10 Tips for Encouraging a Low-to Zero Waste Lifestyle

Every year, in the USA alone, 139.6 million tons of waste end up in landfills. Everything from food waste, textiles, plastic, glass, metal, and yard clippings evade upcycling and recycling and end up being thrown ‘away’.

No one is asking or expecting an individual to take on the responsibility of such an enormous pile of trash, but there are things we can do to help alleviate the problem just a little. If we all do our bit the pile will surely get smaller, right?

Whether you are planning on going full-blown zero-waste or just trying to reduce your weekly trash amount a tad, here are some OGP articles that you should check out.

1. 12 Month Plan

As we progress further along the path to more sustainable living, we have to take our waste stream seriously. Modern practices are stuck in a horrible rut when it comes to creating mountains of garbage. Throwing things in the garbage can—forget littering—is becoming more and more of a problem. Of course, many of us are looking for ways to actively address this issue, but it can feel overwhelming. That’s why it might help to take it one month at a time over the next year and see where it gets you. Here, we have A 12-Month Plan for Going Low-to-Zero Waste.

2. Low Waste Replacements

By now, most of us know of several simple ways to cull disposable plastic from our lives and homes. We know about reusable water bottles and shopping bags. We’ve probably been clued in on bamboo toothbrushes and “compostable” disposable plates (perhaps a bit of smoke there). To make a long list short, we are going to try to skip some of the more recognized methods of getting plastic out of our lives. Here are 7 Low-Waste Replacements for Household Items That Are Usually Plastic.

3. Toiletries

After the kitchen, the bathroom is probably the most waste-laden room in the house. Many of us have half a dozen tubes of this and that, a shower caddy full of hair and skin potions, and any number of plastic paraphernalia, from toothbrushes to loofahs to cotton swabs. In other words, on the journey to low-waste and no-waste living, the bathroom is going to require an eye-opening stop. Pick up your game and read on to learn how to make Toiletries for Low-Waste or No-Waste Living.

4. Low Waste Tips

Living a low-to-waste-free lifestyle isn’t about overhauling your entire life overnight. It is just about stopping for a moment to see what adjustments you could make to make the world a cleaner place. Whether it’s starting a compost bin, learning to cook stuff from scratch, or rethinking that plastic bag at the grocery store, there are several simple things that we can do to live a little less wastefully. Why not Follow These 5 Tips and Live Waste-Free Nearly Every Day?

5. Oral Hygiene

For most, grabbing a tube of toothpaste, a brush, dental floss and a bottle of mouthwash from the supermarket or pharmacy is pretty standard. Some, however, have reasons for looking for alternatives that are considered healthier, better for the environment, and even cheaper. Fortunately, there are some great homemade recipes and products on offer that help to sidestep some of the issues that storebought products cause without scrimping on the freshness of your breath or the health of your gums. Check out these Low-Waste Oral Hygiene Ideas.

6. Mending Clothes

One simple way you can help to keep the consumer demand for certain fashion items is to buy second-hand as much as you can, and truly wear what you have until it is worn out. Once they are done, try to find somewhere that recycles worn-out fabric. By worn out, that does not mean worn of its trendiness or worn of its joy in your wardrobe. It means wearing something until it can’t be worn any longer. One really fun way to get more mileage out of your clothes is to learn to mend them yourself. Take a look at these 5 Easy Ways to Mend Torn and Tattered Clothes.

7. Low Waste Gardening

It is surprising how quickly you can use up a bag of potting soil when you have pots and pots to fill, and buying bag after bag of the stuff can get quite pricey quite quickly (not to mention all that plastic waste). There are lots of ways of reusing spent potting soil or even rejuvenating it into a state as good as new. Save your pocket, save your time, and save the planet a little by checking out these ideas to help you curb the number of yearly bags of potting soil you have to buy. Read on to learn How to Reuse and Revitalize Old Potting Soil.

8. Repair Flip-Flops

The flip-flop wearers among you all know that dreaded moment when a flip-flop strap finally decides to give out, usually at the most inconvenient time. Bar riding around with a roll of duct tape in your bag, there are a couple of little tips and tricks for short-term emergency repair—sufficient to get you home. It could be that you have a boring pair of flips flops that are still in good shape but don’t do it for you anymore. There are fun ways to jazz up these summer staples and give them a new lease of life altogether. Whatever the case may be, check out these creative and often down-right genius Ways to Easily Repair and Revamp Tired Old Flip-Flops.

9. Thrifting

In our culture of consumerism, we are encouraged to buy more and more, replacing this and that with the latest version when the previous version was just fine. It’s easy to forget what goes into making all that stuff—factories, precious resources, transport mileage, etc. Because many people tend to throw things out long before they are used up, we can find things that are still in great shape at secondhand stores. Check out these 4 Things You Should Buy from a Thrift Store.

10. Revamp Candles

Candles are fantastic for creating a romantic or cozy atmosphere and can also be used to make your house smell scrumptious. Many of the scented candles on the market can be pretty pricy these days. That only serves to make it even more of a heartbreak and/or annoyance when your wick runs out, and you are left with a bunch of wax stuck to the sides of the jar. Instead of ditching or storing away the seemingly useless object, there is a really simple way to rescue that wax and make it into a whole new candle for future burning. Read on to learn How to Make New Candles from Old Ones.

Related Content:

• 5 Tips on How to Be a Low Waste Cat Owner [Video]
• Low-Waste Oral Hygiene Ideas
• A 12-Month Plan for Going Low-to-Zero Waste
• Make Your Own Plastic-Free and Zero-Waste Mascara
• 7 Tips for Starting Down the Path to Zero Waste

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take the initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your own food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!