Track your trash
This may sound a bit strange, but if you’re looking to cut down on the waste you create, understanding just what waste you’re creating is crucial to making adjustments. Either keep a note going on your phone or tape a piece of paper and a pen next to your trash bin, but everytime you throw something out, write it down. Practicing this over the course of a week or so will help you recognize patterns that will allow you to swap out single-use products for more sustainable alternatives. For example, if you notice you’ve thrown out a ton of plastic bags, look for reusable ones you can use instead. You don’t have to stop creating garbage entirely right from the start — even doing a little to cut back can help out our planet.
Pair up
Sometimes it can be difficult to hold yourself accountable for the trash you create, especially if you feel like you’re doing it alone. Instead, try embarking on this journey with a friend or family member — think of it like having a gym buddy, but for helping the Earth’s health on top of your own. This way, you’ll have someone to talk to and share your experiences with. Consider making a group chat to share new sustainable alternatives and practices together so you can get inspiration on new ways to be greener.
Read up
If you don’t have another person to bounce ideas off of — or even if you do — look for inspiration online. There’s plenty of blogs and articles about going zero or low waste written by people who have been on their journey for years. You can even look for more niche sites as well, like those geared towards college students, different ages, lifestyles, diets and more. However, remember to do some additional research to make sure those sources are reliable.
Reduce, reuse, and repurpose
While recycling can be a great option for items you might toss, sometimes products can’t be recycled for a variety of reasons. Not to mention, it takes some energy to recycle too. Instead, try to reduce your waste, reuse what you have for as long as possible and when you’re done, repurpose it. For example, if you have an old t-shirt you’ve worn to threads, turn it into a no-sew reusable bag, and after that, you can use it as rags for around the house. Or, if it’s still wearable, consider donating it so that someone else can get more use out of it. There’s plenty of creative ways to repurpose products and help the environment.
Photo: R. Kraft
