The zero-waste movement is a lifestyle that prioritizes waste reduction and the reuse of items over recycling. The general idea behind it is to send as little waste to landfills and incinerators as possible while ensuring nothing gets wasted, so we can ultimately create a society with minimized landfill waste and reduced environmental damage caused by our economy.
This article covers a few of the most important things to consider if you want to drastically reduce your waste. Some of these tips will be fairly easy to follow, while others might take a bit more time and effort to get used to living by them.
Here are some general waste reduction tips:
- Buy high-quality products to avoid buying them again.
- Reduce clutter.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing dishes.
- Compost waste food and other biodegradable items to use as fertilizer for your garden or potted plants.
- Don’t buy anything you don’t need. Instead of using disposable products, choose reusable alternatives
- Reuse items you already have instead of buying new items.
- Repair broken appliances instead of buying replacements.
- Don’t use a car if you can walk or bike to your destination in a shorter amount of time.
- Don’t flush wipes or other non-biodegradable items down the toilet.
- Use bars of soap instead of liquid body wash.
- Carry reusable bags to avoid using plastic bags when you shop.
- Use reusable drinking straws or cups instead of plastic straws when available.
- Carry reusable silverware to avoid using disposable utensils when you eat out.
- Don’t use paper towels or napkins. Instead, use cloth towels that can be washed and used again.
- Use washable rags as dusters instead of using disposable wipes.
- Choose metal over plastic reusable water bottles, if available.
- Wash and reuse glass jars to store food or drink.
- Let your food cool down before placing it in the fridge. This will help reduce energy use since the fridge doesn’t have to run as long to keep everything cold.
- Use natural cleaning products instead of chemical-based ones. For example, baking soda is a good household cleaner that can be used on many surfaces and won’t harm the environment.
- Reuse tinfoil to pack lunches or store food in the fridge or freezer if possible.
Use these zero-waste tips to reduce the amount of waste you create every day. With time, you will get used to living by these lifestyle choices and it won’t feel like an inconvenience or chore anymore. These sustainable habits will not only benefit the environment but will also save you time and money in the long run.
Read Also: 15 Benefits Of Going Zero Waste
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.
