Do you want to live zero waste? If so, there are several easy zero waste tips for beginners that can help you get started. Living zero waste is all about taking steps in your daily life to reduce the amount of trash and disposable products you use. Zero Waste Tips for Beginners will provide 20 ways to start living zero waste today.
Table of Contents
1. Makeup/Toiletries
Replace makeup, toothpaste, body wash, etc., with natural alternatives. Set monthly goals to replace fewer items in your normal morning routine after you’ve used up your old products. Many stores have their brands of zero waste toiletry items that are more cost-effective than name brands while being just as effective.
2. Medicine
Make your own medicine out of natural ingredients in your kitchen, such as coconut oil for acne and coconut oil and baking soda for deodorant. Or buy herbs/ingredients to make your versions at home rather than using store-bought chemicals or prescriptions from a doctor.
3. Buy Bulk
Go to the store with containers instead of buying pre-packaged items. This way, you can buy according to your need and use reusable fabric bags, glass jars, etc., instead of having more trash come home with you than what would have been created if you had brought an empty container into the store and filled it with you it up yourself.
4. Compost
Find a place near you that takes compost. Create your compost pile in your backyard if you have the space.
5. Food Scraps
Feed your food scraps to chickens or worms rather than throwing them away with the trash. You can also collect it and compost it yourself.
6. Make Your Cleaners
Cleaning products are some of the most toxic things for people, pets, plants, etc., yet they are easily replaceable by using vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, etc. Not only will you save money, but you will free up a lot of time that would have been spent cleaning all of your surfaces/items with store-bought cleaners.*Bonus* Collect white wine cork stoppers instead of recycling used corks since cork is one of the most sustainable natural resources.
7. Ditch Paper Towels
Use cloth kitchen towels instead of paper towels to clean up messes or even dry off your dishes after you wash them.
8. Go Digital
Cut the cord to save money and waste by watching television online (and still watch all of your favorite shows). Many websites offer legal streaming services like Hulu, PBS, Amazon, etc., for free! Not only will you be helping out the environment, but you’ll save money as well. You can also use Netflix if you have access to a TV.
9. Use Less When You Can
Only use as much product as you need; don’t overuse it because it’s cheap or easier not to care about.
10. Upcycle
Turn old clothing into something new like a quilt, beanbag chair, pillow covers, etc., instead of throwing out clothes that still have some life left in them. Plus, if you buy second-hand items, then you’ll be saving more money and helping the environment by keeping things out of landfills!*Bonus* If your child is too big for their current clothes, but they still fit perfectly (for example, their pants are still in good condition but their waist size is too big for them), then cut the legs off and turn them into shorts.
11. Be Picky
If you can choose between two equally good things, pick the one that will have a smaller carbon footprint or at least recyclable packaging; don’t just go with the cheaper option if it means more waste.
12. Make Your Snacks
Making your snacks out of ingredients from your kitchen instead of buying pre-packaged ones could help save money and reduce your food’s impact on the environment by reducing its carbon footprint. You don’t even have to make all of our snacks from scratch; if you already know what kind of ingredients you like, then buy what’s needed in bulk and make your snacks at home for cheaper than buying pre-packaged things.
13. Use All of Your Senses
This is in regards to food; when you’re in the supermarket, don’t just look around with your eyes because using all five senses will help you save more money by making sure that everything you buy is edible (and not moldy) while also keeping your senses aware of when something needs to be thrown away or used soon before it goes bad. Also, instead of throwing out old food scraps, use them to fertilize your plants!*Bonus* If you want to get into cooking but are nervous about it, then check out YouTube tutorials on how to cook certain foods for beginner-friendly recipes.
14. Stop Buying Bottled Water
It’s bad for the environment, and in some places where they bottle water, that water is just coming from a faucet. You’re paying top dollar to drink tap water, so why not just drink it out of your sink instead?*Bonus* If you find yourself having to buy bottles of water often, then you could always get a reusable plastic one or get a purifier system hooked up to your faucet. These are even better because many filters have charcoal filters that will be replaced every month or two while ensuring that your drinking water is safe from hazardous chemicals.
15. Shop from Home
Go through and websites before going out to the store to see what you’ll need. If you don’t have a grocery list, write one up and make sure to include necessary items you’ve forgotten but may need before going out. Also, if your items are already at home, you won’t have to go through as many checkouts.*Bonus* When making purchases online, try searching for stores that offer free shipping! This will help cut down on gas costs from driving around and carbon emissions from getting deliveries from further away or multiple places.
16. Make Your Cosmetics
By doing this, not only will you save more money, but it can also be a lot of fun learning about all of the ingredients in your makeup so they don’t irritate your skin or make you break out (plus, who knows what might happen if they get in your eyes ?). If you like learning about new recipes, then DIY beauty is perfect for you!*Bonus* Makeup remover, face wash, body wash, deodorant, perfume, aftershave, etc., are all easy to make at home with ingredients that can be found at your local grocery store.
17. Stop Buying Plastic Water Bottles
Not only are most plastic water bottles harmful to the environment, but buying them also means that you’re spending more money than necessary on everything from energy costs to transportation; plus, bottled water is no safer than tap water anyway, so why pay extra for something not much better? One way around this would be to get rid of all the single-use water bottles you have lying around, repurposed some old empty plastic bottles or jars, or buy reusable water bottles with filters in them.
18. Buy Second-hand
The best way to save money on clothes, appliances, furniture, and pretty much everything is to buy it used! This is great for your wallet and good for the environment since recycling helps reduce greenhouse gases caused by items sitting in landfills.*Bonus* When buying second-hand clothing, remember that washing new clothes before wearing them can reduce their carbon footprint, so don’t be afraid of picking up something if it looks clean.*Extra Bonus* If you know anyone who’s selling any of the things mentioned above, then offer to take it off their hands! Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are great places to find these items.
19. Make Your Cleaning Supplies
Don’t be afraid of making your cleaning supplies; there’s no need for anything with harsh chemicals (which can irritate your skin and eyes and the environment). A quick search online will give you a slew of super-effective recipes for all sorts of cleaners with ingredients most people already have lying around the house .*Bonus* If you want to make more powerful cleaning products, then look up tutorials on how to make vinegar or baking soda-based cleaners!
20. Start Composting
When kitchen scraps like vegetable peels and eggshells decompose in landfills, they release methane gas, and even more destructive greenhouse gas. Reusing this waste by composting it instead can reduce climate change and give your plants some excellent nutrients. If you already have a garden, then great! You can use the finished product in that; if you don’t, then try looking into community gardens to find out what they do with their compost or get one of your own (if you’re lucky enough).
One very easy way to start living zero waste is to get rid of items no longer needed. Have too much clutter sitting around your house? Sell, donate, or recycle old stuff rather than throwing it away, so it doesn’t end up clogging up landfills.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever wanted to start living a more Eco-friendly life, but didn’t know where to start or how much it would cost, then this post is for you. The best way to get started with Zero Waste is by following these simple tips that even the most novice of environmentalists can follow. Give them a try and see what an impact they have on your lifestyle.
