Top Tips Zero Waste Homes

Bea Johnson has inspired millions of people worldwide with her stylish, waste-free life. She reduced her household waste to an astonishing one litre per year and now she can help transform the way you live with simple, practical steps that won’t compromise your lifestyle. She shares her key tips for zero-waste living...

Why Should We Aim for a Zero Waste Home?

● It is predicted by 2050 that there will be more plastic than

fish in the ocean.

● Zero waste living will reduce the amount of waste that is

contaminating the homes of our marine neighbours.

● The European Union wants to reduce biodegradable municipal waste by 33%

compared with 1995 levels.

● Reducing, reusing & recycling can be a key part of a climate change strategy to

reduce green and Eco house gas emissions.

● The U.S. EPA has estimated approximately 42% of all green house gas emissions

are caused by the production and use of goods, including food, products &

packaging.

● Reducing and reusing means fewer products are made, as people buy less and as

products are more sustainable.

The 5 R's of Zero Waste

Everything we use has an environmental cost and consequence so it's important to be

mindful, now more than ever about this so these are the 5 R's of the Zero Waste principle:

● Refuse

● Reduce

● Reuse (and repair)

● Recycle

● Rot

1. Refuse

Make small changes such as using a reusable water bottle rather than buying new bottled

water, take reusable bags to the supermarket, place a "no junk mail" on your letterbox. Small

changes matter.

2. Reduce

● Being conscious of what you use in terms of single use plastics will mean you will

think about each purchase. Always try to reduce your reliance on unnecessary plastic

so for example, buy loose vegetables and fruit.

● Declutter your home, donate excess to charity for others to reuse. Only invest in

quality furniture in your home that has a classic look and is durable.

3. Reuse ( & Repair)

Start small, so buy a reusable water bottle and coffee cup. Repair worn shoes rather than

buying new pairs. Reuse old curtains to make cushions, throws or patchwork quilts.

4. Recycle

Being aware of what you can and cannot recycle is important and sometimes it can be

confusing. If in doubt check out recycling support websites where there will be FAQs. Items

like electronics, batteries, light bulbs etc do have specific places where they can be taken to

so check where your local centre is located.

5. Rot

Instead of discarding food scraps in the general waste bin, create a compost heap

and you can use it to bed flowering plants and shrubs in the Spring.

5 Actionable Ways to Reduce Waste

1: Go food shopping with a list, plan meals and utilise leftovers

2: Declutter your wardrobe, giving anything you don't need/want or no longer fits to

charity shops

3: Declutter your garage, loft or attic as it's likely filled with many items you no longer

require

4: Keep cloth bags or wooden crates in your car for any expected shopping to

negate the need for plastic bags

5: Give the gift of experiences eg vouchers for restaurants, cinema, concerts,

walking tours, adventure activities as opposed to physical products like plastic kid's

toys or plastic gadgets

Running on green: No eco-friendly house would be complete without those systems that offer greater energy efficiency and self-sufficiency. Consider harnessing free energy from the sun by installing solar hot water and solar (PV) power. At the design stage, it is also a more Eco friendly homes idea to add a tank for rainwater collection off the roof and install a system for grey-water recycling.

Original Source: Eco friendly projects