Zero Waste Homes
Many people are moving towards zerowaste living these days; trying to create as little waste as possible, whether it be recyclable or refuse. There are many steps one can take to change their garbage habits. There are things to do at home and with daily routines like shopping or eating out.

Foodwaste Is Not Waste

The first thing many people do at home is set up a compost for their food waste. Many municipalities have begun offering home collection of compostable products. Compostable products include:
Grass clippings
Tree leaves
Flowers
Vegetable food scraps (coffee grounds, tea leaves, lettuce, potato or banana peels…) *just be sure to remove plastic stickers from produce before putting scraps into a compost bin.
Egg shells
Black and white newspaper
Receipts
Brown paper bags
Muffin and cupcake liners
Paper towel as long as it was not used for cleaning with a harsh chemical
Toilet paper
Vegetarian animal manure (e.g. cows, horses, rabbits, hamsters, not cats or dogs that eat meat)
Wood shavings or sawdust

Read more at Gardening Know How: What Can You Compost And What Not To Put In Garden Compost
Guide to Composting

Shopping

When buying products, check to make sure that the packaging is recyclable. Glass is always recyclable while black or dark plastics may or may not be, check with your local recycling program. If it cannot be recycled can it be reused? Reusing is a more environmental approach than recycling, as it gives more life to an already created product and saving the energy to create new materials as well as the energy needed to recycle. So if it can be reused, even if it can only be reused once before recycling, that is a better option for the planet. So when buying goods, ask yourself, “will I reuse this?” or “how can I reuse this?”
One of the easiest things that many people are doing, is taking reusable cloth shopping bags with them when they go out. Several stores and cities have outlawed plastic shopping bags, so this adaptation may have been easier for some, but with the many options of reusable bags available – there are small ones that fold up into a pocket that can easily be stored in a purse or bag, there are larger ones that can be toted in the car.
A zero waste transition translates into creating less waste, so buying fewer products that create waste. In other words, buying as much as you can in bulk, dry goods, coffee and tea… Similarly, to the point above, reusable cloth shopping bags, this means toting smaller cloth bags for the bulk bins, reusing tubs for Deli items (e.g. olives, condiments) many Deli’s will allow you to bring your own container from home and they will weigh it before your purchase and subtract the weight from the total. Even if your local Deli does not currently have such as practice, it is worth asking as the shops doing this had to start somewhere. For produce, just ask yourself if you need to put those apples into a plastic bag, if a bag is needed bring a reusable one with you to go shopping.
There are many zerowaste stores popping up in various cities and municipalities that offer refilling stations for cleaning and household products. Hand and dish soap, all-purpose cleaners, essential oils, laundry and dishwasher detergents, can all be refilled in reusable containers. Another option is making your own cleaning products.
If you do end up using a plastic bag, most stores have a bag collection program, so that when you bring back clean, rinsed bags, they will recycle them on your behalf.
When shopping for clothes, try to buy items that are 100% cotton or another natural material. These are less likely to contain micro-plastics. Many zerowaste aficionados prefer to shop at thrift stores or to attend or lead a clothing swap
In addition to the adage of Reduce Reuse Recycle when it comes to clothing and electronics, Repair is another vital R. Rather than being quick to replace the shirt missing two buttons or the cell phone with a dented corner, repair the items the best you can, whether this means taking it to a tailor or a computer repair shop.
Old clothes or towels can be reused as dish cloths, rags, or handkerchief.

Dining Out

It is always a good idea to practice the 5th R, Refuse. Refuse the straw, single use plastic cutlery and take out containers. Most people do not think about it, however many restaurants bring water to the table with a plastic straw already in it, so the first step is to train yourself to say no straw all on every occasion. This may require some planning, as some drinks (milkshakes or certain cocktails) seem natural to drink through a straw. Personally I keep a container with 2 straws, 2 sporks, and 2 pairs of chopsticks in my bag, so when eating out I do not use any single use items.
If dining at a restaurant where you think or know that there will be left-overs, take containers with you to bring the food home. Wash and bring back your containers from the last time you dined at the same place, they will generally reuse the containers for you – and some may even give a discount for bringing your own containers.

Kitchen

A zero waste kitchen has little to no plastic, single use or reusable, the trend is for glass or stainless steel. Since the zerowaste home buys in bulk the cupboards will have several jars or containers holding dry goods, such as popcorn or lentils and even spices. It will also have wood or bamboo cutting boards rather than plastic. Instead of plastic cling film there will reusable beeswax food wrap and reusable food containers. Dish sponges will be swapped for a natural dish brush with a biodegradable handle. Plastic ice trays will not be found. Instead of paper towels there will be reusable cloths and cloth napkins.

Laundry Room

As previously mentioned laundry detergents can be purchased at refill stores. If you are buying a new product, opt for one that does not contain harsh chemicals and is biodegradable. Most people do not realise that the lint collected from the dryer is largely compostable. If the load in question was all cotton then the lint is 100% compostable and can be added to the food waste bin, if the lint is from mixed fabrics it is possible that it contains micro-plastics and it should be disposed of in the garbage.
One of the biggest wastes created in the laundry room that should be avoided is fabric softener and fabric softener dryer sheets. These can be replaced with wool dryer balls https://www.cleancult.com/blog/whats-the-point-of-dryer-balls/# ; a reusable option that will last for years. It is even possible to add your own scents, a few drops of essential oil per ball will result in fresh clothes, and you can alternate between the scents that you prefer, lavender, peppermint, cinnamon…
If it can be avoided, do not use the dryer at all, opt for a clothes horse drying rack to save on the electricity used during the drying cycle. Clothes left in the sun will dry quickly and pick up an outdoor fresh breeze or an essential oil spray can be spritzed on the hanging clothes to give them a personal or preferred scent.

Bathroom

Most people find incorporating a zerowaste bathroom into their life the most difficult. In terms of the products, first be careful to buy biodegradable products or try making your own cleansers.
Making sure to only buy cotton swabs that have cardboard middles, reusable make-up cloths, biodegradable toothbrushes, for women reusable feminine hygiene products, buy soaps that come in minimal to no packaging. As this is a Green Beauty site I feel the need to mention that buying the right products can help reduce the waste created through manufacturing, purchase, and what goes down the drain as waste water.
Dental floss is a small but serious problem. The first thing is that it is made with plastic, sometimes virgin, sometimes recycled, but usually plastic. Good oral hygiene says that people should floss daily, so what is the greenest way to floss https://livegreen.recyclebank.com/column/because-you-asked/what-s-the-greenest-way-to-floss In the days of old people would floss their teeth with horse hair, while some ancestral cultures would use chew sticks. Eventually silk floss was created and sold at chemists and this was popular until WW2. During the war the price of silk rose and alternatives were explored, leading to the waxed and plastic flosses that are primarily used today. Silk floss is still available and a more ecofriendly option for cleaning between the teeth and around the gums.
If it’s yellow let it mellow. Reducing the number of times that the toilet is flushed is one way to save water. Turning the tap off while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, not overfilling the bath, are all great ways to cut down on wasted water. Replacing an old toilet for a low flow option can save a lot of water and money; many studies have proven that any money spent on a property to ensure it meets environmental standards comes back in the re-sale value of the home. Installing a composting toilet may or may not be an option for some properties, but it is worth exploring.
Toilet paper is a difficult one for many. The easy switch is to purchase paper that does not come from virgin trees and does not contain bleach or harsh chemicals. Natural toilet papers can be composted after use, rather than flushed.
Some people use cloth toilet paper that is washed and reused after each use. Many argue that this is not as ecological as it seems; it tends to mean an extra few loads of laundry a week just for toilet cloths.

Home Made Cleaning Products

Making your own cleaning products has several advantages, chiefly environmentally and financially. It saves a lot of energy use during the manufacturing process of these products and any chemicals that they may contain. To that point, it keeps those chemicals out of production and saves them from being washed away down the drain and ending up in the waterways.
It is also a cost effective method as the price for a few all natural cleaning ingredients tends to be less than one bottle of cleaner. Basic ingredients needed to make your own home cleansers include: white vinegar, baking soda, table salt, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and other essential oils.
All Purpose Cleaner
In a spray bottle add the following ingredients:
1-part hydrogen peroxide
1-part white vinegar
1-part water
10-20 drops tea tree oil
*Optional* 2 tablespoons lemon juice
This is an excellent cleanser for surfaces, appliances, windows, and even produce. It is also great as a pre-treatment for dishes; the lemon juice helps cut away grease

Bathroom Cleaners

General Bathroom Cleaner
In a spray bottle add the following ingredients:
1-part white vinegar
1-part water
*Optional* 10-20 drops essential oil for scent
2 tablespoons baking soda
Then shake.

Grout Cleaner

Make a paste with baking soda and lemon juice. Apply to the grout, let sit a few minutes and wipe off with the cleanser above.

Tub and Sink
Make a powder mixture of:
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Salt
3 tablespoons corn starch
Shake well. Apply to a damp sponge and scrub over the area. Wash off with a general cleanser.

Appliances

Dishwasher

Sprinkle ½ cup of baking soda on the floor of the dishwasher.
Add ½ cup of vinegar to the soap dispenser.
Add a few drops (10-15) of tea tree oil in the machine.
Run on a short wash/cold cycle to help clean the dishwashers’ internal parts and food trap.

Instead of Rinse Aid, fill the compartment up with white vinegar before a load. This only has to be done as often as one would add Rinse Aid, it is safe to do before each wash but not always necessary.

Washing Machine

On a fresh cycle, instead of detergent add ½ cup of baking soda to the compartment.
Instead of fabric softener, add ½ cup – 1 cup of white vinegar.
Run the load on a small, cold wash. This helps to keep the laundry barrel clean.

Toilets and Sinks

Dump a few tablespoons of baking soda into a drain (sink, showers, tubs…), let it fall down the drain for a few minutes, and then pour an equal amount of white vinegar to cause a natural acidic reaction that helps to bring anything near the surface of the drain to the top. At this point the “gunk” can be scooped up and thrown in the garbage. The part of the mixture that makes it down the drain will help to unclog the route.

Dumping about 1/3 cup baking soda into the toilet tank before adding a similar amount of vinegar causes the same reaction. Just as the bubbling noise has simmered down, flush the toilet so that the mixture can run its course down the drain to clear it out.

In both cases, once the bubbling noise has stopped, you can add more vinegar. This will use all of the baking soda and ensure that none of it is wasted.
**This mixture can even be used for outdoor drains and gutters**

Outdoor Cleaner

Make a mixture of 3-1 baking soda: water, and shake the spray bottle.
This can be used for everything from outdoor furniture to cleaning a BBQ grill.