MORE zero waste swaps and habits for beginners (or anyone) to try!

Want to live zero waste but don't know where to start? Check out this low waste swaps for beginners series! This is the third installment of eco swaps for beginners so there is plenty more to learn about including another recent video all about going zero waste and staying in the zero waste movement over the years. How do you live zero waste?

Videos mentioned/recommended:

Timestamps:
00:00 - What even is zero waste?
00:47 - The Zero Waste in a Year Guide
2:00 - Qrumbles
2:28 - Try eco soap
3:05 - Rags or reusable paper towels
3:44 - Library cards!!
4:41 - Continue learning
5:19 - Join a Buy Nothing Group
5:58 - Eco lip balms
6:25 - Dryer balls
6:58 - Compostable poop bags
7:35 - Freeze food to prevent food waste
8:19 - Shop small
9:05 - Boycott big oil
9:33 - Inspire others!
10:26 - Compostable floss
10:56 - Try a natural luffa
11:27 - Zero waste cleaners
12:09 - LED light bulbs
12:30 - Patch bandages
12:58 - Will this even make a difference?
14:35 - Bloopers

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[TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

What zero waste swaps do YOU recommend for beginners to try?

[JohnHarrisIII-qu]

For beginners, I suggest looking at the biggest items that go in your trash and a better solution. Easy changes I've found are cloth towels, cloth napkins, homemade handkerchief, safety razor, bar soap, bar shaving cream, freeze leftovers with dates, rotate freezer items, basic sewing, clean as you walk/hike, make meat eating only for special events, meal plan, uses app to use food that is about to go bad, put reusable bags in your car, take soft cleans plastics back to your store each week to recycle, switch to recycledtolket paper, air dryer light clothes, rewearclothes and rotate until really dirty, take rinse showers most times instead of full showers, live with fans during warm days and extra clothes on chilly days. Love your ideas!

[oceancitynutrition]

I’m obsessed with the fact that you talk fast!! I get so impatient listening to slow talkers 😅

[vintagedoll]

You always say if you talk too fast you can change the speed....nah girl this is the speed of my ADHD 😂 I appreciate your speed so much and keeps me engaged!

[lostinthemission]

A random new swap I made was aluminum party cups for plastic. They’re from Ball. A friend of mine has used them for their parties for the last 3 years. I used them for my first get together with a non eco/sustainable group and everyone thought they were so cool. I washed them by hand and let them dry. Now I have a set of affordable, reusable, and easy to store party cups.

[thenothingnewyear]

I will forever be Team "Use your public library"s biggest cheerleader 😄

[faithcrisis]

I honestly love my water bottle, I found one that fits my lifestyle, is leak-proof and has saved me so much money when I would see my coworkers buying bottles of water or sodas from the store. Living in a warmer climate, this has become a necessity for me

[reissval]

One of our local libraries has a maker space and I used their heat press yesterday. So awesome!

[eileahfrye-edmonds]

I just realized one of the clips is my town. 😅 I do love walking g around and indulging in the small businesses in my area they’re absolutely amazing and I find such unique gifts.
My favorite swap has been one of the easiest for me- swapping to rags over paper towels. I don’t think I have bought any paper towels in my adult life, and I’m so glad I have had that opportunity. I save so much money and I’m so glad I do.

[melissatomany]

You can tell you enjoy educating. My favorite thing about you is that you make things accessible and encourage people to not strive for perfection.

Also, vinegar is great for glass and mirrors

[ChronicVillainy]

I cook multiple portions of food at once. I live by myself so it also saves me ton of time and money, but also prevents food waste. I use a simple reusable lunchbox to bring lunch sandwiches to work.

I replaced my shower gel with bar soap. In my country, we also use wash cloths (washandjes) instead of loofas.

I'm also doing a low buy to consume less stuff in general.

[rainbowcat]

i got a set of 3 dryer balls for christmas and im so in love! what used to take 30-40mins to dry now takes 25!!! amazing! BONUS: they cut down on static (to my fellow ND babes with sensory issues with static electricity, u are welcome!)

[kittiescorner]

One swap I'm not sure if you knew about is silicon dish "sponges." I like it because you can wash your dishes without the soap hiding in the sponge. Also it doesn't really get moldy because it's not porous and dries quickly. Since it is silicon you can also boil it. I've been using mine for a couple of years now. Of course I have lost a few tiny pieces off it, but it's pretty much like new.

[אריאלברקוביץ-תס]

fermentation is also an amazing way to preserve produce, it also doesnt require any experience, really just putting a food in some water and salt and waiting. its also more eco friendly cause it can sit on your counter without being refrigerated and still be good for at least a few months. you can use glass jars of products you already bought for this too.

and i also have a water flosser. as a fellow person with extremely tight teeth, theyre amazing! i personally just cant floss with a regular string floss or even use those tiny brushes that go between the teeth. the smallest in between brush barely fit in any of the gaps and caused my gums to bleed. a water flosser was the only answer for me and thankfully it works so well. you just need to work up to about an 8 out of 10. i recommend getting the aquarium models if you dont travel a lot.

[AngieD]

On the freezing food topic, canning jars are great for freezing soups/sauces/etc. I bought a bunch 4/5 years ago and they still work great. You can buy freexer specific ones or just leave about 1 inch from where the glass begins to bend. (Freezer specific jars are straight up and down). Glass jars from other foods can sometimes be used in the freezer but can fracture due to drastic temperature changes and I never know which ones to trust so I stick to canning jars(Ball is my go to brand) and since I am using them to freeze and I don't need the seal, I reuse the lids and rings until they develop too much rust.

[Meganesmith]

I got a water flosser and I absolutely love it! So easy and leaves my whole mouth feeling so much cleaner. Highly recommend!

[rennsea]

The plastic clamshell containers are reusable as plant/seed starters. You can reuse them multiple times before they start to crack. It's not perfect, but it helps.

Our local berry farner offers a discount on our purchases if we turn them in for reuse, too.

[DonnaFletcher-wg]

Thank you, you open my eyes to the library possibilities.

[cutekitten]

One of the biggest goals for the year is to grow more and preserve more, even if I'm not just preserving what I grow. I switched to a vegan mayo that comes in glass jars that I then get to save and reuse, I've started making my own mustard and I just got some free seeds with a purchase of some underwear that I really needed, had no idea the company did that but they sent a little note with instructions on how to grow them. Also just got a really awesome sugar scrub that came with 0 plastic packaging, smells great, feels great, and the instruction label says "please reuse the jar" which is a fantastic find from a small Indian brand. This year's already looking up <3

[karinhart]

Cool library find at end of year that prevented a $100 purchase of hardly used item: tool lending branch had ladders you could check out to change batteries in apt/condo smoke detectors. And we sent the Friends of Library a small contribution so they can increase their collection. Saving money is nice, but who wants to give up limited Apt storage space for a big friggin’ ladder!

PS: thanks for mentioning drier balls. I just emailed one of my friends that is doing a swap challenge with me in 2025 to ask if they use them & if they want to split a package.