Low-waste Living

 

On average, the household waste generation in the United States is about 5.7 lbs, per person, per day - and of that, 13% is plastic! That means that every year, each person produces an average of over 2,000 pounds of waste (Look up source...slide from Roland Geyer). While in an ideal world, everyone would live zero-waste, the reality of that is not-attainable for most people. You can help by reducing your waste and living a more ‘low-waste’ lifestyle can still have a BIG positive impact on the environment!

 


Here are some of ECOSLO’s tips for low-waste living:

 
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Refuse single use plastic

  • Buy unpackaged produce at the store or shop at farmer’s markets

  • Buy things packaged in glass, aluminum and paper instead of plastic

  • Bring your own bags to the store

  • Call ahead of time when you are getting take-out and request NO bag and NO plastic utensils

 
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Shop at farmers markets

  • Support local farmers and enjoy fresh local produce and food while using less plastic! 

 
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Buy in bulk

  • Shopping in bulk minimizes the packaging waste and is a great way to live more low-waste

 
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Bring reusables with you when you go out

  • Bring your reusable bags, water bottles and utensils with you wherever you go to avoid having to buy single-use plastic items

 
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Reuse your containers, bags, etc.

  •  If you do get a plastic bag from the grocery store or have extra plastic bags in your home, reuse them instead of throwing them out! Use them next time you go grocery shopping, use them to pick up dog poop, etc.

  • Rinse and reuse glass jars from peanut butter, sauces, etc. to store bulk goods in, use as a drinking glass or as a vase for flowers

 
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Compost

  • According to the FDA, 30-40% of food gets wasted in the United States every year - that is nearly 133 BILLION pounds of food! Instead of sending it to a landfill where organic material decomposes and releases methane, you can turn your food waste into compost! 

  • Check out this website for tips on how to start your own home compost that you can use to enrich the soil in your garden: https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828918397/how-to-compost-at-home