
The easiest way is to remove a disposable item and repace it with a less wasteful item.
Is zero waste realistic in the US?
In the US approximately zero waste living is also known as zero to low waste living.
Does zero waste save money?
In general, spending less for more things and fewer disposable items also leads to less personal spending.
Can someone just starting out be successful with a zero waste lifestyle?
Yes. Managing only a couple of habits at once is all it takes to make this change practicable.
