What is Zero Waste?– “The earth is a finite place. Whether it is one hundred years or one thousand years from now, eventually we will run out of space to dump waste. Meanwhile, we are polluting our air, water, and soil with landfills and incinerators. Although individuals and institutions can do a lot on their own, this is primarily a public health issue that only the government can address in a comprehensive and effective manner. Primarily, the government needs to convert waste management into resource management. For us to remain on earth, we must learn to safely recycle all of our waste back into the natural environment or the marketplace.”
I think I don’t waste much, but in the process of remodeling, I have actually had to fill up my trash can! And I hate it! My usual trash is 1 cereal bag a week. Yes, I recycle the cereal bags or boxes as my trash cans. Yes, I recycle as much as possible and always use a reusable bag, at take out stores, at Home Depot, at Book Stores, actually anywhere I go! My reusable bags are stacked in my car, by the front door (errands and drop offs) – I think I am doing great- but can always try to achieve more.
If you want to know more about trash and garbage blogs and resources go to Top 13 Trash Blogs
What I could do to lessen my Trash Impact?:
1.) Buy product out of bulk bins and take my own bag to put them in. Save money and eliminate packaging
2.) Eliminate products like coffee, cokes, all takeout food (after kitchen is finished) Save money as well
3.) Eliminate any clothes that have to go to the cleaners. (Pretty much have done this) saves hangers, plastic, chemicals, and save my money!
4.) Save all milk bottles and put water in while waiting for water to heat up. (Although am putting in hot water device in remodel) Save water and money.
5.) Eliminate any unnecessary foods in my life, such as cookies, crackers, cheese. Save my waistline and money. – This is a hard one- what will I do without my cookies?
6.) Start reading newspapers and get my crossword puzzles online. Sunday mornings will never be the same although! Again another money savings
7.) Sit down and write all those letters to get off the junk mail lists. (Am already signed up with Green dimes, but they keep coming!) You can always get coupons online
8.) Use library more instead of buying books. Save money
9.) Get better at not wasting food- I just composted 3 moldy oranges.- just about killed me- save money again
10.) Finish going paperless. I am almost completely paperless, but the last bit is just mind numbing. It’s the little things that just are so frustrating, like Earthquake Insurance!
11.) Encourage neighbors and friends to adopt a zero waste mentality.
12.) Get more crafty and make thinks out of trash. (another blog, but some great ideas below)
Would save money on gift cards and presents
When I look at the above items- how many of them will save money! Just by doing all of the above I would save at least $1000 per year! Not bad- so there are many reasons to adopt a zero waste mentality.
To find out how you can achieve Zero Waste, here are some great Zero Waste Resources.
- 365 Days of Trash– the Story of a man to attempts to throwaway nothing for a year
- Eco-cycle Recycling has become a national habit, a daily ritual practiced by over 100 million people every day. Yet recycling alone will not end our dependency on landfills and incinerators, nor reverse the rapid depletion of our natural resources. As world population and consumption continue to rise, it is clear that our one-way system of extracting virgin resources to make packaging and products that will later be buried or burned is not sustainable. great links on where and what to recycle Zero Waste is a new way of looking at our waste stream. Instead of seeing used materials as garbage in need of disposal, discards are seen as valuable resources. A pile of “trash” represents jobs, financial opportunity, and raw material for new products.
- How Can I Recycle this?: (UK) – this is a great site, everything from fingernails to toilet paper! Creative ideas for reusing and recycling random stuff.
- Lifeless Plastic (Chicago IL)
- My Zero Waste MyZeroWaste.com is our family blog about reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill each week. Follow our progress, leave a comment or two, cheer us on and see if we attain our goal of ZERO WASTE! Check out our monthly competitions, special offers and monthly challenge too! Join in the fun, but remember, this is a serious issue that is crucial for the welfare of our planet.
- The Mark of Zero – official Blog of the Zero Waste Network
- The Rubbish Diet (UK) she has already slimmed her bin down to almost size zero and is now inspiring others to reduce their waste.
- Zero Waste Blog (Vancouver) Are you concerned about waste in the Lower Mainland? You are invited to join in the discussion here on this blog!
- Zero Waste Blog
- Zero Waste Girl
- Zero Waste Resources
Hi there 🙂
Thanks for the mention of our site. You’ve put together a fab resource here for people wanting to reduce their waste and I love your list of tips.
Great blog – keep up the work with spreading the message on how we can all live a more eco friendly lifestyle.
Mrs G x
wow you have really put a lot of thought into this, its good that your doing your part , i dont do enough but im trying
Hello from us in Portugal. We have a zero waste project going in our home called zerowastelifestyle-you can read about our zero waste challenge on http://www.zerowastelifestyle.blogspot.com
We would love to take part in the zero waste dialogue and would love to hear from like minded people around the world.