Catch the latest tips and trends that help you reduce waste in your day-to-day life
Cooking and I have a complicated relationship. Anyone who knew me before I started zero waste will probably be surprised by how much I cook now. I…am not a good cook. There are things that I can cook after many, many repetitions and past failures, but it’s not something I come by naturally. Until I decided to …
I did not meet my goal of 1 mason jar of waste this month. And that’s okay! I didn’t expect to succeed right off the bat. This was my first month officially tracking my trash–specifically my non-recyclable, non-compostable trash. If it were that easy, everyone would be zero waste. A few confessions about this month’s …
Humans vs. Zombies was–and still is–very popular at my Alma mater. The game involves running, tagging, dodging, jumping, shooting Nerf guns, and throwing socks for a long weekend around campus. There’s a lot of room for accidents, but rarely did anything actually go wrong. Unless you count that one time a student accidentally shattered a window …
Perfectly arranged, identical mason jars. Adorable succulents covering window sills. Classy, minimalist clothing in blacks, whites, and neutrals. Yes, the Zero Waste Aesthetic is a seductive mistress. And she will suck your bank account dry if you’re not careful. Don’t get me wrong; I love me a good aesthetic. I dog ear my favorite pages of Vogue, …
Cravings. We all have them. And they can be monstrous when you’re zero waste. Sadly, cravings are often covered in packaging. That’s because Americans like myself are addicted to high-preservative food and drink with tons of fat and sugar. A classic id vs. superego showdown will commence as you consider the greasy cardboard in a …
When you shop zero waste, your options shrink pretty quickly. Even in my hometown of St. Louis where there are dozens of different grocery stores to choose from, most don’t offer bulk bins or even produce without plastic packaging. For me, I only have two one-stop options: Lucky’s Market The Soulard Farmer’s Market (which I …
Getting reusable stuff is expensive. It takes companies a lot more time and resources to create something durable, well made, and ethically made than it does to create a one-time-use item. They also realize that there’s probably a set number of items that they will sell because you won’t continually have to buy new items to …
Going zero waste is hard. Not coal mining or giving birth hard, but it does take a certain amount of dedication. It’s a lot of rejecting convenience. The convenience of calling for a late night pizza delivery or ordering a drink without having to specify, “No straw, please.” Convenience and I were once lovers and …