The Zero Waste Home

I'm not much for the TV program The View...but I catch it once a while. This morning there was a really interesting California family featured who produce less than 1L of garbage a year. Wow. The wife is French and the husband is American and the 2 sons are +/- 12 and 9 years old. The husband said he wasn't on board until he compared a year of finances before and after the switch. They spend 40% less money and say, "We now not only feel happier and eat healthier but we also lead more meaningful lives, based on experiences instead of stuff, and action instead of inaction."


This is their method: Refuse (flyers, junk mail, handouts from school that aren't necessary - they said they talked to the teachers), Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (as a last resort) & Rot (compost)


There are some crafty ways we can get closer to zero waste...it's a total commitment to get all the way there but some changes are better than no changes...and if it'll save us some money while doing so, why not, right? I think it would be easier to have everyone in the family on board in making simple changes. I'll use the fact that we could use the saved money towards a big man cave tv as bait (wink wink).


The Zero Waste Blog is good (here). I like "Store" section where good quality items are suggested to help you on your way...the author also gives tips if you have the resources to make some of the items yourself (old sheets into produce bags - I'm doing this, etc.)...even which water soluble wax crayons you can write the bulk bin number onto the bags with...

There's fashion advice (like how to wear and re-wear a striped shirt), Tips (Kitchen, Bathroom, Laundry & Cleaning, Dining & Entertaining, Closets, Medication, Gardening). It's Good! I'm getting me a striped shirt...

 

Check out the site - Any Change is better than No Change. 

Let's leave the world a little better than we found it.