How to Conduct a Waste Audit - Day 31 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Waste audits are the ticket to a successful zero waste journey. After all, how can you reduce your trash if you don’t know what you’re throwing away?

It’s day 31 of the zero waste challenge. Can you believe it?

It’s the final day of the challenge, and I’m already thinking about next year… like what if the challenge were an app and you got points!? And, at the end of the challenge if you got x number of points you won a prize!?

What do you think? Too much? / Do you know/are you an app developer?

The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

Today I’m challenging you to perform a waste audit. And, once you’ve mastered it, call up your friends and teach them how to do one too!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

if you don’t know what you’re throwing away, it will be difficult to figure out where you can improve and reduce your waste.

See, I don’t believe that you have to be perfect to make a difference, but if you can identify a few of the major areas you’re creating waste - you can have a massive impact with just a few small changes.

For instance, in your trash can, you find a bunch of paper towels, tetrapaks of nut milk, and food scraps.

Well, with three small changes like breaking up with paper towels, buying cashews from the bulk bins and making your own nut milk, and composting - you’ve eliminated 80% of your house hold waste.

All it took was three small changes!

But, you will never know what your top three changes are without performing a waste audit.

the solution:

All you need is a couple of minutes, a little commitment, and a clipboard or notebook. 

1. get to know your trash:

Dump all of your trash and recycling out and go through it. For each item you find write it on the clipboard.

For each recurring item add a tally mark.

2. organize by tally mark:

This will give you a nice visual road map on how to reduce your trash. You can figure out where you can make the biggest impact. 

I love it when people just want to dive into zero waste, 100%, right away! But, it's hard. There's a lot of changes that you'll be making, and it's important to avoid burn out because it is IMPOSSIBLE to go zero waste overnight. 

It's impossible to do it in a week or even a month! I STILL have products from my PZW days even three years later. 

3. make some changes:

Now, you can start looking for easy zero waste swaps. Always start with the things you're throwing away most for two reasons.

1. You'll have make the biggest impact.

2. You're going to notice an immediate difference. And, humans love instant gratification. 

I'd want to tackle the first five right off the bat. 

PAPER TOWELS: The first thing I would do is start phasing out paper towels for reusable dish towels. Get my six tips for ditching paper towels. 

FOOD SCRAPS: Then I'd start composting. Composting is one of the best things you can do for the environment! Whether you're in an apartment or have a backyard, there are a lot of options for you to explore.

Before you even get to composting, maybe you can eat those scraps! Check out 8 recipes for using up your food scraps, and my guide to storing your produce without plastic.  

Q-TIPS: You can buy q-tips with paper bases instead of plastic ones and then throw them in your compost! 

JELLO: As far as jello cups go, you could make a big batch of jello from the box. You can recycle or compost the box, and then divide the homemade jello up into individual containers like these*.

Not all schools allow glass in lunch boxes, so a stainless one* might be a good option instead of plastic. 

COFFEE CUPS: Avoiding coffee cups is pretty easy! Check out all my tips in this post about The Big Four

4. repeat: 

Your trash probably changes from week to week. Keep checking in on your trash and recycling to see where you can easily improve. I recommend doing this once every couple of months.

Obviously, there will always be some unavoidable trash. The first thing that pops into my mind is medication. 

I get a lot of people emailing me asking how to handle the trash with their medication.... and my answer is always the same. 

YOUR HEALTH COMES FIRST!!! 

I will scream it from the rafters. Do NOT let any other person tell you differently. I've seen some other prominent zero wasters say some scary things....

So, one more time for the people in the back, ***your health always comes first!*** 

The fact of the matter is that we lived in a flawed system. For more information read this post about the true meaning of zero waste. It's so long, it got it's own audio file so you can listen while on the go! 

Don't look at what you can't do, always look at what you CAN do. There's so many things you can do that don't involve medication. And, seriously, if you changed everything in your life except medication, that's freaking amazing!! 

Celebrate! Cause you're awesome. :) 

take the challenge!

I can’t believe this is my final challenge for you this year. I’m getting a little emotional.

I’m challenging you to perform a waste audit this week, and swap out your most common items for zero waste alternatives (if there is one).

Most likely there is. If you need any inspiration check out my post The Ultimate List of Zero Waste Swaps.

---

Did I do a good job covering the zero waste basics?

How do you feel now that you’ve gone through 31 days of challenges? Is your trash can lighter? Your recycling bin less full? I would love to know how the challenge worked out for you! Let me know in the comments below!

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Beginners Guide to Getting Politically Involved - Day 30 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Local government is almost more important than the federal government. If you want to start seeing change fast, this is where you need to start. 

But, it seems scary right? Like how do you even get started? I'm going to break it down into some super simple steps.

It’s day thirty of the zero waste challenge! We only have ONE. DAY. MORE! Can you believe it!?

The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

Today I’m challenging you to get involved in your local government….

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

People just aren’t stepping up and harnessing the power they have! My generation has an appalling voter turn out and I can’t imagine that our rate for getting involved in local government is any better.

Today, I’m going to show you a few ways that you can start creating waves in your town.

the solution:

I’m going to offer you several solutions to becoming more politically active.

1. get behind a cause and bring it to your city council:

With the group you found in yesterday’s challenge, consider backing a bill like a straw ban or bag ban. You can also try and organize a city wide cleanup that’s recurring every year and hosted by the city.

To find out how to get a bill in front of your city council check out my blog post How to Get Involved with Local Government.

2. start a petition:

Ever wonder why you always see people collecting signatures? What are they going to do with all of them? There are three different types of petitions.

1. ballot initiative: this is a piece of legislation that will be up for vote on the ballot. If the community is on your side, but you don’t think city council would pass your idea - this is where you go! Creating this petition doesn’t enact the law, it just puts it on the ballot and the citizens of your town will decide whether or not it should be passed on election day.

2. non-binding referendum: This doesn’t result in any type of voting. It is only used to show support in favor or against a certain law. It basically advises the city council and shows them how the general population of the town is feeling towards a certain issue.

3. binding referendum: This tries to change the laws whether to have a vote repealed or to suspend an elected official etc.

Your city and town will have an official way of dealing with petitions. You need to file your petition in accordance with their rules, so be sure to head over to your local .gov to read up!

3. VOTE

Are you registered to vote? Double check in case you don’t know. Then make sure you vote. Not just for president but for all of your local elections. It’s incredibly important who you appoint to your city council.

Here’s some great websites to help you choose candidates that align with your values and a great website to help you choose impartial judges. It’s a judges job to interpret the laws not legislate from the bench.

4. join a lobby:

I can’t recommend joining the Citizens Climate Lobby enough. It’s a great organization that advocates for a fair carbon tax.

If you’re looking to get in touch with your representatives and advocate for the Earth, then this is the organization for you.

5. run for office:

People tend to look at me like I have three eyes when I say this, but you should run for office! If you have good ideas and care about your town, why not you?

If you’re looking to get started check out She Should Run. It’s a site dedicated to helping female candidates run for office. Also check with your state party headquarters. Depending on where you live, they might be looking for candidates to back.

You can always volunteer with local state party as well. I have spent many a day at the DPA (Democratic Party of Arkansas) phone banking and canvassing for candidates.

take the challenge!

It’s time to get involved with your local government.

I challenge you to sign up for the CCL and make sure that you’re registered to vote today.

My second challenge is for you to pick a pet project. Is that a bag ban? Straw ban? Have businesses start charging for takeout containers instead of having them included in the price? Is it hosting a city wide clean up?

Whatever your pet project is, I want you to work with the group you just found and create an action plan to bring it to a vote this next year.

Are you up for the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Start a Local Zero Waste Group - Day 29 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Having a local community is amazing! Together you can achieve so much and create a true grassroots movement in your town.

You can talk about the environmental and social issues in your town allowing you to really create a custom and actionable plan to help everyone in your community live a greener and healthier life. 

So, how do you find people who are interested in the environment? How do you get a group started?

It’s day twenty-nine of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

Today, I’m challenging you to find or create a local zero waste group!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Cue the music *One is the loneliest number….*

When you’re just one person, making mega lifestyle changes, it can feel pretty gosh darn isolating. It can feel very *Us vs. Them*. It’s hard to find answers to the problems you might have, and it’s just not as fun.

After all, it’s been proven that having accountability increases the chances of achieving goals.

And, while having an online community is great, having an in person community is EVEN BETTER.

the solution:

First step is trying to plug into an existing community. Chances are, somewhere out there, there’s already a group in your town. Here’s my top tips for finding them.

1. facebook:

This is always my first recommendation. There are several large groups on Facebook like Journey to Zero Waste and Zero Waste Heroes. There might also be a zero waste group for your country, city, or state! 

Use the search tool on Facebook and set it to groups. Search zero waste with your country or state name and something might pop up! I know there's one for Arkansas. 

In these larger generic groups, there are comment threads where people leave the country, state, or city they're living. Through these threads you can start finding people in your area.

Once you find a group in your general vicinity, create separate group (assuming there isn't one already) for your country or state. Then people will be able to find your group and niche down into smaller groups by county or city.

I also run a "secret" Facebook group that includes daily threads to help others on their zero waste journey. Click here if you'd like to join.

2. meetup.com:

Another great place to look is on meetup.com. There seem to be meet-ups for everything! Just with a quick glance I see a whole bunch of groups that have a lot of zero waste potential. 

Groups like litter busters, foragers, zero net energy, climate election action, climate solutions, ecology leadership group, gardening, community building, and many more that aren't directly linked to zero waste, but they're definitely applicable and could go a long way in helping you meet like minded people. 

If you can't find a zero waste group plug into one that is similar. Once you start to build friendships and get to know the organizers, you can pitch zero waste activities for the groups.

If the zero waste projects ever become more dominant, think of starting your own zero waste meet-up where you can focus solely on those activities. 

3. neighborhood apps:

Once you've found a community through Facebook or Meetup.com, try to find new members through a neighborhood app. 

Next Door is a really popular app in my neighborhood, and it's a great tool used to organize community cleanups and tell neighbors about ongoing events. 

Definitely reach out to your neighbors, you never know there might be a new zero waste friend right next door!  

4. publicize and share: 

Once the group is in the full swing of things, make sure you're publicizing your group. You want people to be able to find you and join your cause. 

If you started a new group, consider adding your group to Facebook or Meetup.com.

Don't forget to reach out to local businesses too!

Now, I know what I'm going to say might sound contradictory, but if you do make a flyer... it's nice to hang it in local businesses around town. 

I still think physical bulletin boards are a great way to get out a message. 

Don’t forget about digital town bulletin boards like one on your local .gov website and reach out to your local paper!

5. Help! I don’t have ANYTHING!!

If you don’t have anything, then it’s time for you to start it! Create a group on meetup.com or Facebook. Kick the group off with hosting an event.

Maybe it’s just a time to get together, sip coffee, and chat about sustainability.

Make sure that you set a regular meeting time. Start with once a month, and then ask the members to publicize the group their friends and then maybe tackle and event together.

community inspiration:

Once you find this community there is so much you can do together.

• work on a bag ban

• Start a "Straw on request only," campaign. Get my script!

• get involved in your local government

• host a talk

• show a documentary

• visit a bulk store and show others how to grocery shop

• Host a DIY workshop

• Host a litter clean-up

Together, there's so much you can achieve! 

Creating a group is a great way to be a steward of your own community and truly grow the zero waste movement.

I personally believe, getting involved on a local level is what this movement needs. I would love to see more people working with their town and community. It's an important building block in the big picture of a more eco-friendly world. 

If you’re looking for a more in depth guide on hosting events, workshops, etc. I go into more detail in my book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste. It’s available for pre-order and I would love it if you checked it out!

take the challenge!

Finding a local community is one of the best ways to enact change in your town. Online community is awesome, but it’s the real life community that get’s it done!

My challenge for you is to find your local zero waste community. I outlined several different places for you to try and find them. Join up with that group and go to one of their meetings.

Will you take the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Shop Local - Day 28 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Most of the products available on store shelves are made overseas. When things are made far away from you, they have to travel a long ways to make it onto store shelves. This can incur higher carbon emissions.

It won’t be possible to buy everything local, but today, I challenge you to support your local community and buy locally made products when possible.

It’s day twenty eight of the zero waste challenge! There are only three more days of the challenge left: Congrats for getting this far!

The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

(I will say a couple of posts are out of order. We had an activism post earlier in the challenge and we’ll have a lifestyle change in this section, but you can forgive me, right!? Thanks :)

Today we’re talking about shopping locally.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Often times when we buy things, they might come from overseas or really far away maybe it’s clothing rack made in China or tomatoes during winter that came from Mexico. If you buy summer produce in the dead of winter, it’s most likely coming from the opposite hemisphere, so by living local, we’re buying things that come from our immediate vicinity.

Whenever things are transported from far away, it uses a lot of emissions. By buying things closer, it uses fewer emissions. This is great for both the environment and supporting local members of your community.

Whenever you’re shopping for food, go for a local farmers market. They’ll have the freshest, locally grown produce around, all package free.

If you’re shopping for things, like soap, candles or handmade goods, there are typically a lot of people in your community who are really crafty you can purchase from and support.

I recommend doing a quick search online to see what’s available near you. If you’re searching for handmade soap, for example, type that into the search bar, then your city (ex: handmade soap in your city). You might be surprised at what pops up.

You can also try Etsy and find makers who live close to your vicinity. At the very least, you’ll know the product is handcrafted with love and care, and your purchase will help support a small business.

I encourage you to also go to local flea markets and see what stands pop up – a lot of great local businesses don’t always have the strongest online presence. You can also walk around your town and see what you come across (mom and pop businesses are always great to support, if you find one).

Shopping local is just this really beautiful system: You’re supporting a member of your community and when they pay their taxes, the tax dollars go back into the community. This only helps improve your community even further.

I also notice a lot of these mom and pop shops are very accommodating when it comes to bringing your own containers.

There’s a fabulous shop in my town downtown that sells things like soap, incense and bath teas, and the shop owner sells shea butter and cocoa - two things you will see commonly in my DIY recipes.

The shop owner sells them in plastic tubs. But I can give her a call and come over and she will put them in my mason jar!

It’s just so nice to be able to make that connection and having those face to face interactions rather than going through a cooperation.

Here are a few ways to live as local as possible:

• Shop for fresh produce at your local farmers market.

• Ask your local farmers what’s in season for your region.

• Find mom and pop shops that you can support.

• Locate a small coffee shop that’s unique to your vicinity to frequent.

• Attend local flea markets, fairs, conventions and festivals to meet your local makers.

• Do a quick online search for homemade goods in your area.

• Take a visit to your local farm, if your state has one.

• Know someone who’s crafty? Pay them to make you something only they could create.

• Support your local thrift store.

• Go and support your local library, makers space and community center.

• Go to your local deli and get cheese and bread package free in your own containers.

• Support your local butcher and get your meat in glassware.

• Find a local florist who sells plastic free flowers grown without pesticides.

• Locate a bulk food shop near you and bring your own containers.

There are so many ways to support your local community, but these are just a few.

You don’t always have to purchase something in order to support your community either. Simply picking up litter, joining a community garden, or participating in a local group that shares your ethics can help your town ton loads.  

So, my challenge for you today is to live local.

take the challenge!

Over the next 3 days, your challenge is to live local.

Instead of supporting brands and businesses that are overseas, shop local. This means finding your local farmers market, homemade goods, mom and pop shops, and getting involved in your community. When you support smaller businesses you are driving money back into your community and reducing emissions at the same time.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Tips for Secondhand Shopping - Day 27 of the Zero Waste Challenge

It takes a lot of energy and resources to make new products. Remember when we talked about buying less in day one of the zero waste challenge?

While buying less is certainly part of the solution, so is buying second hand or asking your friends and family if they have an extra one lying around you could borrow and/or have.

Today, I challenge you to shop second hand and purchase products already in the waste stream.

It’s day twenty seven of the zero waste challenge! There’s only four days left of the challenge – we’ve come a long way!

The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

(I will say a couple of posts are out of order. We had an activism post earlier in the challenge and we’ll have a lifestyle change in this section, but you can forgive me, right!? Thanks :)

Today we’re talking about shopping second hand!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Every item purchased second hand means one less new one produced. Every item, even something small like a t-shirt takes a lot of time, energy and resources.

Clothing, particularly, fast fashion has some questionable ethics, and can be wasteful and harmful to the environment. Producing synthetic fibers like polyester requires energy and crude oil like petroleum. Yep - polyester is plastic!

Even garments that utilize natural fibers, like cotton, use a ton of water. It takes 27,000 gallons of water to make the cotton for one t-shirt! (source) Conventionally grown cotton makes up just 2.5 percent of total cropland, but uses 16 percent of the world’s pesticides.

And, if the clothing you’re buying, isn’t made local to you, you also have to take into consideration the fossil fuels used in transportation.

Once we have the t-shirt in our possession, how many times do we wear it? When does it get thrown out with the next tidying session? One of the biggest problems regarding garments in particular is textile waste.

According to the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation “Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned. An estimated USD 500 billion value is lost every year due to clothing that’s barely worn and rarely recycled. “

Of course, this applies to far more than just t-shirts, but also furniture, jewelry, toys, they all take energy and resources to create.

the solution:

Don’t support this cycle of constant consumption and exploitation of the earth.

Choose to shop second hand instead.

By purchasing second hand, you aren’t supporting this waste of time, energy and resources. In fact, you’re keeping items out of the landfill.

Go visit your local thrift store and see how many items, still in great condition, are being sold. You’ll be amazed at how much backstory, history and value the items available. You might also find something that truly speaks to you!

You can also find some great second hand things online using ebay or even craigslist. Even Facebook Marketplace can be a valuable asset in finding things local to you, second hand.

I personally love second hand shopping. So many of my homewares and clothing is second hand.

One of my favorite things about second hand pieces are the stories. You’re part of its story now. And, when you pass it on, maybe it will be part of someone else’s story, and I think that’s really special.

I have a pearl necklace that was my grandmother’s. It started out as a long strand of pearls that were split into six different necklaces for all of the girls in the family. It’s just so special and buying a new pearl necklace wouldn’t have nearly the amount of warm, fuzzy memories attached with it.

Several other items I wear are second hand too, like my engagement ring and my wedding bands.

I’m telling you – there are so many amazing things on the second hand market.

You also don’t have to actually purchase items in order to support second hand values – you can also get items second hand from loved ones. Always ask around before buying an item to see if someone has a spare first.

I do link to products that I own, but often times you’ll see me say “please check the second hand market first”. I also love supporting sustainable businesses and think we need both to thrive, but that’s another post for another time.

Of course, some things are better bought new - like a toothbrush. ;)

take the challenge!

Over the next 4 days, your challenge is to shop second hand.

New items take a lot of time, resources, and energy to make.

Instead, choose to buy items that are already out there. This means one less new item will be produced and ensures a perfectly good item stays out of the landfill. You can find so many things from clothes to housewares on the second hand market: the possibilities are endless.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

How to Stop Junk Mail - Day 26 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Junk mail is annoying, and I’m going to show you all the ways you can breakup with junk mail - for good!

Today, I’m challenging you to spend 30 minutes unsubscribing from the junk mail you receive.

It’s day twenty-six of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

(I will say a couple of posts are out of order. We had an activism post earlier in the challenge and we’ll have a lifestyle change in this section, but you can forgive me, right!? Thanks :)

Today, I’m challenging you to stop junk mail!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Yes, junk mail is annoying, but it’s also carbon heavy. 51 million metric tons of greenhouse gas is caused by junk mail each year. And, 44% of all that junk mail goes to the landfill unopened.  

YIKES.

Junk mail seems small. But, it's the perfect example of how one small thing has an enormous impact when multiplied by millions of people.

100 million trees are cut down annually just to feed the junk mail machine. Sending junk mail is super cheap too. It costs almost 50 cents to send a letter, but it only costs 11 cents to send a flyer or circular. Which makes me wonder... why? 

Why are we essentially subsidizing something we don't want? We pay A LOT of money to dispose of junk mail - 370 million dollars to be exact. In fact, it costs 550 million dollars a year to transport it alone. 

Americans will spend 8 months of their life, just dealing with junk mail! What a complete and utter waste of time. 

If zero waste is truly about reducing our consumption of resources and saving time, junk mail seems like the perfect place to start. It's entirely unnecessary, and it all it takes is a little bit of effort. 

the solution:

I’ve rounded up my five top tips for preventing junk mail.

1. write a note: 

I have a sticker on my mailbox that clearly states, "NO JUNK MAIL." You can also just tape a note to your mail box. You don’t have to have a fancy sticker.l

According to the Post Master General, this constitutes as an official return to sender. You can also ask for addressed mail only and add your last name. 

Of course, this doesn't stop the creation of junk mail. It just stops you from receiving it. It also doesn't stop junk mail that is coming with your name on it. 

This is just a temporary fix while we work on stopping junk mail in other ways.

2. register for the do not mail list: 

The do not mail list is essentially the same as the do not call list. Get your name removed from the list to stop junk mail before it even happens. 

It can take several weeks for all of the opt-outs to take effect. Sign up and have a little bit of patience. 

• http://www.optoutprescreen.com.

• https://www.catalogchoice.org/

• http://www.directmail.com/mail_preference/

• https://dmachoice.thedma.org/

• https://www.yellowpagesoptout.com/

3. use an app:

Sometimes, opting out still doesn't work. It took about a year before all of my opt-outs finally kicked in, but some things still come through. 

Check out the app PaperKarma. It's simple to use. You simply take a picture of the unwanted junk mail and they unsubscribe you. 

4. ask when you sign up:

Most of my junk mail comes from charities I donate to. Getting junk mail from them, honestly makes me not want to donate….

Most of my donations are set up on a recurring withdrawal. I don't need a junk mail reminder. It's automatically deducted. 

Most non-profits don't use national databases, therefore you're still on the mailing list even if you opt out. When I donate to a charity, I always ask that I be removed from their mailing lists upfront with the donation. Typically they’re more than happy to oblige.

5. pick up the phone: 

This is my least favorite method (what can I say, I’m a millennial who hates getting on the phone), but arguably the most effective method. Pick up the phone, call, and ask to be removed from their mailing list. 

This is the most time-consuming method. It can also be very painful when you call and call and somehow still receive junk mail. But, your patience and perseverance will soon be rewarded with an empty mailbox. 

take the challenge:

Junk mail is a nuisance, and it’s not super great for the environment. Besides, I don’t know a single person that really looks forward to receiving a bunch of newsletters and flyers in their mail box.

Spend 30 minutes, unsubscribing yourself from mailing lists and put a note on your mailbox asking for addressed mail only.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Be Prepared and Avoid Trash - Day 25 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Did you know most waste can be prevented simply by being prepared? Today, I challenge you to think ahead before you go somewhere to assess what you’ll need to stay waste free.

It’s day twenty five of the zero waste challenge! We only have six days left of the challenge – think you can hang in there?

The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

(I will say a couple of posts are out of order. We had an activism post earlier in the challenge and we’ll have a lifestyle change in this section ((kinda like this one)), but you can forgive me, right!? Thanks :)

Today we’re talking all about being prepared!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Yes, the boy scout motto and the zero waste motto are one in the same. Be prepared.

A lot of times when we’re out and about, we tend to be rushing. That makes us more prone to making bad, quick decisions.

For example, if you’re in a rush, you might grab a cup of coffee in a disposable cup instead of asking for it to stay. Or, if you rushed out of the house in the morning, you might grab lunch at work in a disposable plastic container.

This problem stems largely from not being prepared for the day ahead. When you’re rushing about your day, you aren’t thinking ahead, but thinking in the moment. It’s important to remember that something convenient to you in the moment, isn’t convenient to the Earth.

Of course, we all have bad days, but the goal is to have more good days than bad day. A way to guarantee more good days is to build systems!

And, hopefully, throughout this challenge, you’ve been able to build some good habits.

the solution:

I find that so much waste can easily be prevented just by being prepared. Before you go to bed tonight or first thing when you wake up in the morning, ask yourself, what am I going to do today? Or, what am I going to do tomorrow?

We typically have a pretty good idea of what our days look like day to day. By thoroughly thinking through everything we do, or everywhere we’re going, we can figure out ways that can easily prevent waste. Sometimes it’s just that simple.

One of my favorite ways to stay prepared is by having a zero waste to go kit. Maybe it’s something you keep by your door or in your car. It’s just a small collection of items that can help you prevent waste.

Here’s some idea of what you can include in yours:

• Stainless steel water bottle

• Reusable straws

• Travel mug

• Cloth napkins

• Reusable cutlery

• Tote bag

• Produce bags

Placing these items in your line of sight or with you will help you prevent a ton of waste. Of course, you don’t always need to carry all these items at the same time. I personally, don’t like being a pack mule.

I only take a mug with me when I know I’ll be going out to grab tea or a smoothie or my bags with me when I know I’m going to be shopping.

It all depends on what you’re doing that day and how structured/scheduled your days are. If you know you’ll be going food shopping later in the day, make sure to pack extra tote bags and produce bags.

If you’ll just be going to work and back, make sure to pack your zero waste lunch. Going to a movie? Pack some zero waste snacks in your bag ahead of time.

Take a moment to just think about your day before starting it and think ahead. Doing this one simple thing will greatly reduce your waste.

So that is my challenge to you – be prepared.

take the challenge!

Over the next 6 days, your challenge is to be prepared. Instead of rushing out of the house in the morning, take a few minutes to make sure you have any zero waste items you might need for the day.

Will you be grabbing coffee, getting lunch, going shopping? Grab any zero waste essentials you’ll need to stay one step ahead of the game.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Vote With Your Dollars - Day 24 of the Zero Waste Challenge

We’re covering the old adage, “Vote with your wallet.” “Vote with your dollars.” “Put your money where your mouth is,” and other cliches.

You don’t just vote at the ballot box during election season, you vote every. single. day. I’m going to teach you how to harness that power and use it!

Of course, this is only one small piece of the puzzle. We’ll be covering other action steps late in the challenge. But, if you’re feeling a little impatient be sure to check out my blog post and video how to fight climate change as one person. 

It’s day twenty-four of the zero waste challenge! Welcome back. The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Now, we’re into the third phase of the challenge. The activism phase. The phase where you get to get a little outside of yourself and work on bringing change at a whole new level.

(I will say a couple of posts are out of order. We had an activism post earlier in the challenge and we’ll have a lifestyle change in this section, but you can forgive me, right!? Thanks :)

Today we’re talking about voting with your dollars!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

We the people. We the consumer. We the demand.

We, surprisingly have a lot of say in what gets made and purchased. Companies simply supply what we ask for. For instance, if we all go gangbusters over quinoa or avocados, companies are going to start supplying a lot more quinoa and avocados.

If we go nuts over cheaply made, plastic clothing - then companies are going to start making a lot of cheap, plastic clothing.

If we go nuts over sustainable products, then a lot of companies are going to start selling sustainable products. We have certainly seen a massive increase in sustainable companies in the last few years. Especially with a zero waste and plastic free slant.

The problem, of course, is that there’s a lot of disconnect. Most people don’t see individual action as a viable course of action. They choose to blame everything on companies, but continue to support the very institutions that are responsible for a lot of destruction.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying companies are blameless. They have a lot of responsibility to hold for this as well. I am saying that there is responsibility on both ends.

The consumer must first act, so policies and businesses can react.

No business is going to start, if there isn’t even some demand in the market.

the solution:

Vote with your dollars! Every day you get to choose what type of world you want to live in with your choices.

I’m not saying you going to be perfect, of course not. We don’t live in a perfect world. But, we can still make strides to do better. We can make better choices.

So, try to make more positive purchasing choices and implement some of the daily actions we’ve discussed in the challenge like bringing your own mug or brewing your own coffee, saying no to straws, and packing your snacks!

When it comes to making purchasing choices, try to buy from ethical brands. Look for brands that give back to causes, brands that pay a living wage, brands that have a mission statement around sustainability.

I love shopping secondhand, because I love reducing my impact by removing items from the waste stream. But, I also really love supporting ethical and sustainable businesses. I want to see ethical and sustainable businesses succeed.

take the challenge!

The next time you’re in the market for something. Go ahead and wait those thirty days to make sure it’s something that you truly need, and then if it is. Try and source it from a sustainable brand.

You challenge is to google the companies you regularly buy from. Pick 5 to start. See if they align (mostly) with your values.

There aren’t many companies that check off 100% of my boxes, so I try to get 85% checked when shopping. To learn more about this practice see my blog post How to Make the Best Choice for the Environment.

Will you take the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

5 Easy Beauty DIYs - Day 23 of the Zero Waste Challenge

I love creating an easy DIY. It’s a great way to save money and reduce your waste. I know that a lot of people don’t have access to a lot of fancy clean beauty products without packaging, but never fear - I’ve rounded up my five favorite and EASY zero waste DIYs.

Today, I challenge you to try your hand at creating a DIY!

It’s day twenty-three of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources. Tomorrow and for the final week of the challenge, we’re going to get into more activism!

Today we’re talking about creating easy zero waste DIYs.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

A lot of people don’t have access to amazing bulk stores like Rainbow Grocery that have shampoo, bath salts, body lotion, and all sorts of amazing products without packaging.

An easy way to reduce waste is to DIY some of those products! Of course, I don’t think that you have to DIY everything, and now there are so many companies popping up with relatively zero waste options.

When I started Going Zero Waste in 2015, there were few options. I enjoy DIYing my products because I like having control over what ingredients I put into them.

I started going zero waste because I was trying to avoid endocrine disruptors. You can read more about my zero waste story. Endocrine disruptors can be found in our beauty products, cleaning products, and plastic.

the solution:

Why not try your hand at a DIY? There are so many incredibly simple DIYs out there that will prevent a ton of packaging waste.

As a bonus, they’ll save you a lot of money.

I used to be the DIY queen. I had tons of DIYs rolling out all the time, but over the last year I saved all the good recipes for my book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste which is available for pre-order!

The book includes a ton of never before seen beauty and cleaning recipes - definitely worth checking out if you’re interested in natural living and want to reduce your waste.

Of course, I’ve still got a ton of easy recipes on the blog I’m excited to share. On the recipe posts, I explain where I bought the supplies without packaging!

I also have a YouTube video tutorial on how to make most of these products so be sure to check them out if you prefer video content.

1. tooth powder:

I love this zero waste tooth powder. I worked on it with a local dentist. It’s so simple and only three ingredients. If you’re interested in getting the whitening version, be sure to check out the recipe in my book!

Recipe for the Zero Waste Tooth Powder

2. lip scrub:

This recipe is so simple to make and easily customizable. You can choose any sugar you like whether that’s white sugar or brown sugar. You can also add in any oil like olive, coconut, or sweet almond.

Recipe for a Zero Waste Lip Scrub

3. face mask:

One of my favorite ways to treat myself is with a face mask. You can surprisingly whip up a bunch with just the ingredients in your kitchen. Two of my favorites are a green tea aloe mask and a clay mask.

Recipe for the Green Tea Aloe Face Mask | Recipe for the Clay Face Mask

4. bath salts:

Most of the DIYs have been easy, but bath salts might just take the cake. Plus it’s so easy to create any scent you want. I always like to add dried flowers and herbs to my bath salts.

Some of my favorite add-ins are dried lavender, rose petals, and rosemary.

Recipe for the Zero Waste Bath Salts

5. dry shampoo:

Dry shampoo has been a real life saver for me when it comes to stretching washes and sleeping in. As a bonus, I store it in this adorable salt and pepper shaker that looks like Nala!

Recipe for Dry Shampoo

take the challenge!

Over the next seven days, I challenge you to create one DIY!

Even if DIY isn’t your thing, creating one simple thing really connects you with the product. You’ll appreciate the work that goes into your products, and you’ll cherish it just a little bit more because you had a hand in creating it.

Will you take the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Zero Waste Toilet Paper - Day 22 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Don’t worry: You don’t have to give up toilet paper. That said, it is important to consider how much of it you and your family go through.

Today, I challenge you to examine your toilet paper usage.

It’s day twenty two of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and meal prepping.

Today we’re talking about toilet paper.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Americans flush 27,000 trees down the toilet each day. That’s a lot of trees - a lot of resources! And, as we’ve talked about on day one we should reduce how much we buy and on day 11 that we should focus on conserving natural resources.

Americans use 8 million tons of toilet paper a year, and the worst part is, they aren’t even using recycled products, but virgin pulp. If every United States household used just one roll of 100 percent post consumer recycled toilet paper a year, 423,900 trees would be saved. That’s pretty amazing!

To top it all off, most conventional toilet paper is bleached, processed, steeped in dioxins and furans. Is that really what you want near such a private area?

And, lest we forget, conventional toilet paper is usually wrapped in hard to recycle plastic. It’s literally waste on waste.

So, does that mean you have to completely give up toilet paper to become a zero waster? Not at all.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you have any questions please see my disclosure policy.

the solution:

the bidet:

Justin and I still use toilet paper, butt (too much?) we also have a bidet attachment on our toilet.

AND I promise you the bidet is life changing. It cut down our toilet paper use by almost 75 percent just with this one simple swap.

It’s not too terribly expensive: Bidet attachments can cost anywhere from $35 to $95 and I promise you they will pay for themselves.

With our bidet, we go through about 24 rolls of toilet paper a year or one roll per person per month. I think that’s pretty good!

We’ve had both a Tushy and a Brondell bidet attachments. We are fans of both!

choosing a better toilet paper:

There are a couple companies that sell toilet paper that comes in a cardboard box and then the rolls are wrapped in paper so it’s totally plastic free. You can typically pick boxes of toilet paper up like this at an office supply store.

My personal favorite choice is Who Gives a Crap! I like both their tree-free bamboo paper and their recycled. It’s really a tough call on which one is better!

I’ve worked with them on a couple of blog posts, but they are hands down my favorite. I was a customer long before they sponsored a post on the blog. I love that they donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and clean water projects all over the world.

Of course, there are tons of other sustainable toilet paper brands too. It’s important to find whatever works best for you.

Here are some companies I recommend looking into:

• Pure Planet

• Green2

• Emerald

• Who Gives a Crap

• Seventh Generation

• Marcal

• Green Heritage

• Tork

• Natural Value

These toilet papers are plastic free, made from recycled paper, or tree free. Be sure to check in at your local grocery or convenience store to see if they have any of these brands.

If you really can’t find any plastic free toilet paper, look and see if there’s a plastic film wrap drop off location in your area. Most grocery stores have a bin you can put it in: That way it has a chance of being recycled.

family cloth:

There are some zero wasters who take it to the next level and choose to go with reusable toilet paper. No disrespect, if that’s your method - more power to you!

It’s a little extreme for me, but for those interested, it’s often called “Family Cloth”.

Essentially, you use cloth wipes, which you drop in a bucket instead of the toilet, and then you wash them in the laundry. You repeat the cycle as you go along.

If you were going to go this route, you would definitely need a bidet attachment.

take the challenge!

Over the next 9 days, your challenge is to examine your toilet paper use.

Consider installing a bidet to cut back on overall toilet paper use, and plan your next toilet paper purchase. Are you opting for tree-free, 100 percent recycled toilet paper, getting it plastic free? What does your next purchase look like?

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

How to Recycle - Day 21 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Living a zero waste lifestyle is about recycling less - not more. One of the most prevalent ideas in the zero waste movement is pre-cycling which is preventing from recycling from ever happening.

Today I’m challenging you to recycle less! Not because I want you to stop recycling, but because I want you to have less to recycle.

I want you to focus on reducing( day one of the zero waste challenge) and reusing (so many of the days of the zero waste challenge like using real stuff, bringing your own thermos to the cafe and repairing your belongings) before we ever get to recycling.

It’s day twenty-one of the zero waste challenge! In the beginning of the challenge, we focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Most of the topics will start getting slightly more advanced for the rest of the challenge before we move into activism and ways to get your community involved, but today we’re talking about recycling.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Recycling is great, but it’s a flawed system. We tend to view recycling as our environmental savior like it’s some sort of charity that will swoop in and save the day.

We tend to forget that recycling is a business. There has to be a demand for recycled products and materials, and often times… there’s not. It’s often cheaper to use virgin materials than it is to use recycled materials.

So, a lot of the items we put in the recycle bin aren’t ever recycled. For instance, out of all the plastic ever created, only 9% has ever actually been recycled.

China as of Jan 2018 put a ban on bales of paper and plastic to be recycled with a contamination rate over .5%. To put that into perspective the best recycling facilities in the country operate around a 4% contamination rate.

This has completely sent the business of recycling into a tailspin. This is why we can’t rely on recycling, but we have to look for better options like reducing and reusing.

the solution:

This is a multi-step solution of recycling less and recycling better. Since, I’ve gone into great detail throughout the challenge on how to reduce the amount of recyclables you have, this will only focus on recycling better!

Here’s a quick run down of the most materials.

GLASS

A 100% recycle rate.

There is no loss of quality or purity in the process.

Over a ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled.

For every six tons of recycled glass used in the process of manufacturing new glass, carbon dioxide out gas is reduced by a ton.

ALUMINUM

A 100% recycle rate.

Aluminum is one of the most recyclable materials, and is worth the most.

Americans landfill almost a billion dollars of aluminum cans every year.

An aluminum can can be recycled and back on the shelf in 60 days.

There is no limit to how many times aluminum can be recycled. It is considered a self-sustaining metal.

PAPER

A 65% recycle rate.

The typical American will use seven trees a year for paper. That is approximately 2,000,000,000 trees every single year, and half of that is landfilled.

Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution.

It costs 50 – 80% less to use recycled paper than it does to make paper out of new pulp.

Also make sure that the paper you’re recycling is clean! Paper must be clean and dry. And, paper towels and napkins are NOT recyclable. (but they are compostable! See challenge day 10 to learn more about composting)

PLASTIC

A 9% recycle rate

The US consumes 2.5 million liquid filled plastic bottles every hour.  Only around 27% of them are recycled.

Americans throw away 25,000,000,000 styrofoam coffee cups every year.

Plastic that escapes landfills, recycling, or is disposed of improperly is likely to find its way to the ocean where it kills a million sea creatures a year.

66% energy is saved in the production of new plastic products from recycled materials instead of raw materials.

I’ve also created guides on how to recycle the right way! Be sure to check the list out below.

take the challenge:

Today your challenge is to head to your waste management companies website and see if what you’re recycling is truly recyclable. Print out a list and put it on the fridge or on your recycle bin.

Go through your recycling and your trash to make sure that you’re separating correctly.

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Zero Waste Dishwashing - Day 20 of the Zero Waste Challenge

You know, when you switch to a zero waste lifestyle, you use all real stuff - like what we talked about in day 6 of the zero waste challenge.

This can mean a lot of dishes. But, when it comes to washing dishes, can you make that zero waste or more eco-friendly? You sure can! And, today, I’m challenging you to wash your dishes the zero waste way!

It’s day twenty of the zero waste challenge! We’re basically a third of the way through, and we’ll be transitioning to some more advance stuff next week.

The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

The second phase of the challenge is focused on lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Today we’re talking about another lifestyle change - washing dishes!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

The biggest problems when it comes to washing dishes is wasting water, sponges are nasty, and of course not washing dishes and opting for disposable products instead.

A lot of people ask me if it’s more eco-friendly to toss a plate them it is to actually wash one? But, that fails to account for the water used in manufacturing the paper products. Paper products are notoriously thirsty, so it’s alway better to wash a dish and reuse it over and over again.

the solution:

Let’s get straight into all of the solutions to turn your dishwashing into a green, clean machine! And, don’t forget to check out day 9 of the zero waste challenge: zero waste cleaning! I share all of my favorite zero waste cleaning recipes.

the soap:

When choosing a dish soap, you want to make sure that you’re opting for a biodegradable soap! The problem with conventional soaps is they can contain toxic chemicals that can harm our health and marine life.

When our water is treated, it’s difficult to remove all of the toxins, so by opting for a biodegradable soap, you won’t have to worry about it.

The ingredients that I would actively avoid would be fragrance, colorant, chlorine, formaldehyde, and ammonia. When our dishes are washed (especially in a dishwasher!) these ingredients can linger on our dishes.

For instance, Cascade, the most popular brand of dishwashing detergent, contains bleach. I personally, really wouldn’t want that hanging around on my dishes or drinking glasses….

So, solutions for the soap.

You can of course go the DIY route with ingredients that are easy to find in bulk. Both of my recipes for hand washing and dish washer powder can be found in my book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste!

The hand washing recipe is one of my particular faves!

You can also buy it in bulk from your local co-op or health food store or check out Fillaree. Or try to opt for dishwashing detergent that comes in a cardboard box like 7th Gen, Ecover, or Ecos.

When it comes to recycling the box, make sure you break the box down. Remove the metal spigot if it has one and then tap any excess powder out. You want to make sure the box is completely clean and then recycle.

the sponges:

There are so many options to replace sponges these days. The main thing I look for is compostability, as a bonus many of the scrub brushes I last on average and entire year. This adds up to massive savings! I’ve listed a few of my favorites below as well as some new one to me.

Several of the links are affiliate links for more information please see my disclosure policy. My favorites are listed in bold.

• wooden pot scraper

• copper scrubbers

• loofahs

• a rag

• wooden bottle brush

• wooden scrub

• loofah sponges.

use less water:

When it comes to saving water, running a full energy star rated dishwasher is more environmentally friendly than washing by hand. You can read more in this Guardian Article.

The average faucet flows at 2.2 gallons of water a minute and on average energy star rated washing machines, use 3-5 gallons of water total to wash an entire load of dishes.

But, I have lived without a dishwasher the majority of my life so understand that’s not an option for everyone.

My recommendation is to put a little bit of water in the base of the sink and to get everything super soapy. Then, after everything has been prepped, just use running water to rinse. And, don’t turn the faucet on full blast! Just use enough to rinse the dishes clean.

take the challenge:

I challenge you to use up all of your current dishwashing materials and then switch over to eco-friendly scrubbers and a biodegradable dish soap.

Switch to dishwashing, if you have one and haven’t been using it or start turning the faucet off while you’re hand washing. This will save water and of course factor into day 11 conserve resources as well.

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Bring Home Leftovers - Day 19 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Sometimes, we can’t always finish our food when we’re out to eat. Instead of wasting the food or bringing it home in disposable containers…. I’m challenging you to bring home leftovers in reusable containers.

We talked about ending food waste on day 14, but now we’re going to breakup with to-go containers too.

It’s day nineteen of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Most of the topics will start getting slightly more advanced for the rest of the challenge before we move into activism and ways to get your community involved, but today we’re talking about meal prep.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Styrofoam cannot be easily recycled, it’s toxic, and because it’s so light weight it’s easy for it to get carried away into nature. Plus, it’s super important to avoid!

the solution:

This week, whenever you go out to eat, I challenge you to bring your own container with you. This way you can bring home your leftovers without the Styrofoam clam shell.

Bringing your own container may inspire someone else to think about the waste they’re making or inspire the restaurant to consider more eco-friendly options! Never know, right?

At the least, it’s definitely a great conversation starter about all things zero waste.

The two things I like to bring with me are either a metal tiffin or a mason jar.

The mason jar is great because it’s leak proof. Because the base is glass, it’s convenient for reheating in a microwave.

However, with a mason jar you don’t really have any separation. Hopefully you only have one item, because you wouldn’t really want to mix your salad and your pasta in the same jar.

Metal tiffins typically have at least one or two levels, or at least something to separate and divide food with. This comes in handy when you’re out with someone or have two different foods leftover: You can get something to go on both levels without having to mix them together.

If you’re more of a takeout person, then I recommend watching this video. Getting takeout zero waste is so easy. I promise it is. I filmed the whole exchange so that way you can see it for yourself.

To get zero waste takeout, all you need to do is pull up your phone, see what restaurants are near you, call them up and ask them if you can bring your own containers. If the answer is yes, just make sure your containers are clean.

You can use mason jars for soup or rice, multi-tiered metal tiffins for keeping numerous foods separate. You can also take glassware with you to hold wraps, sandwiches and bulkier items.

Just take your container, ask them to fill it up, snap on the lids, and that’s it. So, if you love takeout, you don’t have to give it up to be zero waste.

That’s my challenge for you: Bring your leftovers home in your own container.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Nov 14, 2018 at 9:09am PST

take the challenge!

Over the next 12 days, your challenge is to bring home leftovers in your own containers.

If you’re dining out at a restaurant, it’s important to take home whatever you can’t finish, but you’ll want to avoid the dreaded Styrofoam clam shells.

You can do this by going to the restaurant prepared: Take a mason jar or a metal tiffin with you for any food you may have leftover at the end of the night.

If you enjoy zero waste takeout, call up the place first and ask if you can bring your own containers. If they say yes, head on over and have them fill up your food in mason jars or metal tiffins before taking it home to eat.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Tips for Using Cloth Napkins - Day 18 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Disposable paper napkins are everywhere nowadays from restaurants to homes. But, I’m working to change that ONE TABLE AT A TIME!!

Today, I challenge you to swap paper napkins out for reusable cloth napkins.

It’s day eighteen of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

However, hindsight… this swap probably belongs up in the beginning. Ah, well, watchya gonna do.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Paper napkins aren’t recyclable after use because they are considered soiled after food gets on them. They can be composted, which is good, but ultimately not the best solution.

Most people don’t compost, but - I know that you’re working on getting that sorted! Remember day 10 we talked all about how to get a compost situation that works for you.

Paper napkins use a ton of resources and energy to make which harkens back to day 11 use fewer resources and day one buy less. You see how this challenge is becoming pretty intertwined?

Bottom line is, it’s much better for the planet to ditch disposable items, and choose reusable whenever possible.

You probably think cloth napkins are a lot more work than paper. But I promise you it’s not.

the solution:

Justin and I both use cloth napkins and if they aren’t dirty, we just carry them over to the next meal.

If they are dirty, then we throw them in the base of a washing machine. That way, whenever we’re doing another load, they’re already in there ready to be washed.

However, if you don’t have a washing machine, you can still own and wash cloth napkins. When Justin and I moved into our tiny house, we didn’t have a washing machine.

Instead, when a cloth napkin got soiled, we let it dry if it was wet and then put it in the hamper.

You can alternatively up-cycle one of your trashcans that you don’t need anymore to hold soiled napkins. This prevents clothing and soiled napkins from getting mixed up in the same basket.

To wash our cloth napkins, we just throw them in the laundry. However, if a cloth napkin gets particularly dirty (spaghetti sauce) I might hand wash it and just let it dry by draping it over the oven handle.

diy napkins:

The best part about cloth napkins is that they’re easy to make yourself! I am so proud that I hand stitched my very first set of cloth napkins.

When I first went zero waste, I was on a TIGHT budget. I grabbed some spare fabric from the thrift store and sewed it creating a set of cloth napkins. They’re still my favorite to this day.

If you’re not worried about having fancy napkins, consider cutting up an old soft shirt and using that.

If you’d like to make your own cloth napkins that really stand out, there are a bunch of tutorials online. However, most tutorials are specifically geared towards people who have sewing machines.

I hand stitched mine though, so it’s definitely not impossible! I used a blind hem stitch around the edges and did it while I was watching TV or listening to a podcast.

If sewing is not your thing, check out this no sew linen napkin tutorial. They’re super cute and low hassle to make.

where to buy:

Don’t forget to ask your parents or grandparents. They probably have some cloth napkins lying around that they don’t use anymore, or check out these three zero waste shops for all your plastic free needs.

Check at local stores to see if they sell any cute linen or cotton cloth napkins. Try to get ones that are neutral enough to use for all seasons, year-round.

Whenever possible, choose organic or recycled cotton over conventionally grown cotton cloth napkins.

how many should you have?

I recommend keeping a nice little stash of cloth napkins around your house and in your purse for on the go purposes. You never know when you might need them!

To live comfortably, I’d recommend having at least five cloth napkins available per person. That might seem like a lot but, if you’re also using them for cleaning, this will prevent you from ever running out!

If you’re the sort of person who likes to use a fresh, clean napkin every day to avoid germs, getting seven cloth napkins per person, if you do laundry once a week might be a better number for you.

Your cloth napkins should last a very long time if you treat them right. This should save you money in the long run!

what to do once they’re irreparable:

When the cloth napkin has run its course, if it’s made from natural materials like cotton or linen, you can compost it. Just cut it up into tiny pieces first, that way it composts quicker.

So that is my challenge to you: Use cloth napkins for every meal this week.

take the challenge!

Over the next 13 days, your challenge is to use cloth napkins. Paper napkins are incredibly wasteful and cannot be recycled after use.

Swap them for reusable cloth napkins: You can make them yourself or buy them at a store. Opt for organic cotton and linen material whenever possible, as these are compostable at end of life.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Pack a Zero Waste Lunch - Day 17 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Lunch can arguably be one of the most wasteful meals. There’s lots of single-use packaging and lots of easy grab-and-go options wrapped in plastic.

Today I’m challenging you to ditch the fast-food to-go salads, the saran wrapped wraps, and plastic soup containers.

Today, I challenge you to pack your own lunch from home in reusable containers.

It’s day seventeen of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Today we’re talking about packing your lunch.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Lunch time can be super wasteful. Typically, we eat this meal away from home while at work or school.

This can mean lots of disposable items from individually packed drinks and snacks to plastic baggies and brown paper bags.

It’s also the time of day, when we’re most likely to head out and get takeout. Most of us eat our lunches at our desks. We don’t typically have time to go to a restaurant and sit down to eat so we’ll call ahead, pick up our lunch in disposable packaging, and plop right back down at our desks and get back to work!

There’s a few simple ways to avoid making a wasteful lunch part of your daily routine.

the solution:

By packing my lunch, I find it is a super easy way for me to combat any unnecessary waste. I often see co-workers go out to grab sandwiches in those Styrofoam trays and/or wrapped in plastic wrap.

For me, it’s a lot easier to make my own sandwich. It’s also way cheaper and typically a healthier option.

If you don’t like the idea of eating the same thing day in day out, I’m totally with you. You certainly don’t have to stick to one generic meal to stay waste free.

I like to stick to two salads, two sandwiches and one leftover throughout the week, as a general rule. For more information, here’s how I pack my own zero waste lunch.

A few challenges back we talked about meal prep (day 15 to be exact). That skill can certainly help you pack your own zero waste lunches in no time.

Taking the time to prepare your lunch will make you a lot less likely to purchase a to-go soup or salad. You can make your lunch the night before, or prep your lunch for the whole week on a Sunday night. It’s totally up to you.

If you’re in a hurry, you can also whip up a meal a few minutes before leaving for work. On those days, I suggest making something easy like a sandwich or packing leftovers.

For some meal inspiration, here’s a few lunch ideas that’ll get you through work:

• Avocado, hummus, tomato and sprout sandwich.

• Homemade veggie noodle soup.

• Lettuce, clementine, strawberry, almond salad.

• Butternut squash soup.

• Collard green wraps.

• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

• Kale, butternut, pumpkin seed and cranberry salad.

• Potato leek soup.

You can get a lot of the ingredients for these meals at your local farmers market, plastic free. If a particular fruit or vegetable needed for the meal isn’t in season, replace it with one that is.

It’s always best to make meals using real, whole foods whenever possible. Overly processed foods tend to be the ones that come in the most packaging, after all, so be sure to buy your meal ingredients wisely.

I like to pair my lunches with little sides as well. Some good, waste free sides are apples, carrots, or dried fruits bought in bulk. Check out this blog post for more information on how to grocery shop without creating any trash.

Along with making meals from whole foods, consider what you will store your meals in. I’ve listed some of my favs below and they are affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.

You can carry everything in a big lunch sack or bag with you to work, for starters. As far as storing the actual food goes, there are so many options.

Here are some zero waste lunch essentials:

• Mason jars: Perfect for storing salads, soups or snacks.

• Glass snapware: Great for salads, leftovers or wraps.

• Metal tiffins: Ideal for sandwiches, leftovers, or snacks.

• Cloth napkins: Can be used to transport bread or apples.

• Beeswax wraps: Perfect for sandwiches and burritos.

• Reusable Sandwich Bags: Sandwiches and snacks!

• Silicone Stasher Bags: I use them to store everything… except soup.

On top of these items, be sure to take with you some reusable cutlery and a reusable water bottle.

You can take your salad dressing with you, or dips for wraps/sides, in a small little glass jar, or a metal dip cup with a silicone lid. You’d be amazed at how much waste you’ll cut back on.

If you prefer to eat out of real plates and bowls, consider bringing some dishes to work with you.

You can store plates and flatware at work. This way, when you’re ready to eat, you can just place your meal onto an actual dish or bowl.

If you love getting daily takeout then be sure to check out this blog post! It’s super easy to get takeout zero waste it just takes a touch of planning ahead.

take the challenge!

Over the next 14 days, your challenge is to pack your lunch.

Instead of buying lunch to go, or storing it in a disposable zip lock bag, make your own and put it in a reusable container.

You can buy whole foods at the farmers market to transform into delicious meals like salads and sandwiches. Store them in reusable glassware, mason jars, metal tiffins or cloth napkins and bring it to work.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Repair Something - Day 16 of the Zero Waste Challenge

In our society, it’s common to just throw items away when they no longer work or when they break. Our items are made so flimsy that it’s often cheaper to buy a replacement than it is the repair what you already have.

It’s one of the reasons investing in quality is so important. If you have a quality item that you love, it will be easier to repair and you’ll actually want it repaired!

I remember several times growing up when I was excited that something broke so I could “upgrade.” Now, I don’t feel the same way at all. I recently went on a trip and my FAVORITE backpack which I’ve had for 15 years is starting to fall apart - and I am distraught!

I don’t want a new backpack… I want my old PERFECT backpack to live forever! You can bet I’ve been breaking out a needle and thread reinforcing it all over because I expect that backpack to last another 15 year.

When you love an item - you want to save it!! So, today, I challenge you to repair something, or get it repaired by a professional, instead of tossing it.

It’s day sixteen of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Today we’re talking about repairing something.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Two items most typically thrown away after they tear or break are clothes and electronics. Sadly, these two items also contribute to a lot of waste.

When electronics are thrown away (think computers, phones and gadgets) it’s referred to as electronic waste or e-waste. Only 20 percent of e-waste is recycled, which is bad for the environment because electronics can leak toxic materials like led and mercury over time.

Discarded clothing is also bad for the environment. According to one study, it’s estimated a truckload of textiles is wasted every second. Most of the discarded clothing is made from plastic like polyester and acrylic making this another form of plastic pollution.

I think it’s high time we start treating our belongings with more care and thought. Of course, one of the best ways to treat our belongings with more care and thought is to also make sure we’re only consuming things that we truly care about! But, that’s more of a day one challenge.

Currently, I have a jacket that has a tear in the seam and I desperately need to repair it.

So, this challenge is for me too. I am challenging you to get one of those things out of your own “needs repair” pile and fix it up.

the solution:

When you hear the word repair, you might think about a plumber or a repair man. The truth is, anyone can learn the art of fixing things (though it takes a lifetime to master it).

While you may never develop the same level of skill a professional has, it’s good to know a few tools of the trade. Some examples of handy skills to know include fixing a button, changing a tire or mending a tear.

Here are some basic repair skills you should try:

• Sew a button.

• Darn a sock.

• Sew a tear shut.

• Fix a leak.

Being handy has its benefits: It can save you a lot of money and also keep something out of the landfill. All too often we dispose of products whenever they break, rip or falter without even trying to fix them. Often, the fixes are pretty easy.

A huge challenge of living the zero waste lifestyle is learning these repair skills. So much unnecessary waste can be prevented just by learning to stitch a simple seem or figure out how to sew on a button.

Honestly, you don’t really have to learn those skills if you don’t want to: There are tailors or cobblers who can fix your shoes. Or repairmen that can fix your blender, or anything that needs fixing.

If fixing items isn’t really your thing, or you’re really not into DIYs, then I challenge you to at least take your item to someone who can fix it. There are repair cafes popping up all over the world which look like a ton of fun to be part of.

Where to take broken or worn out items to be fixed:

• Shoes – Take them to your local cobbler (they will replace soles, laces, etc.).

• Clothes – Tailors will fix and hem your clothes (so if you have a tear, missing button, etc.).

• Plumbing – Find local plumbers in your area that can fix leaky faucets or burst pipes.

• Electronics –  Electronic repair stores will fix most electronics (hardware or software issues).

Make sure to always support your local repairmen whenever you can. You can find people in your area through doing a quick Google search.

If, for whatever reason, something cannot be repaired, make sure it is disposed of properly. Get my complete guide for how to recycle e-waste! Clothing can be donated (if in good enough condition) or made into rags for zero waste cleaning.

That said, only dispose of an item properly as a last resort. Really make an effort to get it fixed!

So, your challenge for today is to learn how to repair something, or take it to someone else who can repair it for you.

take the challenge!

Over the next 15 days, your challenge is to repair something.

Instead of throwing something away when it rips or breaks, challenge yourself to fix it. If you’re unsure how to repair it, bring it to someone who can. Our society is too quick to throw broken things away without a second thought: Let’s fix that!

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Zero Waste Meal Prep 101 - Day 15 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Did you know you can dramatically reduce waste by taking just a few minutes to meal prep once a week? It sounds super complicated… and boring. I mean who wants to eat the same meal days on end?

I certainly don’t! That’s why I prep ingredients instead of meals. This gives me total freedom with my meals and I can get them on the table FAST. Plus, I can prevent food all sorts of food waste taking us back to yesterdays challenge 10 tips prevent food waste!

Today, I challenge you to spend at least 30 minutes meal prepping for the week.

It’s day fifteen of the zero waste challenge! We’re officially halfway through the challenge: Only sixteen more days to go!

The beginning of the challenge focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Most of the topics will start getting slightly more advanced for the rest of the challenge before we move into activism and ways to get your community involved, but today we’re talking about meal prep.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

Meal prepping ahead of time can really reduce your workload throughout the week. It will also help you avoid unnecessary “quick fixes” like microwaveable dinners packaged in plastic.

It helps to prevent food waste, and will keep you fed with super nourishing meals! When you meal prep, it’s much easier to eat a diet focused around vegetables because, you’ll have already done all of the hard work ahead of time.

the solution:

I typically spend 2-3 hours meal prepping. I make it fun. I turn on a tv show or listen to a book or podcast, and then I just start prepping.

For me, meal prep means peeling my carrots, cutting them into carrot sticks, and roasting and sauteeing my in season vegetables. It helps me prevent so much trash and saves time.

If you’re going for just a short 30 minute prep, then get all of your vegetables chopped and stored in clear glass containers so you can see what foods you have prepped and nothing will get lost in the back of the fridge.

Check out my ultimate guide for plastic free food storage.

Whenever I’ve had a super hard day at work, I have so much peace knowing I have so many things prepped. It makes it super easy for me to get a fast and healthy meal on the table.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Aug 14, 2018 at 8:20am PDT

Having most of the meal prepped, prevents me from going out to eat and/or reaching for overly processed, overly packaged snacks. So just by having a few things prepared, I’m able to prevent a lot of waste.

Today, I’m challenging you to do the same. I think you’ll find this will really help you prevent waste and provide easy meals.

Aside from physically preparing meals ahead of time, it’s also a great idea to sit down and think of how many meals you need to make. Will you be prepping breakfast, lunch, dinner? Do you have any dishes in mind that you like to eat?

I prep by flavor profile, not by meal so I have complete and total control over what I eat and am not beholden to a meal plan. Because the moment someone says, lasagna is on Tuesday… suddenly I don’t want lasagna on a Tuesday… I want tacos.

When you have prepped around flavor profile, you can use the produce that’s in season to create whatever you want. So, in winter time, I might put sweet potatoes, black beans, and kale in my tacos, but in the summer I’ll put peppers and onions and pinto beans. Add a little bit of salsa, cumin, coriander, chili powder, lime juice, and the ingredients transcend the region.

I recommend writing out a list of the cuisines you like to make and eat throughout the week, as well as what core ingredients you’d need to make them.

For instance, when it comes to making Mexican food I like to make sure that I have tortillas, tortilla chips, salsa, beans, etc. on hand. Then I can change the produce to reflect the season.

Maybe you like to make Indian food, American food, Italian food, whatever type of food you like to make - you know how to keep your pantry and spice cabinet stocked so you can make any food your heart desires.

Then, prep the basics. I like to prep several carbs maybe it’s rice, pasta, quinoa, or sweet potatoes. Then I like to prep several proteins for me these will be lentils, beans, hummus. Then I like to prep tons of in season veggies.

Then I can assemble my plate to include all of the important categories. These are the questions I ask myself:

• Do I have a protein?

• Do I have a carb?

• Do I have fiber?

• Do I have good fats?

If I can answer yes to all of those questions, then I know that I’m going to have a meal that keeps me feeling full, which can be a challenge if you eat a mostly plant based diet.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Jan 3, 2019 at 9:09am PST

take the challenge!

Over the next 16 days, your challenge is to meal prep.

Go ahead and set aside at least 30 minutes to prepare food for the week ahead after you go grocery shopping.

This can mean peeling carrots, boiling vegetables, or chopping up produce (whatever makes your life easier).

You’ll be less tempted to reach for single use packaged items throughout the week if you just prep a little beforehand.

You can also use this as an opportunity to plan out your meals for the week, if you feel extra ambitious.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

10 Tips for Fighting Food Waste - Day 14 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Food is too good to waste, and yet one third of food produced for human consumption is wasted or lost globally.

With a staggering 40% of food being wasted in the US alone. Food waste seems like something small, but it adds up to a massive… and I mean MASSIVE impact.

If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses behind China and the US. Today, I challenge you to keep break up with food waste!

It’s day fourteen of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste way, and conserving natural resources.

Today we’re talking about another lifestyle change - ending food waste!

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

In America alone we waste 40 percent of our food. That’s absolutely crazy since so many people go hungry.

In fact, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 821 million people globally go hungry and are undernourished. The saddest part about that statement is we have enough food to feed everyone on the planet, but most of it is wasted or lost.

Essentially, food waste is food that reaches its final production stage, is fit for human consumption, but for all kinds of reasons is thrown away. Like the insane beauty standards our food has to go through to be able to reach store shelves.

Food loss is food that never reaches its final production stage (which means there’s poor management inside the company producing the food).

Obviously, not all food waste is the consumer’s fault (it’s also companies who manage food poorly), but there certainly is a problem with how we (consumers) treat food.

Thankfully, there are so many things we can do to help prevent food waste.

View this post on Instagram

Y'all know how much I hate food waste, let's taco bout it. 1 in 9 people go to bed on an empty stomach every night. Meanwhile the US wastes 40% of all it's food from supply to grocery stores to our own kitchens. While we can't immediately change the supply, we can help control the narrative. Shop from a local farmer. Buy the ugliest produce you can find. Buy the loneliest banana. Don't buy too much food so it doesn't go to waste. And, eat your food scraps!! Broccoli stems with some julienned carrots and green apple with a little bit of ginger, soy sauce, lime juice, and rice wine vinegar make for a cool delicious slaw. Perfect for topping my black bean tacos. And, we know Nala is the real MVP when it comes to food waste. Any crumb that hits the floor, she is on it!

A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Mar 27, 2018 at 9:00am PDT

the solution:

make a plan:

The first thing is to make a plan. I’m not asking you to sit down and do a huge meal plan: I know that can be a total pain.

I’m just asking you to open up your fridge and your freezer and look at your pantry before you go grocery shopping.

If you open up the fridge and say “hey, I’ve got a tomato, a couple carrots and some broccoli that needs to be eaten”, then you can think of a meal or two for the beginning of the week where you can use those up.

You also know now that you don’t need to buy tomato, carrots or broccoli which prevents you from buying duplicate items.

Get my tips for making a five minute meal plan to prevent food waste!

store it right:

When you’re grocery shopping, think about how you’ll be storing your produce. Proper storage is key to making fruits and veg last as long as possible! Be sure to check out my plastic-free storage guide and the video as well.

ignore those dates:

You can pretty much ignore the “best by, sell by and use by” expiration dates. It’s best to always do a taste test.

Here’s what those expiration labels really mean:

• Sell by: Tells the store how long to display the product for sale. Not a safety date.

• Use by: Last date recommended for use when the product is at peak quality. Not a safety date except when used on infant formula.

• Best by: Indicates when product will be of best flavor or quality. Not a safety date.

As you can see, these expiration dates aren’t as scary as they look on a product.

Certain food products you don’t even have to worry about the expiration dates – they might last a longer time than you think…. like honey. Honey from 1,000s of years ago is still perfectly edible. Or, they might not last as long as the expiration date says.

It all depends on how they’re stored, the temperature and a bunch of other factors, so it’s always best to go with a smell and taste test.

Even certain things like sour milk are edible, it’s just not enjoyable to drink a glass of it (but it works great in waffles). So, think of creative ways you can use some of those items.

save it:

If there’s something on your plate you can’t finish, don’t be shy to ask a family member if they want it instead. If not, save it for later instead of throwing it away.

The same goes for eating out: If there’s food you can’t finish on your plate, be sure to take it home instead of throwing it away. I like to bring a reusable container with me when I know I’ll be dining out, just in case I have leftovers.

Get my ultimate guide for storing leftovers without plastic.

Make sure to order or cook with foods you actually like too: While there’s nothing wrong with experimenting, new foods don’t always go over too well (so they’re more likely to get wasted).

Also, whenever produce starts to go bad, or looks sad, consider pickling them. Making dill pickles, or beet pickles is a great way to salvage vegetables (and you can honestly pickle almost any vegetable including carrots, cauliflower, artichokes, etc.).

use your scraps:

Another great way to reduce food waste is to cook with your scraps.

There are so many parts of a vegetable that often get thrown out but are perfectly edible, like carrot tops and broccoli stems. Carrot tops can become pesto and broccoli stems can become slaw.

Here are a few other ways to cook with scraps:

• Make zero waste vegetable broth from food scraps.

• Use herb stems in soups, stews and salads instead of discarding them.

• Add celery leaves to your next soup for extra flavor.

• Save pumpkin seeds and roast them later.

• Cook beet tops into a delicious veggie stir fry.

• Make salad from herb stems, carrot tops, radish tops and beet tops.

Want more tips for cooking with scraps? I wrote an article with Joel from “Scraps”, the TV show, that has some great, innovative ideas on how to cook with your scraps.

For more ideas and recipes, check out my book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste!

take the challenge!

Over the next 17 days, your challenge is to reduce your food waste. You can do this in a number of ways, such as cooking with food scraps, saving leftovers, pickling sad produce and meal planning around what you already have in your fridge.

There are so many actions you can take to help reduce food waste: You can start by eating everything you buy at the grocery store! :)

Imperfect produce also has a challenge going this year about reducing food waste and have made some adorable food waste bingo sheets! If you’re looking for food waste inspiration, be sure to check them out.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Zero Waste Grocery Shopping - Day 13 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Whenever you go to the grocery store, you’re bound to notice a lot of items (both produce and dry goods) packaged in plastic.

Today, I challenge you to shop without creating any waste.

It’s day thirteen of the zero waste challenge! The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re in the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks and decluttering your life.

Things are starting to get a little more advance and will take a little bit of research to complete. Today we’re talking about zero waste grocery shopping.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

A lot of our groceries are wrapped in plastic. We’ve become so used to the idea that food comes from manufacturing plants and is wrapped in plastic to keep it sanitary all the while forgetting food comes from dirt.

Food is not sterile. It’s grown outside.

Shopping without creating any trash was just normal grocery shopping only 50 years ago. Every corner store and market would have bulk bins full of sweets and treats!

Now, it just seems like everything is overly processed and overly packaged.

the solution:

This challenge is kind of two-fold: First, locate your nearest shop that has bulk bins where you can go zero waste grocery shopping, then actually go out and do it.

To locate your own local bulk food store, type in your address using the bulk food finder app. Litterless also has a mega list of bulk food stores located around the United States.

That said, I understand that not everyone is going to have a bulk food store near them. And sometimes that’s not exactly the end of the world. If that’s the position you’re in, check out this blog post how to be zero waste without bulk options.

If no bulk food stores exist in your area, opt for paper and cardboard packaging over plastic whenever possible. If an item only comes in plastic, buy the biggest container available (this reduces the amount of little plastic bags or containers put into the waste stream).

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A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Nov 19, 2018 at 9:05am PST

My closest shop is around 40 minutes away, or two hours both ways by public transit. I only go every couple of months so that way I’m only stocking up and grabbing the essentials.

By going every couple of months I’m reducing my resources as far as transportation goes, and I typically couple it with a fun trip.

Justin, my husband, and I might go to a nice restaurant we wanted to try, see a show, or do something else fun beyond just grocery shopping. Since I’m typically only shopping for dry goods at these stores, it’s not like I have to worry about them spoiling.

I typically bring cloth bags and jars to the grocery store. I don’t bother weighing my bags because they’re typically so light they don’t even register on the scale.

Here’s the general rundown of how I shop in bulk:

• I weigh my jars by getting them tared upfront at the register.

• Then I go to the bin and write down my PLU number (or take a picture of it with my phone).

• I will fill up the jar with whatever the ingredient is I need.

• When I go to checkout I will tell them the weight and they will subtract the weight of my jar.

• Then I will tell them the PLU number so they know what’s inside of it.

• Last but not least, they’ll ring me up.

This way, I’m only paying for what I put in the jar. I have a whole guide to zero waste grocery shopping you might want to check out for more details.

I also have another article about what to do if you don’t have any bulk bins in your area, because I know that will be the case for some people.

But I still encourage you to look around. You might be surprised by what you have. Talk to friends and family, use Yelp and type bulk bins on there, or even walk around your downtown area.

Sometimes I’m so surprised by what I find downtown that doesn’t have a very strong web presence. I found a spice shop, a tea shop and an olive oil shop all where I can get things in my own container, just by getting out there on foot and looking around.

Beyond, just buying from bulk bins, opt for a diet using mostly fresh produce. That’s typically pretty easy to find without any packaging. Bring your own reusable produce bags or just skip them all together!

And, don’t forget to bring your reusable bags like we talked about on day 5. Check that blog post out for some awesome hacks on how to quit forgetting your reusable bags at home.

So my challenge to you today is to find a place to go bulk food shopping and to actually give it a try the next time you need to buy groceries.

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A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on May 23, 2018 at 9:17am PDT

take the challenge!

Over the next 18 days, pick one day and go zero waste grocery shopping.

You can find a bulk food store near you by doing a google search, using Litterless’ guide, or searching on the bulk food store locator app.

Once you find the bulk food store nearest you, head on over and shop using your own containers. If you don’t have a bulk food store near you, opt for purchasing products in paper or cardboard packaging whenever possible over plastic.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

I’m the head content creator over at pelacase.com and have partnered with them to create an email version of the challenge. I will be sending out weekly recap letters with Pela if you’d prefer to have this challenge in larger chunks and delivered straight to your inbox.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook. Which is all about individual ways to fight climate change. You don’t want to miss it.

miss a day?

Pick up Litter - Day 12 of the Zero Waste Challenge

Every time you step outside, you’re bound to encounter litter in some form or another.

Today, I challenge you to pick it up and place it in the recycling bin (or trash, if it cannot be recycled) so it won’t pollute the environment anymore.

It’s day twelve of the zero waste challenge! We’re starting to get into more advanced topics as we head into the rest of the challenge.

The beginning of the challenge is focused on simple swaps like bringing your own water bottle and bags to the grocery store.

Now, we’re entering into the second phase of the challenge. These changes are lifestyle changes like learning to make your own snacks and decluttering your life.

Today we’re talking about picking up litter.

Prefer video content? Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

the problem:

I’m going to be honest with you: I hate picking up trash. I do not like it, I do not find it incredibly enjoyable, but here’s the thing: Most people don’t.

It’s not typically a favorite pass time for people. Also, there is a little bit of a stigma attached to picking up litter.

Whenever someone picks up litter, others tend to look at them funny. They think it’s weird, or that the person doing it might be being forced to do it as a community service act.

A lot of people are disgusted by the thought of cleaning up someone else’s trash. Their attitude is largely “I didn’t drop it, why would I pick it up?”

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A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Sep 5, 2018 at 10:21am PDT

This makes cleaning up litter a strange sight to them (unless you’re a sanitation worker).

I think this says a lot about people’s view on climate change as a whole: They believe someone else will come along and fix it, that it’s not their problem because they didn’t start it.

But you still live here, on Earth, right? It’s still your home – shouldn't you take care of it?

The same goes for picking up litter: Sure, you didn’t drop the litter, but it’s still in your area, polluting your neighborhood. Shouldn’t you take care of it?

So, whenever you get out there and you pick up litter, what you’re doing is breaking a kind of taboo. You’re saying “this is okay, this is correct, this is the right thing to do.”

What you’ll notice is as you are picking up litter, you will inspire other people to pick up litter.

the solution:

I work in a pretty popular area and during lunch, a lot of people go on walks or run. A lot of people are very active during their lunch breaks.

When I go out, I walk (typically with my dog) and we will pick up litter. As we pick up litter, we are giving other people permission to pick up litter and it’s amazing.

On the days I don’t pick up litter, no one picks up litter. On the days I pick up litter, everyone is picking up litter.

That’s because I am giving them permission and saying “this is okay, this is normal, this is great. Let's take pride in our area and clean it up.”

Here are a few reasons you should pick up litter in your community (if you’re not already convinced):

• Keeps your neighborhood beautiful – Litter is an eyesore, after all. Litter can negatively impact your sense of community and make people feel less safe. By picking it up, you’re showing pride for your community and beautifying the area.

• Protects wildlife – The animals in your area could confuse litter for food or nesting materials. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen birds pick up pieces of plastic. If litter gets into waterways, chances are it’ll harm aquatic ecosystems as well. Picking up litter helps prevent wildlife from chancing upon it.

• Reduces costs – A lot of money is spent on litter cleanup in the United States. These costs are shared by government and local businesses, so picking up litter can help put those funds to something else your community will benefit more from.

• Protects children – Little kids are more likely to pick up litter out of curiosity. Unfortunately, this is a safety hazard, seeing as kids are known for putting things in their mouth that don’t belong. Keeping litter off the streets reduces this risk.

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A post shared by Kathryn Kellogg (@going.zero.waste) on Jul 30, 2018 at 8:11am PDT

There are so many reasons to pick up litter. Even if you pick up just 10 pieces of litter in 10 minutes, you’ll be making an impact.

Whatever trash you do pick up, make sure to put into a bag or lined trash can, and not just loosely in an unlined one. Loose trash often winds up as litter again on trash collection day.

Also, I encourage you to smile and say hello to any passersby as you pick up litter. It shows you take pride in keeping your community clean, and encourages others to take part too.

If you’re really feeling inspired, consider hosting a community cleanup! That’s definitely more advanced stuff, but it’s a great thing to do if you feel your area needs it.

I know it may be a little bit chilly for some of you, depending on where you live, so maybe just take a very short trip out to pick up litter. But I encourage you and challenge you to get out some point this weekend and pick up litter.

Especially, I hope, you will take this challenge with you whenever you’re out and about.

take the challenge!

Whenever, you’re outside I challenge is to pick up three pieces of litter! Take a few moments out of your day (whether it be on your walk to your office or during your lunch break) to pick up three pieces of litter. Doing this will help prevent wildlife from mistaking it for food or nesting materials, and you’ll make picking up litter less taboo for everyone else.

If it’s really cold out and you don’t plan on going outside anytime soon, then I challenge you to at least once a week go for a 10 minute litter patrol around your neighborhood.

Picking up litter encourages others to do the same.

Will you be taking the challenge?