Moving Toward a Lower Waste Lifestyle
I have so much respect for people who have managed to reduce their waste down to a mason jar of trash each year. Alas, that is not me. But I've embraced “Progress, Not Perfection.” Every little bit helps when it comes to reducing waste and single-use...
Reduce Single-Use Waste
One of the first (and simplest) things I've been trying to move away from is single-use items.
The best part of these reusable cotton rounds is that they're softer on your skin than the disposable kinds. Plus, bamboo is a fast-growing crop, so it adds to the sustainability impact.
This is another perma-solution that I actually enjoy better than the disposable. My kids prefer the silicone tips, while I like to use the straws without the (easily removed) silicone toppers. Either way, the little squeegee cleaning thing comes in h...
Clothes are actually one of the biggest culprits in landfills. I love ThredUp because I'm able to buy high quality, beautiful clothes for a lower price than retail, and it lowers fashion waste footprint in the process. You can click here to save up to 45% on your first order and get free shipping!
Ideas & Inspiration to Make Progress
I'm always looking for simple and easily implementable ideas to help me lower my waste footprint, and thankfully, there are many wise people who are happy to share their experience.
There are some really helpful and simple ideas in this post to help reduce wastefulness and reuse as much as possible.
Great book with helpful, concrete, doable ideas to get you moving toward a lower waste lifestyle.
Any time I need a little encouragement or inspiration to keep going in lowering my waste, I go to Reasons To Be Cheerful. They share inspiring stories from around the world about individuals and communities who are making positive changes to the worl...
Sustainable Lawn Options
A few years ago, we took out the grass lawn in our backyard and have gradually been filling it with perennial plants. No mowing, very little watering, and the best part is that quite a few of these are edible (or have other benefits).
Strawberries actually make excellent ground cover! Planting 100 plants a few years ago, and I have hundreds now, blanketing my side yard. Quinault is one of my favorite varieties, although I've also grown Ozark Beauty. They bloom abundantly in spring...
Thyme is one of my favorite plants for lawn replacement. It uses almost no water, spreads quickly and easily, is soft to walk on, and smells great! I've used several different varieties as ground cover. Creeping thyme has the prettiest flowers. Lemon...
Microclover is a wonderful lawn replacement that saves water and time that you would have spent mowing. It's super soft and forms a thick carpet of green. If you want a “lawn look” micro clover might be your best bet.
Once you get the hang of composting, it's one of the best and easiest activities you can do to reduce your waste. Not just reduce waste, but turn it into something amazingly valuable in your garden! I compost with both a vermicompost bin (worms do mo...
There are various methods to vermicompost (worm composting), but the urban worm bag is an incredibly well-designed option. You can actually keep it inside if you want. The fabric bag allows easy airflow and keeps the compost healthy and composting qu...
I've bought all my worms from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm. (He has multiple varieties, although red wigglers are the go-to for vermicomposting, especially if you're new to it). He also has a great, sturdy vermicompost bin option and lots of great worm info...
Clean Home, Lower Waste
A few small changes can make a big difference when it comes to lowering waste around your house.
The printing on the package is a bit wacky, but Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap has replaced so many of my cleaning items (for body and home). A little--and I mean little--dab will do because it's so concentrated. Some people even brush their teeth...