Resolve to be less trashy in 2024
I’ve called out before that the average American generates 4.9 pounds of garbage per person, per day. In contrast, a zero-waste lifestyle is admirable yet effectively unattainable for us mere mortals. Instead, let’s focus on progress over perfection. If you’d like to be less trashy this year, I’ve got plenty of suggestions below that can help you reach that goal. Most likely you’re already doing some of these things, so good for you! Why not adopt a few more ways to further reduce waste? The goal is to continually raise your awareness, making incremental changes along the way. Over time you’ll find that sustainable choices, behaviors, and actions become second nature. The most important thing is to get started—and then keep going.
National treasure Dolly Parton has famously said “it costs me a lot of money to look this cheap.” But she’s not trashy, she’s classy.
Ideas to get things started
"We want consumers to take a pause and look at how they consume - not stop consuming, but just look at some other way to consume that's more responsible and healthier for the environment." — Chris Gourley, head of the Buy Nothing New campaign in Northern Ireland
Commit to a “buy nothing new” month.
Year round, commit to buying less. Wait at least 24 hours before making a purchase to avoid impulse buys.
When you do need to buy something, look for it second-hand and shop locally.
Try repairing something before repurchasing it.
Check out books from the local library, start a lending library, or swap books with friends. Shop used bookstores and consider ebooks, which have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional print books.
Unsubscribe from marketing emails and texts to minimize the temptation to buy.
Skip printed receipts and opt for digital ones instead.
Sign up for electronic bills and statements.
Decline free or promotional items.
Pick up litter when you’re out and about and dispose of it properly.
Aim to put less in your curbside waste collection each week, whether it’s garbage, recycling, or compost.
Reach out to companies and call them out on their greenwashing or unsustainable packaging. Tell them you’re voting with your dollar and help drive corporate behavior.
Clothing
Overproduction in the $1.7 trillion global fashion industry is out of control, with 150 billion garments churned out every year for only 2 billion humans. This is destroying the planet. Fashion contributes 8% to global carbon emissions, pollutes waterways, and 92 million tons of textile waste clogs up our landfills and oceans every year. — Fast Company
Commit to buying no more than five new items of clothing a year, and think carefully about what you choose: Are they fulfilling specific needs, will they be in heavy rotation, are they well made, and do you really love them?
Buy second-hand instead of new, and focus on need rather than want. Consider rental options for special occasion items you’ll rarely wear.
Do the research and buy from ethical small businesses that employ sustainable practices.
Learn how to repair clothes, fix broken zippers, and remove stains. I am mesmerized by this video on darning holes in sweaters.
Bring shoes to a cobbler for repairs. (Or ship them if you don’t have a nearby cobbler.)
Recycle your used sneakers: GotSneakers will send you a free recycling bag with pre-paid shipping labels. Reusable sneakers are recirculated to secondhand markets, and unusable sneakers are responsibly recycled. (You can earn $1 - $7 for each pair you contribute.)
Wash your clothes when they’re actually dirty instead of after only one wear.
Wash your clothes in cold water and use a drying rack instead of the dryer—your clothes will fade less, shed fewer fibers, and last longer.
Try dry-form laundry tablets instead of liquid detergents in plastic jugs or laundry sheets and pods made from PVA plastic.
Install a washing machine filter to remove 90% of microfibers from laundry wastewater.
Food
In the United States, people waste 80 million tons of food every year, which equals 149 billion meals. They throw away over $444 billion worth of food annually. Shockingly, they waste 38% of all the food in America. — Feeding America
Create a weekly meal plan and base your grocery list on it. A former coworker shared this tip with me, and while it took some getting used to, I soon realized the benefits: Not only did I save money by shopping more intentionally, but I ended up with less food waste, and I didn’t have to figure out what to make for dinner when I was tired and cranky at the end of the workday. I also made better use of ingredients I had on hand.
Keep track of food you throw away: If you consistently throw out an item, buy less of it or find other ways to use it.
Organize your refrigerator and pantry so that foods that will expire soonest are in front, easy to see, and easy to access.
Eat your leftovers and freeze what you can't eat right away.
Buy food with minimal or no packaging.
Learn how to properly store food so it lasts longer.
Use silicone for food storage instead of plastic wrap.
Learn to freeze food without plastic.
Prevent freezer burn: Set the freezer to 0 degrees Fahrenheit and keep it moderately full—not packed, not sparse—so that it's better able to maintain its temperature. Remove as much air as possible when storing food. Meat and poultry can be stored in their original packaging, and reusable silicone storage bags work well for almost anything. When using solid containers, like glass jars, be sure to leave room to accommodate expansion.
Eat the ugly stuff and adopt scrap cooking. Find inspiration from potato peels, carrot tops, stale bread, and apple cores. Nutrient-rich banana peels can be turned into a flour that is surprisingly good for baking, used in Nigella Lawson’s cauliflower and banana peel curry, or transformed into vegan “bacon” or “pulled pork.” My personal go-to for scraps is to keep a silicone bag or large glass jar in the freezer for collecting vegetable trimmings (plus vegetables past their prime), chicken bones, and fish bones. Once I have enough, I simmer the scraps to make stock. I save money and don’t add Tetra Paks to the landfill.
Learn how to propagate vegetables like green onions, celery, and lettuces.
Grow your own herbs.
Support food rescue efforts: Find restaurants and bakeries that are about to close and purchase their excess food at a reduced cost, donate to a food bank, or connect with a food rescue program. Consider using an app that helps reduce food waste.
Limit takeout meals. Plan ahead for the inevitable days when you won’t feel like cooking by keeping portioned leftovers in the freezer. (Be sure to label and date them.)
Bring your own containers when dining out or getting takeout (and don't forget to eat the leftovers). The plastic-free bento box from W&P is an excellent option.
Bring a filled reusable water bottle when you’re out and about. CamelBak makes an insulated water bottle/travel mug combo, so you can also…
Bring a reusable mug for coffee because paper cups are bad for the environment.
If you absolutely must have a straw, get a reusable one. Skip single-use straws altogether—even the paper ones, since studies show they contain PFAS (forever chemicals).
Switch to a French press or pourover for coffee, and switch to loose-leaf teas and reusable strainers. (Many tea bags contain plastic that leaches into water when heated.)
Use coffee grounds to eliminate odors from food storage containers. Add the grounds, close the container, and let it sit overnight. (Note: Don’t dump the grounds down the sink since they’ll build up rather than break down. Instead, put them in your compost.)
Start composting! Here’s a beginner's guide to get you started.
Use a damp kitchen towel for proofing bread instead of plastic wrap.
Avoid palm oil, a big contributor to climate change.
Personal care
Look for personal care products with minimal or no plastic. My recommendations include JVN haircare, FaceTheory skincare, Davids toothpaste, and HiBar deodorant.
Use bar soap instead of liquid soap.
Use a natural loofah in the shower instead of a plastic one.
Invest in a metal safety razor instead of a disposable plastic one and you’ll save money over time. (I’ve had my Leaf razor for over a year and got my kids The Leaf Kit for Christmas, and we all love them. The blades seem to last longer than disposables, too.)
Use handkerchiefs instead of tissues.
Swap cotton balls/cotton rounds for reusable ones—or make your own.
Switch to reusable menstrual products. A reusable menstrual cup costs $20-$40 and can last up to 10 years, whereas pads and tampons cost $100 or more per year. The Aisle Super Pad is recommended by Wirecutter, and GladRags has lots of options for pads and liners, too.
Household
Switch to refillable or plastic-free cleaning products (I like Grove, but there are many options out there) or make your own all-purpose cleanser.
Repurpose old bedsheets, pillows, and towels. I plan to turn some old pillowcases into produce bags, and repurposed towels make excellent reusable Swiffer mop pads.
Use fabric scraps to create backings for thrifted picture frames.
Use Swedish dish clothes or reusable cotton towels instead of paper towels.
Use biodegradable sponges instead of those made from synthetic, fossil-fuel derived materials like polyurethane and nylon.
Use cloth napkins.
Switch to LED lightbulbs.
Learn where to take electronics for proper disposal and recycling. Many large retailers, like Best Buy, Staples, Walmart, Apple, and Costco, offer trade-in or recycling services. Or, do an Internet search for “electronics recycling near me” to find services—often free—in your area.
That's all I've got for now, although I plan to update this post as I come across other ways to reduce waste. Please reach out if there's something you're doing that's not on this list, I'd love to hear from you. And good luck with your efforts, since every little bit adds up to a bigger bit.
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