What is "Zero Waste"?

You may have heard the term Zero Waste being used recently. But what does it really mean? What is Zero Waste living?

There is a bit of ambiguity surrounding the Zero Waste movement in that there are a few different ideas of what Zero Waste really is. Some have criticized "zero wasters" for using the term so loosely. Let's look at few aspects that are generally combined to varying degrees by those professing to live zero waste.

Producing Zero Net Waste

Net waste, also known as post-consumer waste is anything that leaves your home, bound for the landfill. The majority of this waste is comprised of non-recyclable plastic, food waste, and contaminated recyclables. One of the most widely recognized forms of zero waste living involves reducing or eliminating this type of waste. Some people who are successfully living this way do so by diligently refusing disposables, not purchasing or accepting things they do not need, reusing things wherever possible, recycling everything they can, and composting food waste. Anything left goes into a jar.

These techniques are by far the most direct and easiest to influence for anyone who wishes to reduce their waste production. However there are other methods to employ in order to further the goal of a zero waste life.

Sustainability

In addition to producing less post-consumer waste, many have become more conscious of where their things come from and how they are produced. Many production processes are extremely wasteful, and the logistics of transporting goods from great distances adds wasted fuel to the equation. Many clothing retailers sell inexpensive clothes made of plastic textiles that were assembled in far away lands and transported to the outlet mall down the road. This contributes to global waste in a large way.

• The clothes are not made of a material that is biodegradable. What happens to it when you are done with it?
• Many clothing items are individually wrapped in plastic packaging.
• The fuel used to transport those goods adds to global pollution.

On the other hand, purchasing clothing made from natural, biodegradable materials like cotton, linen, wool, etc., and preferably items that were made as local as possible by small companies who care about their impact on the environment is a much more sustainable approach.

When we purchase items that are not made in a sustainable way, we increase the demand for those things, thereby driving the production of more unsustainable goods.

What can you do?

So what can you do? It is up to each person to decide what aspects of their lives they can change. Start with something simple. Start using a reusable water bottle, and reusable shopping bags. If everyone did so, that would keep 38 billion bottles and 1 trillion plastic bags out of landfills and our oceans each year. Once you've done that just keep making small changes. Here is a list of things you can do to lessen your waste.

The average American household uses

1,500 disposable plastic bags each year.

• Purchase higher quality goods made of natural materials.
• More expensive is not always better, but there is definitely something to be said about purchasing higher quality goods that will not only last longer but can be repaired. Take for example leather shoes of quality construction. They can usually be resoled once the soles wear out.

• Purchase only things that will be reused or recycled when you are finished with them, or are made of natural and biodegradable materials.
• Think about the life-cycle of everything that comes into your hands. What will happen to it when it's usefulness has expired?

• Make your own personal care products to reduce packaging waste.
• You can make anything from tooth powder to deodorant to makeup.

• Shop in bulk bins with your own reusable bags or containers.
• If you don't know where to shop, try using this bulk finder app.

• Purchase local to reduce transportation waste.
• Buy higher quality, natural clothing and less of it. Consider a capsule wardrobe.
• Shop second-hand stores.
• When you need to buy something, check second-hand stores or craigslist first. Buying second-hand eliminates packaging waste and reduces demand for the production of new goods.
• Cook at home with simple, local and in-season ingredients.
• Did you know that your grapes could travel more than 2,000 miles before reaching your local grocery store?
• Eat your leftovers.
• Just do it. Don't let food go to waste.
• Use food scraps that would normally be discarded to make stock.
• Save the ends of onions and onion skins, carrot tops, celery ends, and bones, etc. in the freezer (in a metal bowl, large mason jar, or other glass container) until you have enough.

These are just some of the ways that you can reduce your contribution to the global waste-stream. There are many more things that you can do. It all comes down to little decisions every day. Refuse that plastic straw. Plan ahead and bring a cloth napkin. There are so many more tips that we would like to share with you in future posts. Stay tuned...