12 Cheap & Easy Tips for Reducing Your Waste - Sustainable Zero Waste Hacks

Our tips include things like avoiding plastic shopping and produce bags, using reusable glass or stainless steel food containers, coffee mugs, and water bottles. Doing a waste audit and researching what waste sorting options are available in your city or town (especially composting!!). Getting inspired by documentaries, bloggers, and Instagram accounts. Being a friendly activist and spreading the word about the importance of sustainable living, and reducing the amount of garbage we produce every day.

The following product links are for items that we purchased ourselves in case you're interested in trying them out (no affiliate links and no sponsored items).

Spork from Life Without Plastic:

Stainless steel food containers from Onyx:

Mesh produce bags from Care Bags:

Abeego beeswax food wrap cloth:

Cloth bags: various sources

Stainless steel water bottle: gift with no brand name

Reusable coffee mugs, the silver one is from REI and the purple one is from Contigo (gifted to us by Kicking Horse Coffee):

Documentaries:
Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

Zero Waste Blogs:

Zero Waste Instagram Accounts:

Thank you to all of the people, stores, and restaurants who let us film inside their spaces, and who've helped us reduce our waste!!!

Nu Grocery zero waste grocery store

Bread By Us bakery

Bridgehead Coffee

Urban Juice Press

NousRire bulk buying group

Provigo grocery store

Sushi Shop

Thanks for watching!

Mat & Danielle

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VIDEO 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 of Exploring Alternatives

[cthompson]

I'm only 52 and I remember when plastic bottles were still a novelty. most, if not all, bottles were glass. And, coffee to go was an oddity. If my parents wanted a coffee or tea we'd stop at a diner, sit at a counter for it, and they would actually talk to people.

[minaisabelle]

I’ve recently been trying to live a life with less waste! It’s difficult because I’m 14 and my parents don’t really get the point of the whole zero waste movement but I’m trying to see if they’ll come around to it by sneaking in any facts I can whenever we go out shopping to encourage them not to buy the plastic items. I’ve been bringing tote bags into stores for them so we don’t need to use plastic bags. I’ve gone vegetarian so I do my own shopping generally so I can make food to eat (I was allowed to switch my diet as long as I made my own food), and I’ve become more cautious and use mesh bags instead of the thin plastic to carry my vegetables in. Hopefully my parents will be more open to the idea of living a zero waste lifestyle in the future!

[alliwhite]

the trash sorting is what we in Germany do before even throwing away. we have seperate bins for plastic and paper and so on, usually even in public and in schools!

[devikakaushal]

"The way you act with them is how they are going to perceive the entire movement." That's a very useful piece of advise!

[jengilbert]

I started leaving reviews (both positive & negative) on things like Google maps about the packaging used by different businesses. I think it's great for other ppl who are trying to reduce waste to be able to see possible issues before going to the business.

[nonyabizness.original]

tip: if you have access to a bit of beeswax, and scraps of cotton fabric, you can easily make your own reusable food wrap, and you can make it with sun energy. grate the beeswax, lay the fabric on a cookie sheet, generously sprinkle with the wax, set in the sun.

[prisciliahioe]

The last point is very important: become friendly activist. :)

[karenlu]

In New Zealand they don’t give you plastic bags anymore

[tariyahnashalom]

I love your calm demeanor. I subbed immediately. I want to make better decisions on this earth but sheesh I can't always take these overwhelmingly high energy youtubers. This is a nice, informative channel with a soothing, calm delivery.

[Sparkles.Deluxe]

"Your reaction and attitude will represent the entire movement." WONDERFUL advice and an interesting insight. Thanks for the content!

[creationslandscapedesigns]

What I really enjoyed about living a minimal waste, zero-waste lifestyle is the amount of money I've been able to save.

[kirstine]

LOVE your tip about treating people well! I feel like that is one of the less often talked-about parts of choosing to live in an environmentally sustainable way. The way we represent these choices is how people perceive the entire lifestyle. KINDNESS goes a long way! Thanks for the tips!

[summer]

Never would have thought of taking my own containers for leftovers when eating out. It may seem weird/awkward but it's a great idea. Even if the place uses compostable packaging it's still saving a box or two.

[spurtydarbhamulla]

Omg!! I have been looking for ways to remove lables on the jar my whole life!! Thank for that tip!💗💗

[motherdaughtersister]

Thank you so much for sharing this helpful information WITHOUT being preachy!! You presented your ideas beautifully.

[raduantoniu]

Thank you for sharing these tips! I wish I has a bulk store in my town. I didn't know about Ecosia either, just installed it on my phone :D

[Inlieuofsue]

For produce bags, I used my old tshirts and made my own. I used existing seams and just cut out a large square and sewed shut the open ends but leaving one open end. For the last open end, I folded the opening over the rubber band and sew it in to where you can't see it. It makes for a fun thing to do while watching TV or with the kids and gives you unique, cool produce bags (for super cheap/free).

For to-go food at restaurants, always have your own containers for to-go. I often take a couple containers to my favorite restaurant and ask for my order (as if I'm eating in). Then, when the food comes, I simply package the order myself and go. It takes about the same time waiting for the food and you get the hang of it. And if you stay friendly and try not to make a mess, you may inspire others!

[artaxelis]

I like how calm, informative and kind you sound. I’ll be sure to include these too slowly but surely. My sister has been freaking out about global warming harming the planet and her fear triggered me to start looking into being a part in helping create less damage to the world, mostly for her.

[kaylamorey]

LOVE ecosia! It's been my primary browser on my phone for almost a year!

[ruchichoudhary]

We use to live like this till end on 90s in India. Our lifestyle was reduce, reuse and recycle but with advent of mall culture we forget all good things. Now we are just keep on buying plastic and unnecessary things. Good to see you are practically living it and inspiring others too.
I like those steel containers we use to take our lunch in school and call it tiffin some call dabba