The Seven Rs of Waste Reduction

The first step is pausing, and rethinking the waste you generate.  You could also consider this step "Re-evaluate" or "Reconsider" to take a look at all that you throw out and really decide, "Do I need this?" and "Why do I keep buying this?" and "Is there a better option?" 

This isn't about achieving a maximalist zero waste lifestyle that isn't feasible for everyone (but if you want to try, go for it!). 

It's about questioning the habits we all fall into in our consumption to make better choices for our wallets and our environment. 

Why buy so many individually wrapped things? Why buy bottled water when it comes right out of the tap and a reusable bottle is so much cheaper over time?  There incrementally better choices we can make that can we can make that will add up collectively to bigger benefits. 

Waste Audit

A waste audit is a common first step in many businesses and green teams that are looking to reduce trash.  The basic outline of a waste audit is as follows:

• Keep a log of what you throw away, or go dumpster diving to figure out what is actually thrown away. As the saying goes, you can't measure what you don't know. Having a record  will let you know what you are getting rid of and help you plan.
• Track what you throw out. Count how many times you take out the trash each week, or you can count the bags you place into your trash cart.  If you want to get more precise, weigh each bag of trash on a scale. (Or, weigh yourself , then weigh yourself holding the bag of trash and subtract the first weight form the second to get the weight of your trash.) Keep track of your data for two or three weeks to get an idea of how much you are throwing away.
• Then draft a plan based on the data you have collected.

Channel our inner Nancy Reagan, and just say no to trash. 

Once we've had time to rethink and re-evaluate what we buy, then look for those opportunities where you can just refuse to bring extra trash into your life that you don't need to do any longer.  Or choose better options where possible.  And refuse excess packaging.

Say no to plastic bags when you can, and bring your own.

For example - having an event? Don't choose plastic forks and cups. Choose reusable cutlery, or aluminum cups that can be easily recycled. 

Refuse Excess Packaging Tips

• Look for containers and packaging that can be recycled, such as cardboard. Even better if it is made from post-consumer recycled content.
• Buy bulk food. You can get nuts, grains, beans and other dry goods in bulk in many places. This way you buy only what you need with less packaging.  Remember to bring your own container, or choose a recyclable container if possible.
• Avoid buying individually wrapped portions of things like cheese, pudding, and juice.
• Choose personal products with less packaging from razors, to toothbrushes, to deodorant, and so on.
• Single serve items, like coffee pods or single-serve microwave soups, are wasteful. Buy canned soup, put it in a reusable microwave container, and then recycle the can. For coffee pods, you can get reusable containers to replace the plastic throwaway ones. 

If you've rethought your consumption, and refused making trash - the natural outcome is that you should be reducing the amount of trash you are making. 

But if there may be things we can't refuse to produce, perhaps there are smart ways we can reduce the amount we make if we cannot outright stop producing it.

For example, if through rethinking we discover we generate a lot of food waste, and obviously eating isn't something we can't just refuse to do. But we can reduce the amount of food waste we generate by better meal planning or better food storage. 

 

There are many ways to reuse material in our life rather than choosing single-use items that are more wasteful.  

We have a separate page dedicated to just some of the various local donation and resale resources.

In your day-to-day life, there are countless opportunities for reusables:

Ideas for Reusables:

• Choose reusable mugs and bottles for your tea, coffee, and water.
• Choose reusable napkins, sponges, or towels over paper towels
• Choose silverware or disposable cutlery
• Choose real plates over throw away plates
• When possible, choose refillable bottles for cleaners, shampoo, and other cleaners
• Reuse containers for leftovers
• Choose reusable bags over single-use ones
• Choose rechargeable batteries over single-use
• Reuse shipping material, like bubble wrap, boxes, and large shipping envelopes
• And on, and on, and on...

If it's broken, maybe try to fix it before you throw it out.

Sometimes it might even just need a good cleaning for the item to function before chalking it up to being absolutely broken forever.

The Madison Public Library has a good list of resources that may help you become a bit more handy in mending items. 

The are also makerspaces or shops locally that may offer opportunities to learn different crafts or repair techniques that may be able to help you get this items up and running before it is destined for either recycling or the landfill. 

Rot? Okay - this is really composting.  

You can't have 6 Rs and a C, that's not how lists like this go.

Here's a link to some home composting resources.

Recycling is important.  And we all have a responsibility to do it correctly.  So why is it the last thing on this list?

Reducing the amount of waste we generate has a greater impact environmentally speaking.  

In order to recycle, it takes a lot of people and machines moving tons and tons material around our city then the country to different manufacturers to produce new products to be sold on the marketplace. 

To reduce your waste, it just takes not buying stuff that needs disposal after it's been used once.  (This is obviously a reductive way to say it, and easier said than done, but hopefully you see the point.)  

Recycling is a net positive because it is better to use the materials we already have to make new things that mine or harvest fresh materials from the earth to make new products for our consumption.   Again, it is important.  You should recycle. It's required by local and state rules, too, so you can't just opt out.

Recycling right is also the one thing we can control in our homes.  We decide if we empty out the boxes correctly, or put the right kind of plastic containers in the cart.  We have a lot of control over and how successful recycling can be.  So it is up to all of us to do it right.

And it is also true that making less waste in general will have a big impact, too.

Ultimately, if you can refuse to make waste voluntarily, reduce what you do make, reuse what you have, repair what's possible, compost your food scraps, and recycle the rest as you should - you are doing an amazing job.  Thank you.