Simple Steps to Go Low Waste in the New Year
With the New Year comes a fresh opportunity to embrace small changes that can make a BIG impact. Starting a low-waste lifestyle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Simple, practical steps can set you on the path to a more sustainable and impactful year ahead.
Making changes can be overwhelming and overhauling your entire household can not only be expensive but also could lead to not staying on track. Living more sustainably is a journey. One swap, one shift, one win at a time is how we are all going to make changes that stick without having to give up what you need or want.
Low-waste living is all about making mindful choices to reduce the amount of trash we create and the resources needed to make the things we consume. Good news! It’s not about perfection or drastic changes. It’s about easy steps that fit into your daily routing. By focusing on progress over perfection, we can all make a meaningful difference for the planet and future generations without feeling completely overwhelmed.
Start with what you have
Low waste living doesn’t meaning buying new, it’s about using what you already have.
Want to start refilling? Great! Use up what you already have then bring in the empty container to refill. Dip your toes into refilling your dish and hand soap. See how that goes and how easy it is to fit this into your life and schedule. Then move on to laundry and all-purpose cleaner. Before you know it, you will be refilling your lotion and skincare too! Small shifts lead to big impact.
Repurpose those awesome glass jars you have stashed away! Store food in them, store screws in them, use them as a toothbrush holder, harvest seeds and keep them for the next year in them, the uses are endless!
Demote your dishtowel that has stains on it from all of the parties this year to a cleaning rag or use one of your t-shirts that isn’t in good enough condition to donate. The more use we can get out of our items saves resources and money. It’s a win-win situation!
Walk around your home and pick out some items to refill, repurpose or demote and set them aside. Get the whole family involved so they know not to toss the empty dish soap into the recycle bin and have them add old shirts and items to use as rags.
Swap out one single-use item at a time
Make small, gradual changes.
Replace single-use plastic water bottles with a refillable, reusable bottle. Remember to take your cute reusable shopping bag with you to the store. Swap out disposable napkins for cloth napkins. Switch to dryer balls that last 1,000 loads and ditch the single use dryer sheets. Put the paper towels UNDER the sink and use reusable not paper towels for as many jobs in the kitchen and home as possible. Shop your veggies loose and place them in reusable cotton produce bags, they will stay as fresh as they do in plastic, just keep them slightly damp. Try toothpaste tablets or get your toothpaste in aluminum tubes that are curbside recyclable. Refill your shampoo and conditioner or take the plunge and try shampoo bars and conditioner bars!
There are so many incredible companies creating useful, effective products with less packaging and none of the nasty chemically stuff. Our store is full of them and have been vetted by us and we are here to answer all of your questions.
Which swap will you start this month?
Reduce food waste
Food waste is a significant environmental concern in the United States. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that approximately 66 million tons of wasted food were generated in the food retail, food service, and residential sectors, with about 60% of this waste ending up in landfills.
This makes food the largest single component of municipal solid waste in landfills, constituting about 24% of the total. The decomposition of food waste in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to climate change.
What can we do?
Plan out the meals for the week to avoid impulse buying and to stay on track during the week.
Save veggie scraps in the freezer until you’re ready to make a vegetable stock. This is a two-for since it will also prevent you from needing to buy a container of vegetable stock to dispose of. Compost scraps that can’t be used for stock.
Store food properly. Google is your friend here! Some fruits and vegetables like to be stored differently.
Eat leftovers! Eat them for lunch or on those nights you don’t quite feel like cooking. We like having a “kitchen sink” meal where we repurpose some of the leftovers into something else or use up the unused vegetables and herbs on a pizza.
Try one food waste saving recipe this week!
Refill and Reuse
Why buy yet another container that needs to be recycled when you can reuse ones you already have! This is our favorite tip!
Find your local refill store and start refilling! I promise you’ll end up loving the process and getting to have genuine interactions with folks who use the products and don’t just sell them but love them. Many refill stores focus on a closed-loop system with their suppliers which also reduces even more waste! The larger containers the product comes in gets sent back to the suppliers to be sanitized and reused.
Remember your reusable mug when you go get coffee or stay at the coffee shop and enjoy the ambience or a little people watching. And remember your reusable grocery bag too!
If we all refilled one item, one time per year…if all 131 million households in the United States did this, holy wow! That would be 131 million containers diverted from the waste stream each year just by refilling one time!!! One swap, one simple step, one household = a gigantic impact.
Practice mindful buying
Avoid impulse buys and focus on quality over quantity. Items that will last longer will reduce waste and save you money in the long run.
Pause and ask yourself if you really need something before buying. Or check to see if it is something that can be found at a secondhand store.
Swap out disposable razors for reusable safety razors. The upfront cost can feel a little high but the lifetime of the razor will save you so much money and prevent waste.
Bring your reusable bamboo utensils that you invested in with you and say “no thank you” to disposable plastic utensils when dining out. This is also a great way to show your friends and family how easy it is to avoid single use. If you forget them, it’s ok! There will be a next time. An alternative is to wrap up utensils from your drawer, that you already have, in a cloth napkin to take with you!
Set a goal of buying less of what you don’t need this year. Join a Buy Nothing group, shop secondhand if you need and repair items instead of replacing them when you can.
Save money and the planet at the same time!
Celebrate!
Celebrate your wins, however big or small!
Remembered your reusable bag? Do a little dance!
Showed a loved one how to shop secondhand? High five for saving money, finding something unique, and being part of the change we need in the world.
Every step in your low waste journey is a good one, even if it’s a step backward. Learn from it and keep going. It is a JOURNEY and the journey is the best part!
Pick 1 or 2 things from this post to try this week and let us know how it’s going. We are over here cheering you on!
