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Going Zero Waste – A Guide for Beginners

Zero Waste is a movement for people who align themselves with the belief that we all have a commitment to take care of the space in which we live, and encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused and no trash is sent to landfills or incinerators. This is more than recycling – it is intentionally thinking about life cycle and life span of all the purchases you make. Similar to Sustainability, to adhere to Zero Waste ideals, there is a requirement to think in a futuristic way. You must believe in and value those who will come after you and the space that is left for them. This requires intentional action and a shift in your traditional thought processes around purchases and waste.

A woman named Bea Johnson starting blogging in 2008 about her family’s Zero Waste lifestyle, and the transition from how they previously lived as consumption-driven, everyday Americans. The Johnson’s live by the “5 Rs”: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. Bea encourages anyone looking to live Zero Waste to Refuse what you don’t need, Reduce what you do need, Reuse what you do purchase and Recycle or Rot (compost) the rest.

Removing all forms of waste from your lifestyle may seem like a daunting task, but in the age of the Zero Waste movement sites like Youtube, Instagram and WordPress, as well as veteran Zero Wasters like Bea Johnson, make it quite easy to start integrating Zero Waste habits in your daily life. To simplify things further, we have composed a guide for anyone interested in Zero Waste.

Top #5 List for Beginners

#1. Refuse Ziploc, the Straw and Disposable Cups

Start by refusing what you do not need. Ziploc bags, plastic straws and disposable cups are the first to go. Did you know straws are over 7000 years old? Originally designed by ancient civilizations, each with various uses (prevention of slurping up bugs when drinking at night, filtering beer, preventing contagious diseases when sharing glasses, etc.), it wasn’t until the 1960s that straws started being made out of plastic, shifting away from paper straws to an oil-based, single-use product. Not only is this practice incredibly wasteful, but as long as straws are made from plastic, their production is oil-intensive and really bad for the environment, too.

And if circumstance requires you to use a straw, many reusable options are available to keep in your bag/purse/desk, etc.

Disposable Cups also make the list of items you can refuse because they are an environmental nightmare. Most are made from cardboard but contain a thin layer of plastic tightly attached to the cup. The plastic keeps the drink warm and prevents the cardboard from becoming soggy, but it also makes the cup non-recyclable. It takes about 20 years for such a cup to decompose. And it’s not just the cup itself – it’s the plastic lid popped on top and the cardboard sleeve that accompanies the cup. People will tend to throw out their cup sleeve with the cup (which is a paper recyclable), throw out their cup lid with the cup (which is a plastic recyclable), and the cup itself, all destined for years in a landfill, despite only being used for 3-10 minutes per use. You can refuse this wasteful practice and simply keep a reusable mug or cup in your workplace, car – wherever! Sustainable Tip: Use a reusable mug on campus and it can save you money at coffee shops on every beverage you purchase.

Ziploc, Straws and Disposable Cups are great examples of the small, but mighty shift to living with greater zero-waste intention. These are not life changing habits, but are important habits to kick if you are interested in a less wasteful lifestyle. This is where prioritizing comes in: Do you value convenience or creating less waste? Neither option is right or wrong, but simply a choice. Zero Waste involves intentionally thinking about many of these small, but significant choices in our everyday habits.

#2. Food Waste

What nearly 1/3 of all food produced becomes… waste. Which isn’t too surprising considering our refrigerators have gotten bigger, our dinner plates have increased in surface area – we are a society being encouraged to buy and eat more. But did you know that Canadians throw out approximately 7 billion kilograms of food a year? Much of this waste could be diverted by:

#3. Shop The Farmer’s Market

Not only is the Farmer’s Market going to connect you to local foods, with a smaller carbon footprint than the foods you would find at the grocery store, but the set up of Farmer’s Markets cater to Zero Waste. Vendors will take back and refill your egg cartons, or Kombucha bottles, or even accept berries baskets back for reuse. Your veggies will most likely be free of plastic and stickers, too.

Luckily for us in Ottawa, we have plenty of Farmer’s Markets to choose from! Here is a complete list of 2017 markets in Ottawa and the surrounding areas.

Urban markets

Suburban & rural markets

Please visit https://ottawastart.com/a-big-list-of-ottawa-farmers-markets/ to stay up to date on any changes to the above list.

#4. Solid Soaps, Shampoos and Conditioners

Most of us have used a bar of soap before, but have you ever tried a bar of shampoo or conditioner? Bar (a.k.a. solid) shampoos and conditioners provide an easy alternative to packaged and plastic-intense hygiene products. Bar soaps, shampoos and conditioners often can be purchased with zero packaging. An alternative you can try with ease AND that save money in the process. Unpackaged bar shampoos, soaps and conditioners are typically more gentle on your skin and hair, too, as they are free of sulphates and silicones.

Close by retailers of these products: Herb & Spice (Bank St.), Bulk Barn (various locations around Ottawa), Whole Foods (Bank St.) and LUSH (Rideau Centre and online).

#5. Textile Waste and Unnecessary Surplus

Textile Waste is one the fastest growing forms of waste in North America. In Canada 85% of all textiles end up in a landfill despite 95% being fully recyclable. Fast fashion and the age of disposable clothing is partially to blame, as styles change not seasonally but on a weekly basis for many retailers. How can we fight unnecessary textile waste and incorporate Zero Waste philosophies into our wardrobes? Bea Johnson inspired some guidelines for us:

For more tips on Zero Waste strategies please check out some of the resources below. 

Bea Johnson’s blog Zero Waste Home: http://www.zerowastehome.com/about/tips/

Sustainable Food Suppliers in Ottawa from Just Food: http://justfood.ca/buy-local-food-guide/

A guide to Backyard Composting: https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/2015/10/25/backyardcomposting

Bulk Barn’s Reusable Container Program: http://www.bulkbarn.ca/en/Reusable-Container-Program

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