Global waste is the pandemic that we have all long been aware of, but have been delaying in taking action towards solving. There are many varied opinions on global warming, climate, change, and the effectiveness of simply saying no to plastic straws. However, if we want to see actionable change (and we do) that will genuinely assist us in making progress on our global sustainability journey, then it is high time we all start pulling our weight. 

We cannot deny those big corporations, governments, and other large contributors to the global waste problem have the bulk of the work to do and should be held responsible in every sense of the word regarding their waste creation. That does not mean that we, as consumers and members of society, cannot also do our part, or that we shouldn’t. 

The path to zero waste in your home is a long one, it will come paved with setbacks and frustrations, and yes, occasionally, it will have waste on the sidewalks. But as the widely loved (and widely true) saying among zero wasters goes, “the environment needs a lot of people doing a little, not a few people doing it perfectly.” At bukit, we love our community and we are here to support you on your zero waste journey with our tips for achieving zero waste in your home.

 

Benefits of Zero Waste 

We all understand the necessity of reducing our waste as a population, but we’d like to highlight some of the benefits of going zero waste as well:

 

It’s good for the economy

There is evidence and documentation that shows how a zero-waste economy actually creates more job opportunities than our current model which supports landfills over zero-waste alternatives such as reducing, reusing, and recycling. 

A population with zero-waste creates a circular economy, in which one person’s waste becomes someone’s next new product as materials are recycled through our economy rather than being disposed of after one use.

It’s good for the environment

This one should be relatively self-explanatory, however, if you’d like to do some more reading on it, you can do so here. Reducing, recycling, and reusing play a large role in reducing greenhouse gases released into the environment. 

We live in a consumption and consumer-driven society that is unsustainable in its effects on our earth. The methods we use to create and extract those products, which humans love to consume, are unsustainable and leave a significant mark on our earth. A zero-waste method, on the other hand, conserves natural resources while reducing pollution caused by extraction, manufacturing, and disposal. Because individuals buy less and items are made to last, reducing and reusing requires fewer products to be manufactured. 

 

It’s good for the community

A zero-waste approach helps communities by empowering marginalized groups and safeguarding their health. Focusing on reuse allows useful goods to be redistributed to those in need.

Composting in a community garden as well as sharing tools and skills for reuse and repair helps to minimize trash and expenses while fostering healthy, fulfilling relationships within the community. By keeping toxins and waste out of landfills and incinerators, a zero-waste approach also preserves community health by minimizing pollution in the air, water, and soil.

 

 

Tips for Zero Waste in your home

Now that we’ve thoroughly unpacked some benefits of introducing zero-waste practices into your home, let’s get into the main course of your zero-waste meal: the tips.

 

Understand where the majority of your household waste comes from

 

The transition to being a zero-waste household is going to require quite a few changes being made over time so in order to effectively start making the transition, you’ll want to understand exactly what waste your home creates. Is it yogurt cups? Takeout boxes? Paper towels or plastic bags or bottles?

Create a list of the types of waste products that are sitting in your trash. This will be the baseline off of which your zero-waste changes can be made. Another benefit of creating this list is the satisfaction of looking at it further down the line and seeing how far you’ve come. Don’t underestimate the power of visually represented progress!

 

Take it one step (or one item or one room) at a time

 

Us humans tend to create rather a lot of waste (this makes sense seeing as it is the problem at hand), so it’s not unreasonable to go item by item down the list with your changes. In fact, we encourage it! Taking lots of baby steps is better than trying to run full speed at the Olympics and then quitting because it was too difficult. 

Choose an item at a time to begin cutting out of your home. Or choose a room in your house to begin making the switch towards being a zero-waste home. Focusing on the kitchen or bathroom first is generally recommended by zero-wasters.

Find some alternatives to common kitchen and bathroom products at The Waste Less Shop such as: 

 

1. Reusable face rounds
2. Shampoo and conditioner bars
3. Plastic-free, reusable pot scrubber. 

 

Don’t throw everything out and start fresh with zero-waste alternatives

 

The whole point of this exercise is to reduce waste, not to create more of it in the name of going zero-waste. Take a look around your house and begin with those items which are close to running out. Slowly start accumulating zero-waste alternatives for these items so that when they do run out, you can begin fresh with your environmentally conscious items. 

 

Shop ethically

 

As mentioned above, one of the best ways to reduce your waste is to buy fewer products. Buy only what you require, check your home before heading off to the shops, and consider what you truly need. When you do need something, buy from ethical, sustainable companies, such as bukit, who care about your community and the planet as a whole. At bukit we always make an effort to utilize reusable or sustainable packaging and we partner with companies like The Waste Less Shop to provide sustainable options to our customers. 

 

DIY

 

This next tip for your zero-waste home is to begin doing what you can yourself. Don’t replace your coat that tore in one place, sew it closed or patch it up! Don’t buy all your vegetables and herbs from the store where they come with plastic stickers and bags and styrofoam packaging. Grow them at home if you can! Not only is this the eco-friendly way, but it can be fun! Spark your inner creativity and nurture your inner child by getting inventive with the products you own and the ways you can do or grow things yourself. 

 

Check out this list of tips for repurposing and upcycling products, we hope they inspire the inner creative in you and create an avalanche of upcycling ideas that you can utilize!

 

Learn about recycling

 

Recycling is the last R because it truly is a difficult process and something as simple as not cleaning your yogurt tub before throwing it away could cause that item to end up in a landfill rather than being recycled. By understanding what can and can’t be recycled as well as the processes for recycling those that can, you can adjust your purchasing habits so that you are able to effectively recycle what is possible. 

 

Learn more about recycling in Nevada here.

Don’t be hard on yourself (or others)

 

Don’t beat yourself up for the times that you purchase items that produce waste because they are likely inevitable. You are only human, living in a consumer-driven society, and sometimes, we all do things we maybe wish we didn’t do. This extends to the zero-waste lifestyle, have grace for the times that you cannot be 100% zero-waste, and focus on always trying to do the best with what you have. 

 

Similarly, don’t place judgment on those around you who you perceive to be doing less than you are for the environment. Keep your eyes on your own homework and your energy on doing what YOU can to reduce YOUR waste. Be the change you wish to see, it might surprise you how many people follow suit from simply observing how you do things.

 

Some parting tips

 

Before we wrap up this blog of tips for your zero-waste home (in an old scarf, of course) we’d like to leave you with some extra parting tips. Instead of Saran Wrap, cover bowls of leftovers in the fridge with a plate. Make your own veggie stock using your food scraps (onion skins, garlic skins, pepper tops, carrot tops). Giveaway things you either don’t need or won’t use to someone who does or will. Start a compost bin or heap somewhere in your home or garden for food scraps. You can use this compost for the delicious veggies you’ll be growing!

 

We have a few additional special mentions of products that you can utilize to reduce your waste:

1. A menstrual cup rather than other sanitary products such as tampons and pads. 
2. Laundry detergent and stain remover bars.