These zero waste tips should hopefully give you some inspiration to jumpstart your zero waste journey.
Start small. It’s actually impossible to be zero waste. A low waste lifestyle would be a more accurate description and sounds a lot less overwhelming.
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50 Zero Waste Tips
1. Carry a full reusable water bottle with you whenever you leave the house. Don’t even give yourself the chance to use plastic bottles.
2. Use old towels and t-shirts as rags instead of throwing them away.
3. Use a menstrual cup instead of disposable pads and tampons.
4. Swap to loose leaf tea instead of using tea bags. Store the tea in a glass jar.
5. If possible, get a digital receipt or no receipt. They can’t be recycled.
6. Wherever possible, go paperless for your bills.
7. Ask for no straw when you order out.
8. Skip the free promotional items.
9. Build a zero-waste kit for your car.
10. Commit to bringing your reusable bags to the store. If you forget, either carry the items or go back and get them.
11. Normalize borrowing things instead of just buying a specialty item. (Be willing to let others borrow yours too though!)
12. Reduce your meat consumption (or go completely vegan!)
13. Use coral reef-friendly sunscreen.
14. Wash your clothes in cold water.
15. Avoid junk mail by going to dmachoice.org
16. Recycle plastic bags at grocery stores. Most have a spot at the front or just outside the front door. You can easily just drop them off next time you go grocery shopping.
17. Know the 5Rs:
- Refuse what you do not need.
- Reduce what you do not need.
- Reuse what you consume.
- Recycle if you can’t do the first three.
- And, rot (compost) the rest.
18. Use Dropps or a similar zero-waste laundry detergent.
19. Switch to 100% recycled toilet paper.
20. Avoid fast fashion. Buy secondhand clothing or from small, sustainable clothing brands.
21. Compost dryer lint or use it as a fire starter.
22. Bring your own to-go container for leftovers.
23. If you can, start composting. The things that can be composted will amaze you!
24. Carry a zero-waste cutlery set in your purse to avoid using single-use plastic.
25. Swap to a french press to avoid coffee filters or coffee pods.
26. Use a zero-waste deodorant.
27. Avoid unnecessary printing. It creates a lot of waste and it’ll save money in the long run!
28. Wrap gifts in newspaper or skip wrapping them completely.
29. Recycle properly! Stick to the guidelines on what can and can’t be recycled.
30. If you don’t have use for your compost, check out the ShareWaste App.
31. Use plastic-free shampoo.
32. Switch to LED light bulbs. LED bulbs consume an average of 80 percent less energy. Wait until your current bulbs need replacing though.
33. Consider using rechargeable batteries. They’re much more eco friendly and will save you a ton of money.
34. Switch to digital downloads.
35. Hang dry clothes if possible.
36. Reduce water waste.
38. Make biodegradable confetti.
39. Get (and use!) a library card.
40. Eat seasonally. Avoid plastic packaged fruit and veggies.
41. Get a reusable safety razor.
42. Pick up trash.
43. Swear off balloons.
44. Use the search engine Ecosia instead of Chrome or Firefox.
45. Shop at farmers’ markets.
46. Use a silicone baking mat instead of aluminum foil or parchment paper.
47. You don’t really need to use paper towels. There are plenty of zero waste alternatives to use instead.
48. Never stop learning about zero waste and sustainable living.
49. Switch to zero waste toothpaste.
50. Reduce your water footprint.
I'm also a freelance writer and creator. You can see my published work here. I've been featured by Impact Travel Alliance as a creative who is transforming travel, and by Matador Network as a vegan travel blogger you should be following on Instagram.
When I'm not writing, I'm traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill my houseplants, worshiping my dog, or having an existential crisis.
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