Transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle isn’t easy, and it can be difficult to know where to start. There are plenty of resources, but not one go-to guide for those who want to start from scratch—so I decided to create one.
This Step-by-Step Guide to Going Zero Waste is for anyone who wants to learn about how to live a zero waste lifestyle. Everyone’s journey to living more sustainably is different, but you can use this guide as a general roadmap.
I broke it down into 8 chapters or steps in the order of what is most likely to make the largest impact on your waste stream, but you can also skip around to what interests you most:
Steps to Going Zero Waste
Step 1: Compost Your Food Scraps
Step 2: Ditch Your Paper Towels (and Other Single Use Paper Products)
Step 3: Make a Simple Zero Waste System That Works for You on the Go
Step 4: Shopping at a Bulk Food Store—Where to Start and How it Works
Step 5: Zero Waste Kitchen: Tips for Reducing Your Kitchen Waste
Step 6: Eco Friendly Cleaning: From the Kitchen to the Bathroom & Everywhere in Between
Step 7: Slowly Switch Over to Natural, Reusable, Toxic Free Products
Step 8: Get Involved with Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Living in Your Community
What Does ‘Zero Waste’ Mean?
A short definition of zero waste from our friends at Wikipedia:
“Zero Waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. No trash is sent to landfills or incinerators. The process recommended is one similar to the way that resources are reused in nature.”
The ultimate goal of zero waste is to have nothing sent to the landfills—food scraps are reused or composted, plastics are eliminated from the waste stream, and all resources are used in an ethical, economic way.
The 5 R’s as we call them in the world of zero waste are in order as follows:
- Refuse – The first and most important (and maybe hardest) step—don’t accept things that will inevitably end up in the landfill.
- Reduce – Decrease your overall consumption, whether it’s the food you put on your plate that ends up getting tossed or new clothing that will sit in your closet.
- Reuse – Self explanatory… Repurpose that salsa jar as an airtight container for your leftovers, repair the nice leather shoes you have instead of buying brand new ones, etc.
- Recycle – When you can’t refuse or reuse materials like plastic or glass, then recycle them.
- Rot – Compost.
What Are the Benefits of Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle?
When someone strives to live a zero waste lifestyle, they’re trying to reduce what they send to the landfill and incinerators to zero. There are many different reasons for why people choose to live more sustainably. A few are listed below:
- Minimalism and a simpler life – The things we own tend to own us, and living a zero waste lifestyle makes you conscious of what actually matters in your life.
- More time to spend on the important things – Whatever is most important to you—family, friends, art, etc., by cutting out things that don’t matter and simplifying, you will have more time to focus on what is truly important.
- Save money in the long run – Using natural ingredients as opposed to manufactured products, replacing disposable items for reusables, and buying quality goods that are built to last will end up saving you money (and time spent at the store).
- Inspire others to make healthier, more sustainable changes in their own life – Your actions have a larger impact on those around you than you think. The more people you inspire to make small changes in their lives, the larger the ripple effect of going zero waste is.
- It’s better for the environment – For obvious reasons… Sending less waste to the landfill, composting food scraps, buying second-hand, swapping disposables for reusable products, eliminating your use of products with harmful chemical—all of these things add up and decrease your individual negative impact on the planet.
Major Influencers in the Zero Waste Movement
Bea Johnson of Zero Waste Home
One of the most well-known and original heroes of the zero waste movement, Bea Johnson adopted the zero waste lifestyle with her family of four in 2008. She has launched the global zero waste movement and inspired many others to change their own lifestyles to focus on experiences that make them happy as opposed to things. You can learn about her and check out her blog at Zero Waste Movement.
Lauren Singer of Trash is for Tossers
Proving the point that the zero waste movement isn’t just for hippies, Lauren Singer is one cool New Yorker who documents her zero waste journey and shares tips on her blog, Trash is for Tossers. She launched a zero waste store in Brooklyn, NY and she also sells 3-ingredient, vegan laundry detergent over at The Simply Co.
There are countless other zero waste influencers and bloggers who are driving the zero waste movement, and can help inspire you along the way. Find and follow them on Instagram or Facebook to keep you motivated on your own journey.
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