Tips to Reduce Trash: Can you aim for a “zero waste” lifestyle?
By Shari Roan
Those of us who clean the beaches as part of the AIBMLC Beach Ambassadors program know that trash scattered on the beach, floating in the water and spilling out of stuffed trash cans is an ordinary occurrence. We strive to clean up as best we can. But a better solution is for all of us to cut back on the amount of trash we produce.
At an informative Zoom presentation to the Florida Sierra Club on Jan. 21, ecologist Amanda Waddle addressed a growing movement called Zero Waste Lifestyle, providing tips for how to reduce the amount of trash we produce.
A Zero Waste Lifestyle is designed to conserve resources by reusing, repurposing and recycling our stuff, said Waddle, director of policy advocacy of the Zero Waste & The Repurpose Project in Gainesville. It means buying less and buying more durable and long-lasting goods. It means avoiding heavily packaged goods and letting manufacturers, retailers and other service-providers know that we prefer less packaging and/or more environmentally friendly packaging.
“We want people to think differently about all of the stuff they use. We want everything in our lives to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.”
A Zero Waste Lifestyle is challenging, Waddle acknowledged. But give yourself a pat on the back for any small steps you take to reduce and reuse. Collectively, we can make a difference.
“We’re really talking about culture change; changing our relationship with stuff,” she said. “Zero Waste is a journey. It’s not something you can do overnight. Any amount of waste you reduce is a success.”
The Zero Waste movement is taking place on several levels – through policymaking, in communities and on a personal level. Communities can move toward Zero Waste by improving their citywide recycling programs and becoming a dedicated “Zero Waste” community (a long process that requires support and commitment, Waddle noted). Gainesville has a Reuse Store to collect and resell salvageable materials that might not be acceptable at traditional thrift stores. According to its web page, “It is a very strange store and people love it!
It’s easy for us, as individuals, to begin making a difference today. Here are some tips from Waddle to reduce your trash:
First, make an inventory of your trash for a day or a week. You will see patterns and will learn things about your usage that you can change.
Buy local goods, such as farmers’ market goods.
Buy food items in bulk, and use empty glass jars to store beans, nuts, pasta, etc.
Avoid single-use plastics. Instead of plastic utensils, purchase an old set of flatware at a thrift shop and use that for large gatherings.
Avoid disposable cleaning wipes and paper towels, and make rags from old clothing.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
Use toilet paper made from recycled paper.
Start a composting bin in your yard for food scraps.
Attempt to buy used before resorting to buying a new item.
Use bar soap instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles.
Take your own cloth shopping bags to grocery stores and other stores.
Reuse over
single-use
Some people may wonder if washing cloth rags, napkins and other reusable items takes up so much soap, water and energy that using disposable items is better for the environment. But, Waddle said, “Reuse always wins over single-use, even though there is energy use in maintaining those items.”
“The reason is because of the waste and climate-warming pollution that occurs upstream during resource extraction, manufacturing, processing and transportation of new items to replace the ones you threw away. With that said, we don't want any resources wasted, including water and energy to maintain reusables – and that should be kept in mind. The other reason that reusables win over disposables is the culture shift. The act of using a reusable item and then taking good care of it so it can be used again and again is a big part of Zero Waste. Zero Waste is about using durable items, taking care of those items and helping them last a long time.”
For information and resources you can find out more about living a Zero Waste lifestyle this week during Zero Waste Week 2021.
Sources: Repurpose Project; Zero Waste Gainesville