33 Ways to Waste Less

“Waste less” has been a value of mine for years.
Do I live totally waste-free yet?
No.
I still produce waste & use things I don’t need but am much more intentional about the way I consume.
Because I really love this earth. And treasure my own well-being.
And I’m guessing you do too.
It’s time to stop pretending the monstrous amount of non-biodegradable waste we produce each day just disappears.
And take into account the ample non-renewable resources it takes to create all this in the first place.

If you are looking to begin your journey with living more mindfully & aligned with nature or are already well on your way to a waste-free lifestyle, I hope some of these simple tips give inspiration that motivates positive & necessary change.

• Buy pantry staples from the bulk section. We can now find flour, sugar, herbs, spices, nuts, dried fruit, grains, legumes, cereals, snacks, pasta, coffee, tea, nut butters, sauces, cheese, and antipasto in the bulk section of most health food stores. Bring your own containers/bags to refill again. Save the labeled twisty ties to reuse as well.
• Source local. Shopping at farmers market or a CSA not only supports local economy, uses less packaging & transportation energy, but it’s better for our bodies to eat seasonally & from the soil we live on or nearby.
• Cook from scratch. So many items that come in plastic like mylk, hummus, salsa, bread, and yogurt can easily be made at home.
• Refill growlers at your local brewery instead of buying bottles or cans. Even kombucha is now sold on tap.
• Ask for no plastic utensils or straws if eating out. Support local restaurants who use eco-friendly to-go containers.
• Try new soap alternatives. There’s various options now for soap/shampoo/conditioner bars or laundry detergent sheets. Refill liquid soaps from bulk or farmers market. You could easily make your own as well.
• Make coffee or tea at home. So much of our current waste is from to-go cups. One day we can bring our own cup again!
• Primp smarter with non-plastic hair brushes & animal/eco-friendly make-up & accessories. Use socks or scrunchies for curlers instead of plastic or electric irons. Air dry your hair.
• Bamboo toothbrushes & toothpaste powders or pills.
• Eat less animal products, avocados, almonds & cane sugar. They require massive amounts of water to produce.
• Regrow plants like basil, celery, lettuce, chives, pineapple, avocado, leek, or potato.
• Buy second-hand clothing, furniture, household items, books…
• Save citrus peels to make household cleaners or fragrance sprays with.
• Say no to single use plastics that aren’t recyclable.
• Eat mainly whole food that comes in natural “packaging”. Avoid pre-cut fruits or veggies in plastic.
• Start a compost pile, sign up with a city compost or get a couple chickens to eat otherwise wasted food.
• Invest in cookbooks that teach how to cook with scraps & utilize all parts of foods you might otherwise throw out. Start simple with making your own stocks with veg scraps and bones.
• Walk or bike more, drive less. Take public transit if it’s available where you live.
• Let the sun guide your rhythms & use less light at night. Turn lights off when not in the room.
• Use a diva cup or free-bleed undies instead of pads or tampons.
• Make natural dyes with onion skins, avocado peels, beets, and spices.
• Save seeds & grow your own garden.
• Learn better ways to preserve food so you’re not throwing anything out because it went bad.
• Smoke hand-rolled cigs without filters & buy tobacco/herbs in bulk.
• Purchase goods from brands who are vocal about sustainability & ethics.
• Buy from local shops who reuse glass bottles & jars for their juices, soups, or dips. Usually comes with a deposit refund too.
• Use devices less or keep on powersave mode to use less electricity.
• Go hunting if you eat meat. Or make friends with someone who does.
• Make compostable seed starters out of egg cartons or toilet paper rolls.
• Save brown paper bags for wrapping paper or art projects.
• Shred junk mail to make your own recycled paper.
• Beeswax wrap to store food instead of plastic wrap.
• Use matches in place of plastic lighters (that always end up lost anyway).

If you’d like detailed how-to information about any of these ideas, please comment below & tell me how I can offer more useful resources to aid in your journey.
Thanks for caring, fellow earth warrior!