You might be doing your little bit to improve the wellness of your family, and the wellbeing of the planet, by reducing your waste – but is it possible to completely eliminate the waste your family produces?
Bea and Scott Johnson, a married couple with two children from California, claim that they only produce about a quarter of a jar’s worth of waste per month in their household. The whole family is committed to environmental wellness, and the children even wrap their lunches in large cloths which they roll up and carry to school and reuse the next day. They spend 40% less on living expenses, and can pack up everything in their home quickly as they live so simply, which means they are able to go travelling at a moment’s notice. They even make money whilst being away, as the Johnsons rent out their home while they are gone and leave detailed instructions to teach renters how they can also create a zero waste lifestyle.
Bea outlines that it doesn’t come down to the 3 Rs, but rather there are 5: refuse what you do not need, reduce what you do need, reuse as much as possible, recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse, and rot (or compost) the rest. Firstly, refuse junk mail that wastes paper, as well as your time. You can register online to receive less junk mail, and if you receive specific catalogues you can unsubscribe via the company’s website. Also, refuse freebies from conferences, fairs, and parties; don’t you have enough pens already?
Next, reduce by clearing the clutter in your home and taking it to the charity shop. Also, keep a shopping list to reduce the number of items you buy, and limit your shopping trips so you won’t be tempted by impulse purchases as often. When it comes to reusing, swap disposable items for reusable ones, such as handkerchiefs, refillable bottles, shopping bags, cloth napkins, etc., which will not only reduce your household waste but also your financial waste. Bea recommends taking jars food shopping, along with your reusable bags, for wet items like cheese and deli foods.
There’s not much to know about recycling that you don’t already, but Bea says you should think of it as a last resort, and buy primarily in bulk or second-hand. If you must buy new, choose glass, metal, or cardboard and avoid plastic like the plague. Finally, to ‘rot the rest’, find a compost system that works for you and will digest as much as possible, including dryer lint, hair, and nails. Make sure the compost receptacle is bigger than the bin, so more people will use it, and it should be attractive and have a lid. Even making just one of these changing could dramatically improve family wellness for years to come, so why not give it a try?
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