Healthy Learning at Work

Healthy Learning at Work

31 days to low waste

Your guide to becoming “Zero Waste” in 2021

2021-01 2021-01 - alive Connect
31 days to low waste

We’re using up earth’s resources much faster than they can be replenished, and recycling is a poor solution, as only 9 percent of plastic gets recycled. Plastic waste is poisoning our waterways, their inhabitants, and us.

If you’re looking for a way to be more eco-friendly (as well as save some money and live healthier), you may want to adopt a “Zero Waste” (ZW) lifestyle. To make things simple, here’s a month-long plan for getting started on your own journey: 31 steps (one per day) to low waste.

Here are some tips to get started.

  • Use what you have! Don’t toss your old products to buy new “eco-friendly” ones. That likely means you’ll have to come back to several numbers on this 31-day plan at a later date—and that’s okay!
  • Find what works for you—not everything will work for every person.
  • Don’t get discouraged. In the words of Anne-Marie Bonneau (a.k.a. The Zero-Waste Chef), “We may never reach the zero in “zero waste” but that’s no reason to take zero action.”

Day

Category

Action

Consider …
1 Planning Set goals
  • writing down what you’d like to achieve and why
2 Planning Learn your recycling rules
  • researching your municipality’s system so you can recycle properly and choose the best options for packaging based on your area
3 On-the-go Make an on-the-go kit
  • a reusable straw, cutlery, napkin/cloth, chopsticks, travel mug, and water bottle
4 On-the-go Prepare your lunches and snacks
  • reusable pouches, jars, lunch kits, or divided stainless steel containers
5 On-the-go Say no!
  • saying no to shopping bags, receipts, straws, free promotional items, etc
6 Bathroom ZW bathroom products
  • cotton swabs made from cotton and paper, or going without altogether
  • recycled paper or bamboo toilet paper that comes in a box
  • solid soap or liquid refills
  • a metal safety razor
7 Bathroom ZW skin care
  • products that come in glass, metal, or paper tubes, or refills
8 Bathroom ZW hair care
  • shampoo and conditioner bars or liquid refills
9 Bathroom ZW cosmetics
  • products that come in glass, metal, or paper tubes, or refills
10 Bathroom ZW period products
  • cloth pads, a menstrual cup, or period panties
11 Bathroom ZW oral care
  • biodegradable bamboo toothbrush
  • compostable floss
  • toothpaste powder or tabs
12 Kitchen ZW food storage
  • wax food wraps or cloth bowl covers instead of plastic wrap
  • cloth bags instead of plastic
13 Kitchen Evaluate your diet
  • reducing your intake of meat, dairy, and seafood, as these are typically very resource intensive
  • local and organic products
14 Kitchen Choose unpackaged produce
  • bringing your own cloth bags when needed
15 Kitchen Go bulk shopping
  • finding a refill store near you or choosing unpackaged foods from the bulk section, bakery, and deli section/butcher
16 Kitchen Cook/bake something
  • making a food staple you’d normally buy
17 Kitchen Compost
  • investing in a compost system
18 Others Rethink gifts
  • giving experiences or second-hand gifts, or contributing to a cause
19 Others Refuse junk mail
  • cancelling unnecessary mail
  • placing a “no junk mail, please” note on/inside your mailbox
20 Others ZW cleaning products
  • DIYs or refills
21 Others ZW laundry products
  • DIYs or refills
22 Others Visit your library
  • the free resources, services, programs, and content
23 Others Rethink paper products
  • handkerchiefs instead of tissues
  • cloths/rags instead of paper towels
  • cloth napkins instead of paper
24 New skills Grow something
  • a small balcony garden
25 New skills Repair something
  • sewing, such as visible mending
26 New skills Shop second-hand
  • thrift stores, online groups, and consignment shops
27 New skills Trade, barter, or borrow
  • online “swap & shop” groups
28 New skills Build your skills
  • knitting, sewing, or canning
29 Thinking bigger Tell others
  • speaking to friends and family about what you’re doing
30 Thinking bigger Help your community
  • donating your money, time, or talent
31 Thinking bigger Keep learning
  • educating yourself about intersectional issues such as race, class, poverty, accessibility, and disability

Written by Leah Payne