As you already know, modern times provided humanity with plenty of benefits, but on the other hand, all these possibilities created a consumerist society as well. Our planet is in danger, and we are to blame. Once I’ve become aware of the problem, I’ve decided to completely change my lifestyle. It wasn’t that easy in the beginning, and as the time went by, new habits were adopted and my household began to produce much less waste. In order to successfully create a new zero-waste lifestyle, you’ll need to make a bunch of small changes. The text below will provide you with some of the most important steps I took down the road.

Cut down on plastic

One of the greatest human-caused problems is the uncontrolled use of products made of plastic. Try to avoid plastic bags and bottles at any cost. It is much better to replace them with reusable ones. I’ve read somewhere that between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed by world population during each year. Start being a part of the solution, and invest in new reusable bags, or even try out your skills and make your own.

Stop using disposables

My kitchen cabinets were stacked with paper towels, napkins, plastic bottles, straws and much more. That is a lot of waste, and you should give your best to avoid using these products. A lot of trees are getting cut on a daily basis just so we can have paper towels in our homes. You don’t really need them, so go ahead and replace them with reusable rags. Purchase some stainless steel or bamboo straws and use cloth napkins.

Create a travel kit

Buying a takeaway cup of coffee or a meal can save you some time and effort, but you should think about the future of our blue marble as well. Of course, if you get well organized, you can keep enjoying delicious takeaway meals. You’ll just need to pack a lunch container with a spoon, knife, fork, cup, and cloth napkin. Put the kit in your car and use it for all your meals. Of course, you may start preparing your lunch at home and save a lot of cash every month. This strategy is completely waste-free, and I guarantee you’ll adapt very quickly.

Recycle

When I talk to people about recycling, their first association is plastic bottles. Well no, you shouldn’t purchase plastic bottles at first place. Of course, if you have some at your home, recycle them at once. The real recycling begins when you do it using old light bulbs, cartridges, batteries, electronic parts etc. Install a special bin for these items, and take them to a place for safe disposal once in every six months.

Declutter on regular basis

We can’t talk about zero-waste lifestyle if your house is cluttered with old magazines, mail, documents, pieces of furniture you don’t really need etc. Use the next weekend to start cleaning your living space. Ecology is not just about plastic, it is about healthy habits and wellbeing. If your goal is to feel better while at home, go ahead and start getting rid of everything you don’t use anymore. Of course, you’ll wish to save some personal belongings, and that’s ok. In that case, trustworthy self-storage facility can be a great solution. If you, for example, live in Newcastle area, you could rent a remote storage unit in one of the best companies it has to offer and put all your stuff in there.

Set up an organic garden

If you have some spare space in your backyard, go ahead and engage in organic food production. You’ll provide yourself with the great hobby, and most importantly, you’ll start eating really healthy vegetables. A lot of gas is used and carbon-dioxide released into the atmosphere before the food arrives in the nearby market. Most of those vegetables riped during the transport and have been treated with chemical solutions which are bad both for your and planet’s health. Stop supporting this malpractice, get yourself a pair of gloves, garden hat, a few hoses, and start digging.

Compost

Once the summer has ended, clean up your garden and start composting. There are plenty DIY ways to create a composting system at your home, so don’t hesitate and start learning. Keep in mind that you can compost nearly everything organic. Use stuff like food scraps and paper, and if you have to buy take away meals, do it at the stores that pack them in degradable materials. Your garden will be very happy the next spring when your cover it in your home-made compost. This simple move will keep the soil healthy and fertile, and you’ll get much more food in the years to come while saving on artificial fertilizers.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to start living a zero-waste lifestyle, and I’ve shared just my first steps. Make sure to stay motivated, and don’t let others discourage you. Like every other change, this can be hard for you as well, but it will repay generously in the long run. Your living space will be much healthier, you’ll feel better knowing that you did everything you can to save the Earth, and hopefully, your friends and family will join you.