Useful Tips on How to Achieve a Zero Waste Lifestyle

The word “Zero” might conjure the image of impossibility when it comes to a no-waste lifestyle, but I believe it IS possible!

Zero waste lifestyle refers to the ability to preserve all resources that come your way. This means you reuse, reproduce and repackage materials, leaving nothing to waste.

At this point, you may be one of those wondering: “Zero waste. So what?” Not to drag things out, but a zero waste lifestyle will determine what planet we leave to our kids. Helping to eliminate meaningless buying and reducing pollution and global warming are some of the benefits of living a zero-waste life.

The concept can be simplified and summed up in a few pointers that I’ll be expanding on:

1. Refuse: Don’t take what you don’t need
2. Reduce: Limit what you need or what you can’t refuse. Use just enough.
3. Reuse: Reuse what you previously used and consumed
4. Recycle: Recycle what you can’t reuse, refuse and reduce.
5. Rot: Compost whatever is left

REFUSE

Don’t accept any form of junk.

I know folks who can’t help getting stuff. They know and visit every garage sale or discount event and buy everything they think they’ll need even though they have no idea what for. In no times, their houses are no different from a junk warehouse or one of the many sales events they go. Know somebody like this? Or are you somebody like this?

This doesn’t have to be you. Junk is both a waste of resources and time. You don’t need to keep junk mail and you don’t have to accept every souvenir at every fair, party, conference or event you attend.

Before you pick up any freebie, ask yourself: “do I really need it?” “Would this be useful immediately I take it home?” How about “definitely in the next week or month?” If your answer to these questions is no, then you don’t need it.

REDUCE

Take out the time to go through boxes, your basement, and everything you have in your store. Start your own giveaway: give to charity or donate to your local thrift shop. This will help reduce any clutter and make sure you use only what you need.

Again, you don’t have to attend every garage sale or buy everything you see because it’s Black Friday. You don’t always have to take a shopping trip. Make a shopping list and stick to it no matter what tempting offers are dangled in front of you.

If you’ll be shopping online, stick with your list and don’t buy anything outside it. Believe me when I say the less stuff you bring home or store, the closer you are to achieving a zero waste lifestyle.

REUSE

As much as you can, avoid grocery waste. Use cloth shopping bags, reusable totes and jars to store wet food items such as cheese. You can take jars with you to the market and stores.

In place of disposables, get reusable items. Opt for reusable handkerchiefs, shopping totes, reusable bottles, straws, rags and cloth napkins. This helps you achieve a zero waste lifestyle and save more.

RECYCLE

Have separate containers for your garbage (if you don’t). Glass, rubber, metal, paper and all types of waste should be separated. If you’re fortunate to be in a country with recycling policies, stay aware the rules and the specific locations for each kind of garbage.

Since the goal is to achieve a zero waste lifestyle, recycling should be your last option. Before you recycle, ask yourself a vital question: “have I refused, reduced or reused this item I’m trying to recycle?”

Remember to continuously question your shopping list and lifestyle. I take a vote on the items I shop for. I strike out what I’ve been able to live without and buy what I’ve used consistently.

If you’re going to choose, opt for metal, glass or cardboard. I advise everyone to avoid plastic. Why? Because it is non-bio-degradable and a major source of pollution. Plus, it eventually ends up in landfills and the ocean where it endangers fish and other crustaceans.

ROT

You can create a compost system in your home and decide what it can digest (hair, nails, cotton or other materials). Have a big compost container. The good thing about having a big compost container is that it makes it easy for you to search for items you can reuse.

So yes, I get that this may be hard because many of us were not raised to do these things, but a Zero waste lifestyle is possible. Question is, are we ready?