First Steps to Living Waste-Free

For the last two months, I have tried my hand at living a zero-waste lifestyle. I've tried to cut back on products with excessive packaging, take shorter showers (haven't had any luck cutting down on baths), do laundry less often, and eat all the food that I buy. So far, I have decreased my personal waste by *no joke* 91% and have upped my recycling rate.

Here are the first steps to take:

1. Adios paper products!!! Finish up those paper plates and towels and bring out the cloth napkins. Will you look snooty and extra? Oh, for sure. But you'll diminish your volume of waste greatly, and napkins are easy to toss in with a laundry load of t-shirts!

2. Cut down on processed food: better for your health, awesome for reducing source of kitchen waste. As I started shopping with zero-waste in mind, I was floored by how much packaging is used in stores. Look for low-waste options that are packaged in recyclable containers. I found meats and cheeses to be the highest trash-producing foods in my diet. I've since cut down on cheese, but I still eat meat from time to time. Steaks are often packaged on Styrofoam and wrapped in plastic (offensive). Trader Joe's steaks have the lowest waste packaging I've found thus far. The plastic covering is minimal and the container itself is recyclable!

3. Skip the plastic bags - buy reusable shopping bags and place produce directly into your shopping cart. Society makes you feel like you have to package each of your produce items in their own little plastic baggy, but don't let them fool you! SAY NO PLASTIC BAGGIES.

4. Buy reusable alternatives - Coffee cups and washable utensils are the way to go, especially for students who are eating on campus. You've all read my love letter to Hydros. The beauty of those babies is that they'll hold anything you put in them and keep them hot OR cold! Carrying around reusable alternatives takes a bit of time to get used to, mostly because you have to wash them after each use and put them back in your car or backpack. Finding a reusable cup is easy, but in case you need a recommendation for utensils, To-Go Ware has awesome (and super colorful) options:

5. Check your health and beauty products for the recycling icon. Most shampoos and conditioners come in recyclable plastics, but there are a number that come in malleable tubes, which is not recyclable. If you're ready to try out a new haircare routine, check the bottle before you checkout!

Here's what I've learned:

1. You use what you already have first. I found myself finishing up leftovers, shampoo bottles, and toothpaste tubes that had been around forever. This let me clear up space in my bathroom cabinets, and using what you have saves you money in the short run!

2. I visit the store 4x as much and spend about 15% of my previous grocery bills. I buy the food that I need for the next couple of meals and buy no more than I plan to eat. Additionally, I found that I cut down on impulse buys (new chapstick, unnecessary sheet masks) because of the waste they would create. My average grocery bill was $12-25, and my groceries consisted of 40% vegetables, 20% fruits, 15% meat, and 25% chocolate.

3. My new meal plan was well-rounded, and I ended up losing weight (which we love!). Processed foods have a wild amount of packaging, but they also are high in sugar, salt, and calories!

4. MOST IMPORTANT LESSON: It is so easy to fall off the wagon. I still go to my parents' house and use their paper towels. I cave and buy a coffee in a paper cup. This is a lifestyle of constant awareness, but isn't that something the world needs a little more of?

Comment below if you have any questions or recommendations :)