What You can do

 How to go Waste-Free

Going waste-free may initially seem almost impossible. Purchases we make come wrapped in plastic, for example, and clothes or devices wear out over time. Going from where we are now to waste-free overnight is indeed extremely difficult at best. Yet, we can start on the path to reduce waste quickly and then move towards eliminating waste over time.

Some examples include:

• Audit Your Waste: Start by taking time to analyze what you throw away and where there may be opportunities to reduce or eliminate waste. Read more here. 

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: While the 3 Rs have become a buzzword, there actually are specific steps you can take. To reduce, buy only what you need, because a better way to reduce waste is by not creating it. For reuse, if you have to acquire goods, try getting used ones or obtaining substitutes and repairing or repurposing items. For recycling, when discarding waste, find ways to recycle it instead of letting it go to landfill. 

• Food: 14% of food waste globally and about 30% in developed countries such as the US becomes trash, primarily due to over-purchasing and spoilage. Households can buy the right amounts, store foods correctly, use all they buy, eat leftovers, and more, to reduce waste and decrease grocery bills by 10%. Find out more here. 

You can take a look at our Resources page to obtain insights from experts on how to reduce or eliminate waste in your life, your family, your organization and your community. You can join our activities to learn more.

And, share your activities. Go to the "Connect with Us" page and send us your insights so we can share them with the community.