Zero Waste Living - Around the House

Find waste reduction tips below that you can incorporate around your home!

Compost your food scraps

Place a compost bin in your kitchen to collect food scraps as you cook and clean the countertop. Papers that have been soiled by food or liquid also go in there and will get composted and diverted from the landfill! To cut down on odor, use a smaller container so it gets taken out every day or store it in the freezer until taken out.

Beeswax wraps

Introducing reusable beeswax wraps, so you never have to use plastic cellophane, aluminum foil, or sealable plastic snack bags again! The wraps can cover plates, storage containers, or even wrap directly around an avocado! They self-seal by the heat from your hand, can be washed, reused, and composted once it no longer seals or sticks.

Reusable snack pouches

Packing a lunch on the go? Hiking and need a lightweight container for your trail mix? These handy pouches take up little space, are easy to carry, and are washable and reusable! Replacing disposable plastic zipper bags, these reusable snack pouches can be made out of silicone or fabric and reused many times.

Clean with cloth towels

Paper towels are unnecessary when there are alternatives to help cut out waste in your life. In the U.S., 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used each year, so switch to reusable cloth rags for cleaning and make a BIG difference. You can also repurpose old t-shirts, socks, and other cloth items to be used as cleaning cloths or mop pads!

Cleaners with concentrated tablet refills

Instead of purchasing bottles of liquid cleaner (and paying for water in those bottles), try concentrated cleaning tablets – simply add the tablets and water to your reusable bottle. These different concentrated tablet products can make foaming hand soap, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, and glass cleaner. Look for products that don’t contain toxic ingredients or learn how to make your own non-toxic cleaners at home.

DIY non - toxic cleaners

Zero out packaging waste from cleaners in disposable bottles. Using low-cost natural ingredients, you can mix your own, save money, reduce toxics, and store them in reusable spray bottles or jars!

HERE ARE A COUPLE RECIPES TO TRY:

Laundry detergent sheets

Cut out the plastic container by switching to laundry detergent sheets. They might look small but have the same cleaning power as liquid detergents! They also cut down on greenhouse gas emissions by not shipping as heavy jugs.

Wool dryer balls

Ditch the dryer sheets! These natural wool dryer balls do it all: reducing drying time and static while softening the fabric. They also last up to 1,000 loads. Make sure to purchase balls made from wool or other natural fibers so you can compost them when they are done.

Shampoo and conditioner bars

Feel clean and refreshed from how much less waste you’ll make by switching to bars instead of liquid shampoo and conditioner! Often lasting much longer than liquid alternatives, bars are available for all kinds of hair types, and the best news - no more plastic bottles! This same concept applies to switching to bar soap and replacing shower gel and liquid hand soap.

Reusable razors

Safety razors, straight razors, refillable cartridge razors - there are plenty to choose from. They all have one thing in common: reusable! Make disposable razors a thing of the past and choose a reusable razor instead. It will save on costs and reduce plastic packaging.

Fiber toothbrush

Make the switch to toothbrushes made from fiber like bamboo instead of plastic. Not only are you cutting back on plastic use, if you make sure to get one completely made from natural fiber it can be composted at the end of its life!

Toothpaste tablets

Toothpaste tablets are just toothpaste made without water and compressed into tablet form. They’re available with or without fluoride. To use: chew, wet your toothbrush, and start brushing. There’s no tube to toss and considering that over 400 million tubes are thrown away every year in America, that’s a good thing! Tablets for mouthwash are also available and both are excellent for travel because of their size and no airline restrictions.

Click on another category to find more waste reduction tips!