Episode 151

Zero Waste Tips

by Emily Gerde

Today, I am going to share zero waste tips with you. The zero waste movement it growing in stride, so this podcast gives you ways I have aimed for zero waste in my home but more importantly, resources of experts who are really committed to the movement. Zero waste is much easier in larger cities but several companies are catching on and communities are coming together for the common goal of minimizing waste in the community.

The hardest way to eliminate our waste for our family is food packaging. There are a few zero waste grocery stores across the country, but they don’t necessarily have chemical free or organic food, but it’s still a step in the right direction. Find a Store near you on this amazing website https://www.litterless.com/wheretoshop/.  When talking zero waste the best way to start it to see what your local recycling center excepts and actually recycles. You will be surprised to know what they can’t recycle such as certain plastics and you can donate things like yogurt cups, cardboard rolls, etc to your local pre-schools, schools, art teachers, churches, etc. Another great way to move toward zero waste is to use compostable or paper bags and garbage bags or better yet none at all. We have done all three options. Here is an option for compostable bags we like http://biobagusa.com/.

Another way to take steps toward zero waste is eliminating as much food packaging as possible. We can do this by buying in bulk when possible. Many grocery stores have it where you can bring your own mason jar and pour the bulk food into the mason jars. Several also have the option to refill things like soap, nut butters, baking soda, detergents, etc. You can also support the up and coming industries of hemp and mushroom plastics that biodegrade and are much safer. Below are articles to read up more on these two alternatives.  You can get involved in supporting these types of business and non-profits by going to your local sustainability expo.

Please share your zero waste tips with us!

Plastic Alternatives

https://www.greenbatch.com/blog/2017/10/10/mushrooms-an-ecological-alternative-to-plastics

https://daily.jstor.org/company-uses-mushrooms-grows-plastic-alternatives/

https://ministryofhemp.com/blog/why-isnt-hemp-plastic-everywhere/

http://hempwaterbottles.tripod.com/what-is-hemp-plastic.html

https://sustainableamerica.org/resources

Zero Waste International Alliance

http://zwia.org/

Zero Waste Nerd

https://zerowastenerd.com/

Sound Resource Management

http://zerowaste.com/sound-resource-management-studies-and-reports/

Zero Waste Marin  (although this is specific to a location…still has great ideas)

https://zerowastemarin.org/residents/zero-waste-resources/

Grass Roots Recycling Network

http://www.grrn.org/page/what-zero-waste

 

You might also enjoy this podcast

097 Zero Waste Shampoo

 

Episode 97

Lindsey McCoy

Lindsey McCoy has a master’s degree in nonprofit management and spent the last 10 years working on environmental education in the Bahamas, islands full of single-use plastic

She and her sister, Allison Webster, co-founded a company, Plaine Products, that offers shampoo, conditioner and body wash in aluminum bottles that can be returned, refilled and reused.

Continue reading

sustainable options for carrying food

James Robinson

Episode 62 – Carrying Food Sustainably

Sustainable options for carrying food are not easy to find.

Okay, if you just want to take a sandwich with you somewhere, you can wrap it in wax paper. But how practical is this?

And what if you are gluten-free and generally don’t eat sandwiches? Truly air-tight options that don’t leak when you carry them in your back pack are also not easy to find.

Continue reading

The life of a zero-waste minimalist seems completely out of reach for many of us.

Rama Nayeri was certainly not sure it could work for her.  But a doctor’s diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes got her thinking that maybe a drastic lifestyle change was in order.

Continue reading