Establishing a zero waste routine is a process, and each step can help to keep materials out of the landfill. All Island County trash travels 400 miles away to the Roosevelt Landfill at the southern boarder of Washington state, which creates excessive greenhouse gasses that contribute to the climate emergency. Your zero waste actions keep materials out of this pollutive process.
Step 1 - Be aware of what you’re consuming, and what’s in your trash and recycling bins. By noticing what you’re throwing away, you can start to make other choices before buying and after consuming.
Step 2 - Pick one item to improve on. For example, if you’re using a lot of yogurt tubs, learn to make your own yogurt.
Step 3 - Refuse, reduce and reuse - before recycling! Refuse excessive packaging; reduce your packaging by changing your buying habits; and reuse everything else. These all come before recycling. But it’s also important to recycle the items you can.
Step 4 - Slow down. We use more single-use packaging when we’re in a hurry. Fast food, quick snacks, and online shopping all generate a lot of single use packaging. When you can, try to take your time preparing meals from scratch at home, packing snacks and lunches in reusable containers, gardening and sharing/thrifting before buying new packaged goods.
Step 5 - Reuse before buying new. By now, we’re hopefully all bringing our own reusable bags and water bottles. Other ways to reuse are by shopping on the Buy Nothing Whidbey Island (South) WA Facebook page, at garage sales, thrift stores, trade, share and barter. Check out our Reuse Center.
Step 6 - Repair and mend broken and worn items. Check out our event calendar for the next monthly Repair Cafe.
Step 7 - Compost food scraps. This is typically the heaviest item in people’s trash bin headed for the landfill. Along the way, and once there it contributes to green house gasses. Look into composting options in your neighborhood such as the Whidbey Compost Collective, or consider making a worm bin to use at home.
Step 8 - Give handmade or experience gifts.
Step 9 - Host zero waste events by providing or asking folks to bring their own dishware, utensils and cloth napkins. Serve food and drinks in pitchers or dispensers, without single use packaging. Compost food scraps. Rent our reusable dishware.
Step 10 - Support businesses and organizations that are trying to eliminate or reduce their waste, like the South Whidbey Commons Cafe and Island Girl Nails.
Interested in being a part of rePurpose’s zero waste efforts?
Become a rePurpose member or join us as a Volunteer Member today to contribute to positive change in our community!