Zero waste living is more than just a trendy tagline; it’s a transformative approach that emphasizes responsible production, use, reuse, and recovery of products. The main idea of zero waste living is shifting from a linear consumption model, where everything you buy eventually ends up in a landfill, to a circular model, where everything is continually reused, repurposed, or recycled. Adopting a zero waste (or “lower waste”) lifestyle decreases pollution, reduces the strain on natural resources, and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.

As you begin your journey towards zero waste living, start small. Next time you go to throw something out, think twice! Ask yourself: “is there another way I could use this item (e.g., upcycling), someone else who could use it (e.g., donating or gifting), or a way that it can be more responsibly disposed of (e.g., recycling, composting, or a take-back program)?”

Here are a few additional ways you can get started today:

• Swap disposable products for reusable alternatives (e.g., disposable water bottles to reusable ones)
• Opt for products with minimal or no packaging
• Compost your organic waste

While individual actions are important, collective actions can amplify your impact. At a community level, you can support local composting programs, bulk food stores, and businesses that exemplify sustainable practices. You can also join local bartering and “Buy Nothing” groups, where you can gift or trade your unwanted items to others. Companies can integrate zero waste principles by redesigning products to be more durable, reducing packaging (especially the use of plastic), using recycled materials, and creating take-back programs. Governments can encourage businesses and individuals to adopt more sustainable practices through the use of incentives and subsidies, as well as setting regulatory standards.

Zero waste is one aspect of Net Zero, a set of strategies that aims to reduce human consumption to sustainable levels. Net Zero includes three aspects: “consuming only as much energy as produced, achieving a sustainable balance between water availability and demand, and eliminating solid waste sent to landfills” (EPA). Learn more about Net Zero, relevant government efforts, and how you can contribute here.