As we’re starting to catch up to the enormity of how much work needs to be done in our planet, terms like ‘Zero Waste’ are starting to surface. Depending on what age bracket you’re in, this all may feel like a bit of an elusive concept. You remember how innovative the saying “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” was when it came on the scene, trying to turn our daily lives into a zero waste zone seems impossible. Especially right now, when we’re just trying to get through an election and stay alive during a pandemic. But as with most habit changing incentives, you don’t have to (and really can’t) do it overnight.

The idea of zero waste comes as a small part of a bigger solution needed to address the amount of waste we are putting in landfills daily. (For a deeper dive into the issue, click here) And though it may seem like a lot to take on this added task of learning how to cut back waste, remember you don’t have to do it over night. In the book titled, Zero Waste Home, writer and activist Bea Johnson adds a couple more principles to our ‘Reduce, reuse, and recycle’ mantra:

Refuse what you don’t need. This prevents unwanted items from coming into your home and applies to all those promotional items you’re offered, along with things like junk mail and plastic straws.
Reduce what you do use. This equals less waste overall.
Reuse whatever you can. Can you extend the lifespan of something by mending, handing down, or repairing? Can you buy or sell second-hand? Reusing also means swapping disposable products for reusable ones that can easily be laundered instead of thrown away.
Recycle what you can’t refuse or reduce. Saving resources from the waste stream by recycling is one option, but keep in mind that some items will not recycle indefinitely and will end up in the landfill at the end of their (often short) lifespan. These are the items that zero wasters try to avoid.
Rot what’s left over. Composting food scraps, paper pieces, and wooden or bamboo toothbrushes returns nutrients and fiber back to the earth.

Again, we start with baby steps. Even the most enthusiastic zero waste advocates still have trash and know that it’s next to impossible to eliminate it all together. A good first step can be checking out this list of Eco-friendly zero waste products and find 3 items you can purchase to switch out for a product you already own that isn’t Eco-friendly. As you start with this small step, you can also begin refusing to buy or accept products with wasteful packaging. As you refuse these products, the demand for them will decline. Examples for wasteful packaging such as individually wrapped items can be found here.

In my personal journey with Eco-friendly products and the idea of zero waste, I’ve had to pull away from the notion that this is just a fad and is only creating more work for me to find new products. If this has been your struggle, think of it this way; with only a few one-time, simple choices to change the products you are using, you’re helping to keep the planet we have loved so much just as gorgeous as it has been for us for all of these years.

The 5 Principles of Zero Waste and How to Start in Your Own Home