So, how much do you know about the Zero Waste movement? Well, there’s no problem with being a newbie because it’s not terribly hard to catch onto it. This piece will give you a few pro tips on how to jumpstart your move to more sustainable living.

5 Things Every Zero Waste Newbie Should Know

Always Know “WHY” You’re Doing Zero Waste

• Are you ready to make a difference in terms of environmental degradation? Do you want to reduce the clutter in your apartment? These are interesting questions to ask yourself because you have to identify your “why” for embarking on the Zero Waste mission.

How to Track What You Waste

• The next big step is to know how much you waste, quantitatively and qualitatively. This means getting an idea of how much you pitch in the trash and what the common sources are. Be ready, though. It’s bound to include a lot of minor disposable things like plastic sandwich bags, cans, straws, takeout containers, and many things you don’t need to pitch. That latter component includes everything you can recycle or dedicate to composting.

Managing a Zero Waste Inventory

• Much of the Zero Waste mission revolves around making better use of the items you possess (i.e., not wasting them). Granted, you can’t really do that if you don’t know what you have. Inventory management is a tremendous deal for grocery stores and convenience shops, but it applies to us, too. You must keep tabs on your food, homes, wellness, beauty, and bath and body essentials to prevent wasting or buying additional products you don’t need.

Know How to Buy Only What You Need

• We’ll continue with the last point by emphasizing your need to minimize unnecessary purchases. One of the worst contributors to clutter is the overaccumulation of certain items. This doesn’t mean you can’t buy in bulk. It just means limiting the purchase of less useful materials, those things you tend to trash more frequently. Do you really need a 3rd seasonal door mat from TJ Maxx, we didn’t think so.

Know How Long It’ll Take to Break Wasteful Habits

• The popular consensus is that the human psyche takes about 21 days to adjust to new lifestyle habits. Therefore, give yourself a little time to acclimate to this approach. Also, don’t forget that nobody can live 100% waste free. The goal is to get as waste free as humanly possible. “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” –Anne Marie Bonneau

These five “must-knows” are a good starting point for the foundation of your Zero Waste lifestyle. After all, if you can’t see the significance of the endeavor, it’ll be nearly impossible to implement it. Take solace, we’re here to your ally!Waste Not Refillery is a mobile eco-market and refillery, servicing the Greater Tampa Bay Area. Our goal is to provide convenient access to sustainable, eco-friendly, and zero waste goods, empowering you to cultivate an eco-positive lifestyle. Our refillery is one of a kind, so bring your own container and check us out!