How To Have a MASSIVE Impact Without Going Fully Zero Waste - Sustainable Living

In this video, we’re looking at switching to reusables, making strategic product swaps, composting, and shopping package-free when possible. By making small, consistent changes, we can each have a big impact on reducing the amount of waste going to landfills.

Zero waste is a sustainable lifestyle that aims to completely eliminate sending personal waste to landfills, and the movement has done an amazing job of raising awareness about the worldwide garbage crisis. But on an individual level, zero waste is a really high bar to aim for and it’s definitely a little intimidating.

The good news is, if you look at the numbers, a large number of people making small changes actually has a bigger overall impact than a small number of people making big changes. So with that in mind, let’s forget about trying to be perfect and look at some waste reduction ideas that could be a good fit for you.

Thanks for watching!

Mat & Danielle

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COMMENTS
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CREDITS
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Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by Mat of Exploring Alternatives.

Editing Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives

Filming Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives

#zerowaste #lowwaste #greenliving

[ExploringAlternatives]

Thank you for watching! Please share this video to spread the word!
For more zero waste tips and stories, check out our playlist here:

[TheGeeoff]

I appreciate the realism in this video. Too often environmentalists set unrealistic targets. Let's focus on making things better for everyone, including the people living in poverty who don't have our living standards yet.

[ellentea]

All of these suggestions are useful and sound. I’ve been intentionally low-waste for many years. However, until corporations and government entities do their part, our small efforts don’t amount to enough. That’s not to say we should abandon them. Absolutely not. We just need to spend some of the energy we’re using to find reusable vessels on personally petitioning corps to change their ways.

[josephrogers]

Unpackaged foods are also available at local farmers' markets. I was surprised that one was missed, as it supports local business, gets you fresh locally grown foods, as well as lowers the carbon footprint of your shopping by avoiding transportation waste.

[clicgear]

If I could just get people in my area to stop throwing trash out of their vehicles would be the start I’m looking for.

[DanteYewToob]

Tip for those who have a favorite local takeout place, if you go in and order, just bring your own tubs and ask them to fill that up. Most places will be cool.
My two favorite local places both do it for me. My sushi/Thai place was happy to do it, but the Cuban restaurant took some convincing and were very confused…
It helps that I ride a motorcycle and need a sealed spill proof container anyway, and I just say I’m saving them money.. I don’t need anything but the food, no box, no plastic ware.. nothing.

Just make sure the container looks clean and easy to use, preferably attached lid, and keep it to as few containers as possible… less hassle for them means they’re more likely. No crazy air pumps, old crusty deli containers or peanut butter jars..lol buy a nice set of good sized meal containers and use those!

I get food from one of those places about 3 times a week, that’s a lot of styrofoam and plastic.. especially when I get the sampler and sushi which comes all individually boxed! I give them 2 boxes, one big one with dividers and one small bento box for the soosh.

Make it work, and understand their point of view.. they don’t want to introduce germs, or have your containers make you sick and you blame them.. etc. so make sure you’re polite, explain clearly and don’t be rude if they decline, it’s their prerogative.

Good luck!

[Whigu]

I wish that every country in the world would start to do same bottle/can returning thing what we do here in Finland. Finland uses a deposit-based return system for beverage packages, which enables the efficient collection of packages for recycling.

[DanteYewToob]

I stumbled into the PERFECT shopping setup for me.
My niece made me a custom black cotton tote bag for my climbing gear, and I used it for shopping once or twice before I noticed something magical! The tote is the exact size of my motorcycle bag! So I go in the store, fill up my tote, and I know whatever fits in my tote will fit nicely into my backpack without crushing. Anything bulky and extra like my nutrition shakes I can wrap in the tote and bungee net it to the seat behind me!
It works perfectly shopping for myself 99.9% of the time, no plastic, no fumbling or guessing.. it sounds small, but not having anxiety about not having enough space AFTER you get to the bike and realize you need to stuff noodles and crackers in your jacket… it’s so nice.

My main sin is water bottles, mostly because the water is really bad where I live.. but I’m working on it! I got sink filters and a few nice metal bottles and a little silicone one for when I onewheel.

These videos are helping me a ton! I have major plastic guilt, and certain things I can’t really cut back on, so I’m trying to make up for it in other places.
(I have cancer and often need shakes or other snacks that ONLY come in crappy plastic wasteful packaging.. I’ve tried alternatives but my brand shakes help the best.. but I’m still looking!)

[pinkysworn]

One of the small but consistent things I’ve been doing to reduce waste is to have a cutlery set at my desk at work. I have coworkers who bring snacks in reusable containers but then grab a disposable fork or spoon to eat the food. When they do this every day, that’s 20+ plastic forks going to the landfill per month from just one person eating their morning snack at work.

[SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

These are all a great place to start! Another great starting point is your thermostat. Just make the temp less extreme while you’re away at work (68F in winter and 78F in summer) in order to reduce electricity usage.

I managed to cut my electricity usage by about 29% by doing this over the past year!

[ACE-frsf]

They SHOULD teach this at schools all over the world

[andystegner]

Overall really helpful video but unfortunately glass is not recycled by many cities in the US anymore because the cost of virgin glass is so much less than recycled glass which is so backwards. Great content and keep it up!

[nixpike]

I did something similar to this by starting by a room. I went through my bathroom first and did switches just like they recommend here and now I'm onto the kitchen. A little bit at a time is perfectly fine.

[NoiseDay]

I'm curious how much industrial waste falls into the "1000lbs per person" statistic- dividing total waste by total people. We all know money isn't evenly distributed among people. Big companies own the most money and produce the most waste. What I want to know is how the average person can hold the people in power accountable instead of taking on their responsibilities as our own.

[earlthepearl]

This video was great, and I love how you emphasized using what you already have. One thing I feel like is lacking on YouTube are videos that focus on the less material aspects of low-footprint living-- what we eat, transportation, overall consumption, involvement in policy and change, etc. Would be cool to see a Part 2.

[ontariopermaculture]

Thanks Danielle and Mat! I was feeling dystopian about people chipping in before, so this video really cheered me up. It is so good to be reminded that there are great folks like you two, changing minds, making a difference. ❤

[kariwick-InnerPeaceCoaching]

Thanks, as always, for the great info.!
I have lived a low waste lifestyle since I was in my teens/early 20’s and bought my first reusable grocery bags & Nalgene water bottle - that I still have and use almost 30 years later!!!
And I try as much as possible to do as many zero waste things as I can = I especially like the addition of REFUSE to the 3 R’s of reduce, reuse & recycle. It helps to keep me living small and simple in these ever increasing crazy times we live in, to not let stuff I don’t need or want into my life in the first place!
Hope life is good for you both,
Kari🌞

[elenalenaiva]

I love that "buy a new reusable" comes as a last option. Yes, do use the stuff you already have!
One note though, buying a paper bag isn't necessarily better than buying a plastic bag. Reusing either is definitely a good thing.

[christineclarke]

After noticing that plastic milk containers filled my recycling bin, I swapped to milk deliveries. The milk float is electric and the milk is in glass bottles that are collected when the new milk is delivered 😊

[debbiehenri]

If only package-free grocery stores were far more widespread...

At one time, you could find them in the UK (I used to go to one) - then the EU outlawed them for decades, insisting everything be 'packaged, ' until a couple of German-based supermarket chains started reintroducing a very few loose items (about 4 varieties of nut) back into their own stores. (How this was legal, I don't know).

So, it's still nothing like it used to be - when you could purchase anything from washing powder to sweets to flour to dog biscuits all as loose products in the one store, and all you had to do was use their own flimsy bags if you wanted, or bring/reuse your own.

I don't know if this package-free option is actually quite commonplace in America - if so, well done you! Wish we could say the same over here.

It's still bad with regard to the overuse of plastic in packaging in the UK, and we've only just had doorstep recycling introduced in my county for the past 2 years (and then I had to argue over the phone to get the bins, because they forgot our street. Had to tell them that since they weren't providing a full council service, then I wouldn't pay a full council tax).