In recent years, the term “zero waste” has become increasingly popular as people strive to live more sustainable lifestyles. Zero waste strategies can seem daunting at first, but there are many simple and effective ways that everyone can start implementing these practices in their daily lives.

If you're looking to reduce your ecological footprint and live a more sustainable lifestyle, learning how to go zero waste is a great place to start.

Here are five tips from Living Pristine’s founder Beatrice to help get you started:

Bring your own reusable shopping bags

Using reusable bags reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. It’s estimated that the average American family uses 500-1,000 plastic shopping bags per year, so switching to reusable bags can have a big impact on the environment.

In addition to reducing waste, using reusable shopping bags also helps conserve resources. It takes a lot of energy and water to produce plastic and paper bags, so by using reusable bags you’re helping to conserve these precious resources.

Finally, using reusable shopping bags is often cheaper in the long run than constantly buying new plastic or paper bags. Plus, reusable bags are way easier to carry than those flimsy plastic ones.

2. Avoid single-use items whenever possible

Use reusable alternatives instead! Instead of buying that pricey bottle of water at the grocery store, bring a reusable water bottle with you and fill it up at any drinking fountain or bathroom sink. Bottled water is bad for the environment - the water bottling process releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually.

Of course, avoid using disposable straws. If you do use straws, opt for reusable ones made of stainless steel or glass. And say no to plastic cutlery and plates. If you’re having a party or picnic, use real plates and silverware instead of disposables.

3. Turn the lights off!

We are all guilty of leaving lights on - but turning the lights off can make a big difference in your carbon footprint. It takes less than a second to turn off a light, but it can save you money on your energy bill and help reduce your environmental impact.

If everyone in the United States turned off just one light for one hour, we would save enough energy to power more than 200,000 homes for a year. That’s a lot of energy and money that we could be saving!

4. Compost your food scraps

This a great way to reduce your waste and help the environment simultaneously! Food scraps are a major source of methane gas, which is released when food decomposes in landfills. When you compost your food scraps, you help reduce the amount of methane gas your community produces and keep nutrients out of landfills.

Here are some tips for composting food scraps:

1. Add food scraps to your compost bin regularly. This includes fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, etc.

2. Be sure to mix the food scraps with other materials like leaves, grass clippings, and wood chips to create a balanced compost pile that won’t smell bad.

3. Once your compost pile is established, turn it every few weeks to help speed up the decomposition process.

4. Use the finished compost in your garden beds or potted plants for rich nutrients!

5. Make Your Own Cleaning products

Photo by Precious Plastic Melbourne on Unsplash

There are many recipes online for DIY cleaning products that are not only effective but also eco-friendly!

Making your own cleaning products means that you aren't using as many chemicals and also that you’re saving yourself money. You can also make your own laundry detergent to reduce the number of chemicals that you use on a daily basis.

Not only are store-bought cleaners often packaged in plastic bottles that end up in the trash, but they also contain harsh chemicals that are bad for both the environment and your health. Thankfully, there are plenty of recipes for eco-friendly cleaning solutions that you can make at home using ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.

For example, vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner that can be used on everything from countertops to floors. Just mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and voila! You can also use it to clean glass surfaces and mirrors.

Or, if you have a cat (or dogs) in your home, try making a homemade pet stain and odor remover. Just mix one part water with two parts white vinegar, and add a few drops of tea tree oil for extra deodorizing power.

To summarize, while making your own natural cleaning solutions may seem like a lot of work, the alternatives are worse. And remember, the more you practice green cleaning in your home, the easier it will become. You’ll find yourself creating new recipes and discovering new uses for old ones. It works!

Author Bio:

Beatrice Flores has many years of experience in domestic and workplace housekeeping. Motivated by her love of cleaning and living sustainably, Beatrice created Living Pristine so that she could share her cleaning skills and knowledge with the world to enjoy cleaner and healthier living spaces.

5 Easy-to-Implement Tips For Going Zero Waste

Bring your own reusable shopping bags