Zero Waste Living has been in the media for a while, but it always seems overwhelming. We hear about all the terrible things plastic has done to the environment, which I have been shocked to know, but we never know where to start. How do we reduce our plastic? What steps can we take to start making the changes towards zero waste living? What actually gets recycled and what doesn’t? Where can I buy all the foods we need?
These questions were the questions that I had just a month ago. I decided as the new year rolled around that I wanted to reduce my waste, but when I was looking at icons to follow, they were already years into the process and it felt overwhelming to try and follow in their footsteps. I am only a month into it, and I only have a few packages left on the “plastic shelf”. I have also noticed a huge difference in my eating habits and my health. What newbie steps did I take to go Zero Waste? Keep reading to find out.
Step 1: Containers & Zip Locks
The first step is buying the containers to put your food in and, as much as you wouldn’t think, reusable zip locks are important. A lot of the food that we buy or that we pack in our lunches, are in plastic. Rice, oats, coconut, cocoa, flour, etc., they are all packaged in some form of plastic. My first initiative was to reduce the plastic that I had in my cupboard. I bought containers to put everything in and bought reusable zip lock bags for food storage in our lunches. This step was the easiest step of them all because all it took was a few clicks on Amazon.
Step 2: Reusable Bags
Another habit that we have to get out of is the plastic bags at the supermarket. Now I am not just talking about the bags that you put your groceries in at the end of the grocery trip, but the produce bags that we put our fresh fruits and vegetables in. A lot of those produce bags claim to be compostable, and they will eventually compost, but they aren’t as compostable as we are lead to believe, there are still traces of plastic in them that are dangerous for the environment and for waterlife animals. When you use reusable produce bags, you take the risk out all together, and if you’re worried about the grocery store not accepting them, don’t worry too much, all they really have to do is look inside the bag to see what it is, half the time they can already tell.
Step 3: BulkBarn
A lot of our food that comes in plastics bags or containers are usually at the BulkBarn ready for you to bring your containers and fill them up. I have run into many people at the BulkBarn surprised that I brought my own containers, but the store actually encourages you to do it to have less plastic. When you get to the store you go up to the cash and have them weigh the container, after that you fill your containers and cash out. It is simple, and it saves you transfering when you get home. I use the BulkBarn for my grains, pastas, nut butters, honies, crackers, popcorns, and cereals. It might come to the same price as it does in the grocery store anyway, but you get the exact amount that you want and you take your step in saving the environment along the way.
Step 4: Shampoo & Soap
What is great about the BulkBarn is it also sells shampoos and soaps that don’t come in plastic containers. I usually bring a produce bag to put the bars of soap in and then put them away when I get home. The soaps are wonderful and smell amazing. The shampoo and conditioner bar is harder, it works for my hair because I have naturally oily hair, but some find it dries their hair out too much. It is something worth trying because if it works for you, then you will stop buying shampoo and soap bottles, reducing your plastic print by a lot.
Step 5: Recycling
Recycling is a difficult one because it depends what you consider as “waste”. There are some situations where bloggers won’t have any waste, not even recycled materials. I however try to reduce my plastic that I put in the recycling, but other materials I consider acceptable. There is so much plastic in the recycling plants, that they are overwhelmed and a lot of that plastic doesn’t get recycled because it is in abundance and is more difficult. Materials that are easily recycled are glass, paper and metal. Glass is crushed, melted and formed; metal is melted and formed into a new product; paper is washed and formed into the new material. These three have processes that are easy and the products themselves are in demand. Plastic is washed, separated, shredded, melted and formed; there is a longer process for plastic, and a lot of the time once the plastic has been recycled once, it cannot be recycled again. Another issue we have with plastic is unnecessary uses for it, a waste in plastic. There are certain uses for plastic wrapping (industrially), but other uses are a waste; for example, I ordered a pair of shoes this week and they got delivered in their shoe box, and then the individual shoes were wrapped in plastic, now it would have been much better for the environment had their been paper between the boots; that use of plastic is wasteful and not good for the environment. Straws and toothbrushes have the same impact, they are not recycled properly and wasteful to plastic; you can purchase reusable straws, as well as compostable toothbrushes and it is encouraged to do so, especially for our marine life.
In my household we limit the products/produce that we buy in plastic and try to go for no form of packaging, or packaging with paper, glass or metal (extremely rare to have metal).
Most towns now have added composting to their waste management. This is also encouraged to use, if you do not have room for you own in the backyard, it helps separate the household and reduce the garbage waste.
Step 6: Eating Habits
Trying to reduce our waste has changed a lot of our eating habits for the better. We are more likely to buy whole grain products at the BulkBarn, leaving only fresh produce at the grocery store. We will not buy foods in plastic bags, leaving us with almost no junk food in the house, seeing as most of it does come in plastic packaging. Avoiding plastic packaging encourages you to make your own juice, bread, muffins, wraps, and more.
Because of the plastic packaging avoidance, I make my own bread and wraps at home. Homemade food is always better because you control what is going in the recipe, but it also makes for less preservatives and “extra” products that they put inside. My bread recipe consists of whole wheat flour, water, yeast and honey. It is simple, easy and good for you.
Sometimes life is busy and making our own bread can be time consuming. At this point it is encouraged to go to local bakeries to collect your bread products. Usually bakeries will package their breads in paper bags and you still get the delight of having homemade bread in the house, if you are not sure how long it will last, buy a bread box or bread bag to keep the bread fresher.
This also goes the same for meat, eggs and dairy. Find your local butcher and either bring your own containers for them to put your meat cuts in, or ask them to wrap it in paper (most of the time they will wrap it in paper anyway). Find a local farmer and ask to get your farm produce from them, bring your own containers/bottles/egg cartons and have them fill it up, usually they won’t charge as much as the grocery store, the animals are much happier, you are supporting locals and helping the environment.
By eating local produce, you are putting less chemicals in your body, which makes a huge difference in your energy levels and the way your body digests food.
All in all these simple steps that you can take will really help the environment and if you are motivated to take more I encourage you to do your research and check in on my pinterest page for upcoming ideas on reducing waste in your household. In the end you will see a difference in your eating habits and your mindfulness to your health and the health of everyone around you.