Baby steps. That’s all it takes to make less waste. Here are 10 no-to-low cost changes you can start today!
- JUST SAY NO– no to plastic straws, no to disposable napkins, no to plastic utensils and bags. Saying no is free, boosts your confidence, and prevents tons and tons of waste!
- Say bye to new clothing. Buying new clothing can be incredibly wasteful and environmentally detrimental. Over 25 billion pounds of clothes go to waste every year in the U.S. alone. Using the clothing that you already have in your wardrobe, try switching around where they are in your closet, or invite a friend over to help coordinate new outfits. It’s a great way to recycle pieces you forgot you had and make them new again. Any clothing that you don’t want or don’t wear anymore can be sold at consignment stores for some extra $$$.
- Make your coffee and meals at home. Bring out that inner chef and explore new recipes. Making food and drink at home is a great way to reduce using wasteful takeout containers, and it also ensures that you can eat with real dishes and utensils, can compost any scraps and save the leftovers. More delicious, more healthy, more budget-friendly AND zero waste!
- Do a book trade with your friends. If you’re a big reader, always buying new books can be cost-heavy and wasteful. Get a couple of like-minded friends together and trade books you’ve already read. New reads, zero waste and zero cost.
- Avoid plastic grocery bags. Stick some cloth bags in your car or bag, or store them right by your door so you don’t forget them when you hit up the grocery store.
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- Forget about paper towels. An easy swap? Your dish rags and dish towels can double as reusable napkins or rags to wipe down messes. Have white washcloths that you used for makeup that are full of mascara? Use them for cleaning and compost them after (if they’re 100% cotton), or send them to textile recycling. Or use old t-shirts that are either too stained or ripped for reselling or donating, cut them up and use them as rags as well.
- Skip plastic water bottles. Staying hydrated is important, so if you don’t have a reusable water bottle, you can easily use empty watertight peanut butter jars, coconut oil jars, etc. that are lying around and use that to bring water and other beverages with you.
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- Go au naturale or simplify your beauty routine. Too many times we impulsively buy cheap makeup with plastic packaging, use it a few times, then throw it out because it’s the wrong shade. Imagine the time AND money you would save if you skipped wearing makeup a few days a week, or simply cut some items out of your daily routine. Or try sustainable, natural alternatives like using coconut oil for makeup remover, lotion and lip gloss.
- Make your own cleaning products. You probably have very effective cleaning products in your pantry and you don’t even know it! Apple cider or distilled white vinegar, citrus and baking soda all work beautifully to clean your home, saving you a trip to the store. Here’s a great recipe for a homemade all-purpose cleaner.
- Become one with your trash. Get to know exactly what you’re throwing away. You may find that a lot of what you throw away is compostable or recyclable. From there you can start to be mindful of the waste you can easily swap for sustainable choices.
No matter how much money you make, we can all make simple changes to help the environment. I’d love to hear some no-cost changes you’ve made to live more sustainably!
29 comments
Hi! I have a question in response to #10.
I took an AP Environmental Science class senior year of high school. We learned that, although tou can recycle [most types of] plastic and paper, you can’t recycle them if they’re contaminated. Ex, paper drenched in water, plastic containers that have food/drink residue, cardboard that held a greasy pizza, etc.
I think I know the obvious answer to this, but is that true? And if so, how would you go about curving around it?
Thank you!
For things like cans or milk cardboards I wash them before recycling them. For cardborads or papel.. well.. it’s better to recycle them but if they’re contaminated it’s not that bad because they biodegrade easily and they can even go to compost; Something you can’t do with contaminated plastic, which can last in the earth for centuries without descomposing. That’s why it’s so important to avoid plastic food packaging at all costs.
In Toronto, there is an app and Facebook groups called Bunz Trading Zone. Basically people post items that they would like to get rid of, and items they would like to trade for. It’s a great way to reduce waste and save $$ !
What do you use for cleaning really gross things like the toilet? I am all down for using cloth rags for everything else, but I always find myself grabbing for paper towels when it comes to really gross things (like cat regurgitation…sorry if that’s TMI). Any advice?
I divided out my rags and washcloths by rooms and their purpose. In the kitchen I have a drawer full of dish rags only for dish washing and wiping off the table and the other set is for ickier things like spills on the floor or explosions in the microwave.
Same for my bathroom, I have a set of rags that I use for the bathroom sink and tub and an old t-shirt I ripped up specifically for the toilet only. By the end of the week, only the icky rags and towels are being washed together, that way there’s some peace of mind that even though they will be washed, you’re not wiping down the table with a washcloth you had cleaned the toilet with last week.
Even if you don’t have a kid, you can look up wash routines for cloth diapers to reassure yourself that even the icky-ist cloth can be washed. Obviously, icky laundry gets its own load.
My family friend is a preschool teacher and she says that although cloth diapers r great for the environment it smells and other kids laugh at this one kid and say mean things it’s really sad u know
i cut my hair short whenever i got the confidence/feels. It saves me time, shampoo, water, and effort. 😉
Ladt week i went to grocery. İ carry empty reusable bags with me. Bought some bananas and said i dont need pladtic bag, i brought with me my bag. The old woman there said welldone to me. ( actualy i did explanation because that old woman had bought different fruits in small quantities and got big plastic bags for each 🙁 i suggested the grocer at least using small sized bags for small shoppings like few apples small bags. Underlined its importance for environment but he unfortunatly doesnt seem to care much 🙁
Last week i went to grocery. İ carry empty reusable bags with me. Bought some bananas and said i dont need plastic bag, i brought with me my bag. The old woman there said welldone to me. ( actualy i did explanation because that old woman had bought different fruits in small quantities and got big plastic bags for each 🙁 i suggested the grocer at least using small sized bags for small shoppings like few apples small bags. Underlined its importance for environment but he unfortunatly doesnt seem to care much 🙁
A real help is setting up a paper pile, to use in recycling. This helps cut down paper to go to landfill, and hopefully can be used again.
I like your idea to simplify the beauty routine! It is amazing how far drinking lots of water and using some oil go for the complexion. Thanks!
Love this list. I am already doing some of these and will try others this year.
I finally simplified my beauty routine. I used up all of the cosmetics I no longer wanted to bother with and will not replace them. Now it takes me half the time to get ready and I no longer need a special makeup remover since I gave up long-wearing items that regular soap can’t remove well. (Yes, I know some people use coconut or other oils for makeup removal but that never worked well for me and I always seemed to need a cloth to get it all off, now I can just use my hands.) What I do still use I will now aim for as much minimal/refillable packaging as possible.
I do all of the 10 steps but my husband, dog and I still end up with 1 garbage bag full every 2-3 weeks. We will continue to make more changes to reduce our use and our garbage. I wish more people would attempt even a minor reduction in trash.
Donna, 1 garbage bag every 2-3 weeks is amazing!! I know zero waste is ideal but that would be a HUGE change for me and my family. The amount of garbage we have is making me look into alternatives. It’s alarming!!!
I’m new to this kind of lifestyle. I just told my family and they think I went totally crazy. They made me questions like “who on earth does that?” or “why do you care so much?”. I tried to explain to them but they just can’t understand, and I haven’t even told my friends. What to do about it? Is it that weird? Am I really crazy?
You’re not crazy. A lot of my friends and family don’t understand or take it seriously either. It can be really hard to stay commited without support, but do your research and know exactly why you’re interested in reducing your waste. Lead by example. Also, try joining online groups such as on Facebook for support and ideas 🙂
Remember that you are making adjustments for the health of yourself and the planet. That is an amazing thing! Kyle Cease has a video that sums it up well: https://youtu.be/yARnXmd9RNg basically, if everyone around you is sick, that seems normal. If you decide “hey, I want to be healthy.” That will be viewed as insane. Trust your heart, those around you may some day be open and inspired. If not, I bet you will feel better living the way you’d like to live regardless. Unfortunately these concepts are still not the “norm” but hopefull as more and more people have the courage to “care too much” and make these lifestyle changes, it may some day become the norm. Keep up the good work and thanks for what you’re doing!
I need a piece of advice. I live in Romania, where we have absolutely no environmental education and going zero waste is a goal of mine. Also, I truly want to spread this lifestyle in my country. Still, I have a question : what about the pharm products that come in plastic and foils? I need those pills quite often, how can I make a revolution when it comes to their packaging?
Lauren i really enjoy your blog and you are so inspirational but i have to ask: How do you deal with your period waste-free? Thank you❤️
Check out mentrual cups! I can’t believe how amazing making that change has been for me. 🙂 there is a girl on YouTube with a lot of info regarding cups: precious star pads is her username or I also googled “Bree menstraul cup YouTube” … they are reusable, and once I got the hang of it I rarely if ever have leaks (so no need for pads- or you can get reusable ones, or period underwear). You may use toilet paper to wipe it out but if you are near running water, you can rinse it out.
Lauren actually has a couple posts about this. She recommends using either reusable menstrual cups or reusable cotton pads. There is also period underwear out there that apparently works really well.
hi claire,
I started using a menstrual cup a few months ago and can only recommend it! it does take a bit of getting used to it but when used correctly and cleaned properly you can use one cup (mine cost about 20€) for 10 years. so it reduces your waste considerably and also saves you a lot of money over the years 🙂 also I just find it much more comfortable – I don’t feel it in my body at all (unlike tampons and pads, which I always found a bit annoying and uncomfortable) and sometimes even forget I’m on my period, and it only has to be emptied every 12 hours, which I find great as well 🙂
hope this helps, you can also check out some youtube videos, gave me some great info and also tips on how to insert it.
all the best, lisa
Moon-cup, menstruation-cup, I can recommend a 100%!
Diva cup and period panties by Thinx. Completely waste free.
Menstrual cup. 12+ years of pain free, waste free, easy to manage periods now.
Great post! I absolutely agree that everyone can make changes and at least start living less waste. I have always hated the amount of plastic I use and tried to reduce it. After reading about zero waste, I am fascinated with the determination that many people have and I am happy to join you guys! I said no to plastic shopping bags, I always have my own cloth bags with me. Yesterday, I was buying 3 loafs of bread and the lady started looking for a plastic bag when I said that I have my own bag and she can put them directly in it. She was very surprised and even a little bit shocked because in my country people are used to using plastic whenever they can. However, I made it! I bought a lot of products and didn’t take any plastic home 🙂
On her website for package free items she sells cloth sanitary towels and diva cups so my quess is she uses those. 😊
#4…go get a card at your local public library! Or get a Kindle and purchase eBooks/borrow library eBooks. When the Kindle gets too old, make sure to take it to a facility that recycles electronics.