Easy Changes That Can Take You to Zero Waste

Disposable bags are one of the easiest places to cut waste. Americans use an estimated 100 billion plastic bags a year, and a single bag, used for the few minutes it takes to carry groceries home, can linger in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastic bags are also a well-documented hazard to wildlife, especially marine animals and seabirds that mistake them for food or become entangled. Paper bags aren't a clean fix either; producing them consumes trees, water, and energy.

The better answer is to skip disposables altogether. Keep a stash of reusable totes, canvas or cotton, by the door or in your car so you always have them on hand. And if you forget them on the way into the store, it's worth the walk back to the car to grab them.

Globally, people buy close to a million plastic bottles every minute, by some estimates, and only a small share are ever recycled. The rest can take centuries to break down. Bottled water isn't necessarily a safer drink, either; a 2019 Consumer Reports investigation found concerning levels of arsenic in a handful of bottled water brands.

A good reusable bottle pays for itself fast. Choose one that's easy to clean so it doesn't harbor bacteria, and consider stainless steel or ceramic, which keep drinks cold or hot longer than most plastic.

Takeout and dining out are convenient, but the containers, utensils, napkins, and sauce packets pile up fast. When you pick up an order, bring your own utensils and cloth napkins and leave the disposable ones at the counter. When you dine in, bring a container from home for any leftovers.

Cooking at home saves money and resources, and the scraps don't have to go in the trash. According to the EPA, food and yard waste together make up roughly a third of what Americans throw away. A compost bin handles a lot of it. Keep a small countertop or under-sink bin for easy collection; you can make your own or buy one in bamboo, stainless steel, or plastic to suit your kitchen.

Finished compost enriches soil, helps fend off pests and plant diseases, and cuts the need for commercial fertilizer. It also keeps food waste out of landfills, where it would otherwise release methane. Because it's gentle, you can add it to garden beds or houseplants any time of year without burning plants or polluting waterways.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the food Americans throw out most includes inedible parts, fruits and vegetables, and prepared foods and leftovers. Cooked food that isn't great for composting still doesn't have to be wasted. A little creativity can turn last night's dinner into something new.

Try these ideas to extend the life of prepared foods:

• Make an omelet with an egg and leftover veggies.
• Chop or puree, then freeze fruits that are about to go bad.
• Freeze excess salad dressings in ice trays (and then make your own to reduce plastic).
• Add rice or pasta to leftover meat entrees.

Americans throw out more than 25 billion pounds of clothing every year, much of it cheap, trend-driven pieces that wear out or fall out of fashion fast. You can step off that treadmill: clear out what you no longer wear, mix new outfits from what's left, and buy secondhand to fill any gaps. Thrifting keeps clothes out of landfills and is far easier on your budget.

Some commercial cleaners contain ingredients that can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs, especially with heavy use. Every bottle of cleaner or detergent is also money spent and one more piece of plastic likely headed for a landfill. Homemade cleaners are cheap, simple, and low-waste.

Basics like water, vinegar, and baking soda handle a lot of everyday cleaning jobs, though they aren't disinfectants, so they won't replace every product. Buy ingredients in bulk, store your mixes in labeled glass or stainless steel spray bottles, and never combine homemade cleaners with bleach or commercial products, since some mixtures release toxic fumes.

Junk mail, the endless solicitations, coupons, catalogs, and flyers, wastes paper and your time. To cut down on prescreened credit and insurance offers, the Federal Trade Commission points to the official opt-out run by the major credit bureaus: visit optoutprescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). You can opt out for five years online or by phone, or permanently by completing and mailing back the opt-out form they send you after you start the process.

Advertising is designed to convince you to buy things you don't need, and every impulse purchase adds to the clutter at home, or the landfill later. A more mindful approach helps: before buying, pause to ask whether it's a genuine need or a passing mood. Browsing shops or scrolling shopping sites for entertainment can quietly fuel the urge to buy more. And for anyone whose shopping feels hard to control, talking with a counselor or a trusted friend can make a real difference.

Notice where you generate the most waste and tackle one area at a time. There's no need for a total overhaul; in fact, it's better, and cheaper, to use up what you already have before replacing it with a low-waste version. Every step toward less waste counts, for you and for everyone downstream.