The average person generates 4.9 pounds of waste every day. Or that waste, only 1.9 pounds is recycled or composted. At the national level, that means that around 198 million waste pounds are filled annually. Here is a great opportunity to relocate, reduce, reuse and, when necessary, recycle much of what ends in our landfills. In fact, a zero waste lifestyle is possible. If you are wondering: “What really do zero waste really mean?” This publication should help.
Start a zero waste lifestyle
There are some inspiring examples of individuals and families that have achieved dramatic results. The Johnson family in California, for example, has generated only a handful of garbage in six months. Bea Johnson and Re -Family have called their home in California The Zero Waste Home. Be sure to see the video in the house of zero waste at the end of this publication.
Follow these tips to start with a zero waste lifestyle.
Rejection of unnecessary articles
Because we live in a wasteful society, it is easy to take many unnecessary things home. It is easy to finish with unnecessary promotional flyers, toys for junk children, excessive containers and products samples. Althehessee, these things can be useful, many end up accumulating dust or are quickly arranged or. Avoid bringing unnecessary articles to your home rejecting them at the source.
ADVICE: Take a photo of a steering wheel if you have useful information, bring your own bags and containers when buying and pass the rest. It is useful to involve all family members in this, since it requires a collective approach to make a significant difference at home level.
Hug free circulation
Many elements that you have but that you do not need can or value another person. Some cities have adopted free movement and have systems to promote exchange, such as piles or free exchanges. Small free libraries encourage literacy and the conservation of resources of neighborhoods through free book exchanges. Community groups and churches can share a closet where people can donate and exchange clothing, household items, tools and other items.
ADVICE: If your community lacks such networks to share, consider starting a program that inspires it.
Recycle clothes
Did you know that a lot of clothes is recyclable? If your clothes are too worn or stained to be reused, it is a good candidate for recycling. But the first option, with the greatest environmental impact, is to pass its unwanted but usable clothes is reuse. Look for a donation place near you.
ADVICE: Many second -hand stores will recycle clothing items that are not suitable for resa.
Organize an exchange
Do you have clothes that no longer fit or that no longer adapt? Do you have many books or toys that you no longer use?
Swaps often work better when they organize them through a group with a common interest, such as a play group for children, a circle of fabric or a hiking club, because people will have a shared interest in certain types of things. Promote the event widely to be more successful. Have available tables for people to organize their items, perhaps by size or subject. Done all unresated articles.
Use Freecycle or Craigslist
I frequently buy items used and then resell them when I don’t need them in Craigslist, eBay OA through resale slurry on Facebook or Listsvs. It is a good way to save money and at the same time reduce waste.
Listing with images generally get a better answer and relate the article if it is not sold within a week or so to keep the list fresh. Whenever possible, provide detailed information, such as dimensions, brand or model number.
ADVICE: For low value items, consider listing them as free in Freecycle, Nextdoor or Craigslist. Many elements that people generally recycle or pull can be useful, such as cardboard movement, worn furniture and equally broken items.
To save time, you can simply leave the article in front of your home: you create a list of its location and a sign that says it is free. Remember to eliminate the list when the element is claimed.
Set a loan network with friends
Do you have a group of friends or colleagues who share their passion to save resources and money? Do you use your skates, ice -frequent tent and broken?
ADVICE: Consider creating a loan network for many articles, such as books, DVDs, garden tools and sports equipment.
You can creations for what you are willing to share/rent, together with expectations. You can, for example, request that people return their grass cutter with a full gasoline tank or have their sleeping bag after use.
Start a work recycling program or compost battery
Can you help your coworkers to start recycling at work? Is there space for a compost battery? Offices and work sites can be an excellent place to start recycling or composting programs. If possible, find a couple of coworkers inspired to join you in the project, helping to run your voice and create and maintain the necessary infrastructure.
In some cases, you can find a way to collect small and high impact items, such as batteries or fluorescent bulbs, which can easily transport to a recycling destination. If starting a recycling or composting program is not an option, look for other easy ways to reduce waste. Do you buy your office in the water bottle or use a water filter? Are there a company guidelines against the printing of unnecessary documents?
Go paper without paper
Most banks and companies provide states and paperless invoices. I receive all our invoices, invoices and bank extracts of publicly public services. Going paper saves paper and the energy necessary to transport the documents. It is also an excellent way to reduce disorder and reduce the need to empty its recycling container.
ADVICE: To make sure to keep good records, you can download statements and save them.
To register in paperless statements, visit your online profile for a given organization and look for a paperless option, or call the institution by phone.
Decline catalogs on paper and junk mail
Is your mailbox full of unwanted promotions and catalogs? If so, take away from mail lists. This not only prevents its recycling container from getting so fast, but also saves disorder and energy.
Contact the Direct Marketing Association to register your mail preferences. This allows you to eliminate your name from many telemarket, mail and email of Telemarket National. Register with the Exclusion Program of the Consumer Credit Reports Industry so as not to collect the credit card and insurance sacrifices by calling 1-888-567-8688 or register online. You can also call the list of telephone numbers in catalogs, or communicate with the company online, and requested that you are deleted from your specific mail list.
PIN for later!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0JBJ6muds
Image of characteristics of arti Sandhu (Flickr)
Editor’s note: Originally published on March 1, 2016, this article was updated in April 2025.
