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45 ‘Zero Waste’ Tips And Tricks For Anyone Who Cares About The Environment, As Shared On This Online Group
Interview
I know that most of you Pandas care about the environment and Planet Earth very deeply. After all, it’s not only our home but also where all those desperately cute animals we love to feature on Bored Panda live. From cats and dogs to every single wild floof that we’d adopt at the drop of a hat if only we could.
However, the climate crisis continues to ravage the planet. As politicians are calling for a global green deal, Europeans are reeling from the floods that devastated Germany, Belgium, and are now shifting to Austria. While we know that laws, international agreements, and changes to how major businesses operate are the main driving force in the fight against climate change, each of us also has a personal responsibility to move away from a wasteful life to one that has less of an impact on the environment.
That’s where the r/ZeroWaste subreddit comes in. The online community is dedicated to sharing everyday tips and tricks that help protect the environment and raise awareness about how we can all do our bit. Inch by inch. Step by small step. The end goal is to make sure that all discarded materials are reused. Ideally, absolutely nothing would be sent to landfills.
As you scroll down, remember to upvote the lifehacks that you found to be the most useful. We’d also love it if you share any of your own environmentally-friendly tips and tricks with all the other Pandas in the comments. Intrigued by a low-impact lifestyle? Thinking of joining the r/ZeroWaste community? Good on you! But first, you might want to check out their in-depth wiki. It’s incredibly informative.
I had a friendly chat about the subreddit's history, community, and how to convince people who are on the fence about doing more to protect the environment with moderator Inasaba. "/r/ZeroWaste was created in 2013, and I have personally been a part of the community since 2016, back when we only had around 5,000 subscribers. The sub really started growing in 2018, hitting 100k subscribers by the end of that year. The growth recently has been amazing!" they told Bored Panda about the subreddit's growth towards the 577k members it has now.
You can find the full interview below. I also reached out to the Greenpeace team for a few insights into how to tackle plastic pollution and move toward a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. You'll find their insights below, too.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Christmas Tree Rental
Rissie 4 years ago
Doubt it is illegal anywhere, maybe you meant incentivized :)
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Vicky Z 4 years ago
Honestly what is wrong with having an artificial one instead? My family has the same tree more than 20 years now and is as good as new! I wouldn't even change it with a real one cause personally I don't like the smell and also you have its leaves everywhere on the floor.... and let's face it it's a dead corpse with ornaments.....
Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
Retires to a forest? Yep, just like your puppy from childhood 'went to live on a farm'.
Lav Oravaf 4 years ago
I am no green thumb here, but I guess that continuously transplanting a tree is not that great... but again you and me ain't "away with the fairies" and know there is no "farm"...
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Mazer 4 years ago
So yes and no. Most of these trees are not native to areas where they’re going to be planted so they’re just gonna be harvested for lumber or pressed into fire logs. Most trees do not come from being harvested from Forest, Unless you live near a back country and get a permit to cut one down. Adding Douglas Fir trees which are some of the most popular can just add fuel to the fire. If you want to be super green then purchase a tree native to your area and have that planted. You might even ask your local Christmas tree stand If that’s an option and if they can help you with that
Andrew Gibb 4 years ago
I have a fir tree that lives in my small garden in a pot that gets lights put on it at Christmas- and a tiny indoor fake tree that sets on a shelf with mini-decorations. Renting a Christmas Tree is not eco-friendly. If brought indoors (into the warm) during the winter trees will dry out. When put back outside they will die in the cold.
Vasana Phong 4 years ago
That’s awesome, I’ve always wondered what happens to all the trees that did not get sold after Xmas
Michaelann Dahlman 4 years ago
This is awesome! I used to buy a small tree in a pot, upsize the pot ever year or 2 & plant it in a nearby park once it hit 6 feet. Unfortunately my allergies got so bad I had to quit.
RELATED:
#2
Instead Of Polluting The Planet With Confetti, Hole Punch Leaves! Fully Biodegradable
Amy Smith 4 years ago
My friend did this at her wedding. Looked great, was fun to make and much better for the environment :)
Robert T 4 years ago
Am I the only one looking at the second picture and thinking they could have got so much more out of those leaves if they only used the punch closer together.
Vicky Zar 4 years ago
Europe uses paper confetti. I was so baffled when I learned the US uses plastic confetti. Who thought of plastic confetti?
respulero 4 years ago
Thanx. I was like...wtf? confetti is paper, it is already biodegradable!
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Lynne Stark 4 years ago
I get so angry at "Gender Reveal" plastic confetti messes in our local parks. Share this idea please!
Me 4 years ago
and couldn't be done too far in advance. Love the idea but not sure it's practical.
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Max L. 4 years ago
Funny in english you call confetti what in italy call coriandoli (like the spice) while confetti are almonds covered in sugar which we gift guests to events like marriages, degrees, baptism… for degrees they are red. All the rest white, baptism light blue for males and rose for girls.
#3
My Christmas Present To My Mother In Law. (It Looks Like Her Dog.) I Used All Donated Scrap Fabric. I Throw Away Nothing When Trimming - I Keep Even The Tiniest, Weirdest Pieces When I’m Quilting My Big Quilts, Because You Never Know When Something Is Going To Need A Shadow, A Collar, Or A Nose
Chaos&Roses 4 years ago
Every item of clothing that I retire goes into a big stripped bag. Last year I made 4 sets of beautiful gypsy curtains, all patched and mixmash of fabrics colours and sizes. Sometimes, if a thrift store is having a sale and I see a pretty fabric on a dress not my size, I'll buy it and store it away! I made patchwork quilts from the baby clothes that I saved for years and years that were so dear to my heart.
I was curious to find out more about the subreddit's expansive wiki and moderator Inasaba was more than happy to open up about it. "Our wiki is largely crowdsourced, especially the page with resources by city. If you view the edit history of each page, you can see which users have contributed edits. There are a few users who have done a lot of work on it, and we are very thankful to them! One of our moderators is also in the middle of some rewrites for clarity," they pointed out that the wiki is a project made by the 'Zero Waste' community, for the community.
One of the main challenges that r/ZeroWaste faces has to do with the quality and quantity of new content. Though, to be fair, it's a challenge any larger online community is bound to have at some point in their life cycle.
"As with any large subreddit, it can be a challenge to keep content relevant, interesting, and fresh. We deal with repost bots, spammers advertising greenwashed products, and a lot of other things that luckily our users never have to see. This is definitely not unique to /r/ZeroWaste, as these are problems that I see on every subreddit I help out with," moderator Inasaba said.
#4
Libraries Are So Vastly Underappreciated
Carmen Sandiego 4 years ago
I friggen LOVE libraries. The smell of books! Beautiful classics! THE MANDATORY SILENCE! Did I mention the vast abundance of BOOKS!
Vicky Z 4 years ago
Aww the smell!!! Reminds me of my childhood!!! I was even borrowing the same book over and over because it had an amazing smell!
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Two_rolling_black_eyes 4 years ago (edited)
In the modern library, the physical books are often an added benefit to everything else they do. A 12 year old boy can use a computer for an hour to play an MMO with friend on the other side of the world. An unemployed person can then use it to take courses for free online and check out virtual versions of the textbook with no return date. A lonely person between paychecks can find a warm, safe place to sit and work on their novel. An abused spouse can find a safe place to meet with a support group that is innocent to their abuser. A new immigrant can check out an entire series of tapes/cds to learn a new language one lesson at a time. I love books but libraries have evolved to serve the new world we are in. 90% of the books I now check out are on my phone instead of on my bedstand.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare 4 years ago
Who doesn’t like Libraries? They are wonderful places with quiet and books and entire worlds on shelves.
Seán Baron 4 years ago
I've loved libraries ever since I could read. Plus a few years ago, when I was homeless and had to do something during the day before I could sleep in the shelter, I'd go to a library and just read for free. Perfect during the winter.
#5
This Awesome Moroccan School Security Guard Wasted No Quarantine Time And Restored, Free Of Charge, These Benches That Were Supposed To End Up In The Trash So That They Can Be Reused This School Year
Noel Benavente 4 years ago
i build things out of pallets, i would love to find something like that.
#6
Recycling Old Picnic Coolers For Stray Cat Shelters
Tassenküchlein168 4 years ago
I love this one! Such a great idea to use the insulating ability of the boxes to make a comfortable sleeping place for strays. ❤️
However, there are some other deeper issues at play in the community, too. "I would say that issues specific to our subreddit have been things such as the slow degradation of the ideals of 'zero waste.' A moving from an emphasis on the more important Rs (refusing and reducing,) to less important (recycling and reusing packaging.) We struggled for a long time with a lot of content that did not actually prevent waste, and that was more suited for crafting/upcycling subreddits than one where people strive for zero waste. We're working hard to try to steer the subreddit back to its roots: the goal of reducing the amount of waste that we produce as high up the chain as possible," they told Bored Panda what their current mission is.
"There has also been a bit of difficulty to expand some users' thinking with regards to their impact on the world outside of what they can directly see. The subreddit does focus a lot on packaging waste, but much of the waste in the food system occurs before the food reaches our markets. Much more impact can be made by shifting to a plant-based diet than to a local one, or a plastic-free one, for instance. But this is something that often faces harsh criticism when brought up in discussion," the mod added.
#7
Turkish Garbage Collectors Open A Library For All Of The Books Citizens Discard In Their Trash
ChickyChicky 4 years ago
There's some really dumb books out there, though.
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Aria Whitaker 4 years ago (edited)
One that does not care to read a book with worm larvae, rat urine and cockroach poop in its pages. I helped clean out an aunts old home after she passed, and a few boxes of books in her basement had all of the aforementioned. Call me a "monster" if you like, but I am not taking old cookbooks and cheap harlequin novels stinking of rat pee and stained with roach turds into my home. I refuse to give them so someone else to do so either. Not all books are pristine and some WILL need to be trashed.
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Toko Danganronpa 4 years ago
I donate my books to local libraries or to friends.
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Lisa Timora 3 years ago
Why would you throw away a book? Donate. There are readers everywhere who like you enjoy reading what you read.
Michaelann Dahlman 4 years ago
Books in decent condition should NEVER be thrown away. There are so many places that will take them.
Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
I've read about two books a week since I was little. I used to donate mine to the library or sell them at a yard sale. I love my Kindle. Now I don't have to worry about how many trees I'm killing. I love real books, but I hate the waste
CanidaeVulpes 4 years ago
I will say, I’ve been told that libraries do not always want your old books and magazines (i.e. IT books don’t have a long useful lifespan) and that they have to recycle them if they can’t be sold or given away. I have seen some fantastic art work done with old books, so repurposing them is sometimes an option.
#8
Italian Brand Barilla Removed The Plastic Window From Their Boxes (UK)
Lytha 4 years ago
The plastic window on the food boxes is a really useless thing... who need really this? -_-
Robert T 4 years ago
It is on pasta, but not on things like meat where you want to see the condition of what you are buying.
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Mazer 4 years ago
Whhhot!! Avoid Nestle anything. Find out how many different companies they own in my humble opinion they are the most evil company out there. Not environmentally friendly at all
Linda Ericsson 4 years ago
Old man Barilla is a giant homophobe, so his pasta boxes don't matter to me.
Cydney Golden 4 years ago
And yet the owner is openly hostile towards the queer community...so nope.
#9
Toothbrush With Replaceable Bristles So You Don’t Have To Keep Buying A New Handle
ADHD 4 years ago
you are welcome https://www.thelessen.com/eco-friendly-products/bathroom/replaceable-head-toothbrush/
Load More Replies... cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
I have biodegradable toothbrushes. I put the hairs in the recycle plastic bin and after you can make a funeral service for your toothbrush. "Dear Toothbrush, your life was short but you made a difference in this world. After helping me to remove bacterias from my mouth, now you will feed them in the soil, you didn't died in vain, dear Toothbrush."
Adriana Štiasna 1 year ago
I also used them for a long time and then suddenly they disappeared from the market and I couldn't buy them anymore
I was also interested to learn how one would go about convincing someone to start walking down a more eco-friendly path in life. Moderator Inasaba pointed out that you'll only ever convince those who are on the fence on the issue; there's barely any convincing those who are set against climate change and protecting the planet.
"If someone isn't in the headspace to want to accept the facts of human-caused climate catastrophe, it will be very difficult to sway them. As for people who are more ambivalent, I believe that exposing them to the realities that are being faced in parts of the world that are more vulnerable to the early effects of climate change can be very powerful. The imagery of landfills overflowing with waste is very powerful, as well as that of the extreme weather effects, desertification, wildfires, and displacement caused by accelerating climate change," they said.
#10
This Was Enough For Me To Finally Kick Starbucks For Good
Brett Connor 4 years ago
Like PETA with a full dumpster of dead animals in the alley behind the office. Not one company that's touting Save the Earth even cares. It's part of an Agenda.
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bryguy 4 years ago
This is crazy so I did some more research on what they say the reason is. Apparently there is a liability issue (not sure if that's true after it's been donated to another organization) when using the machines as they can explode with high pressure steam if not trained and used properly. Also they make their own equipment and if a part brakes you cannot replace it or order a part. It's still a horrible waste either way.
Auntriarch 4 years ago
That makes more sense. But some of it was furniture, not equipment
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Deborah B 4 years ago
WTF? Why not reuse or donate it? And if they just can't be arsed, they could have offered to let the employees take it to resell on ebay.
A B C 4 years ago
Because then someone else has an advantage without starfucks profiting on it. We can't have that, it's evil. /s
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Debbie 4 years ago
Is this verified? Is this true? I don't know how Starbucks organizes, is it franchised? Or is this just some story that we read online and now is true because we read it online?
Jovita A 4 years ago
I had the same thought.. People tend to believe in everything that they see online without even checking the facts...
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Robert T 4 years ago
Whilst I agree that this is a complete waste of otherwise working appliances, how do you know it is going to landfill? These kind of large skips normally go to recycling centres and they will strip all the recyclable material. It is also illegal (at least in the UK and EU) to dispose of a refrigerator by smashing it up without degassing it first.
Seán Baron 4 years ago
If it's been dumped at a council tip, pretty much anyone will see that's it has been cut up or smashed and will just see it as broken, and do the quickest and most easiest option to save time and money and just put it in landfill. The UK is still way behind where it thinks it is in terms of getting as much as possible recycled.
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Vicki Thill 4 years ago
That's a recycling bin. All of that is going to be reused. Please, you must visit a scrap yard and see for yourself how many humans survive solely by scrapping. It's going to be reused, whoever is recycling that might get a few bucks, the people who scrap it out get a few bucks, and the scrap yard earns a few bucks. When it's all done and everyone had their hands in it, you then buy it as a new microwave, car parts, and about a thousand other things you use every single day. Knock this off and go after bigger issues, like how many restaurants are still using Styrofoam. I'll get behind that one.
#11
I Just Finished My Latest Art Made Solely Put Of Recycled Wine Foils
primeline31 4 years ago
We know someone who does this with the colored foils from chocolates. That person had so many pics, he had an art show at our local library.
Axolotl King 4 years ago
Sort of related: did you know that painting is actually a series of paintings all with that same mountain in the back? That's just one of the more famous paintings
#12
Sunnybee, A Farmer's Market And Store In Chennai, India, Has Begun Wrapping Their Produce In Banana Leaves. Makes Me Glad That My Country Is Thinking Forward Like First World Countries
Mazer 4 years ago
Want to go a couple of steps further go get a set of “ToGo Ware” bamboo utensil set, add a set of bamboo straws carried around with you and refuse the plastic straw and utensils they give you with takeout. Bamboo is fast growing and renewable. Get yourself a set of metal Tiffin containers and ask the restaurant to put your takeout in the Tiffen containers or pack your leftovers yourself at the table
bryguy 4 years ago
Hopefully single use small plastics will be banned everywhere soon. You can't get plastic straws, stir sticks, or plastic bags anywhere around my city anymore. Paper or BYO only. At the very first it took a bit to get used to but now it's so strange to see a picture of a plastic bag and remember they're still a thing other places.
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bumble bee 4 years ago
Instead of wrapping veggies in a bundle, how about people are able to buy the quantity they want rather than increase food waste. If I want two carrots, I should be able to buy just 2
I' Gomez & Morticia's kid 4 years ago
It still happens in India. In Small cities and towns
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Lila Launehase 4 years ago
I love that idea! But I really hope Germany doesn't start importing banana leaves now...
Auntriarch 4 years ago
I only wish that were a joke, but you just know some bright spark somewhere is thinking that
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Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
They're starting to do that here in Texas too. What a great idea !
third molar 4 years ago
Chennai was using banana leaves and/or lotus leaves as wrappers, food containers for centuries then technology brought paper and plastic and they forgot these... glad they are going back to the roots
Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
Leaves are still not that uncommon as disposable 'plates'.
Load More Replies...Meanwhile, Greenpeace noted that major corporations need to take responsibility for moving away from single-use plastics, thus helping to protect the environment. "To truly tackle the plastic pollution crisis big brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Nestlé need to eliminate single-use plastics from their business models and replace their packaging with systems of refill and reuse," a Greenpeace representative told Bored Panda.
"As we put pressure on these companies to make the switch (and you can help us by signing our petition!), we can cut down our personal plastic footprints by: refusing single-use plastic packaging, carrying reusable bags and reusable bottles/cups, saying no to plastic straws, and using refill stations if they are available in your country," they said.
"Together, we can do better. We can bring about a simpler life without endless waste. A life where people and the planet flourish. As the saying goes, 'It’s only one bottle said 8 billion people.'"
Greenpeace reiterated that it's multinational corporations that have the biggest responsibility to make the shift toward a more eco-friendly business model. Their impact could be the greatest in helping reduce plastic production that is said to triple by the middle of the century.
#13
My Shopping Bag Has A Printed Holiday Pattern So It Can Be Reused As Wrapping Paper
Laurie Ostergaard-Overbey 4 years ago
just use brown paper. what's wrong with that? or even stamp your own pattern on it.....
#14
This Week I Will Hit My 8000th Bag Of Trash Cleaned Up. I Love My Life, And I Encourage Others To Try This
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Yes. And if you do it, it encourages your neighbors to do it or to not litter. Small things,, as everyone will howl when they talk about how it's mostly corporations... but if just half of us did these small things.... *sigh*
Load More Replies... Chaos&Roses 4 years ago
I use to see this little old couple do tai chi every sunrise on my way through the boomgates to work. They'd do thier thing and then spend the next hour doing the loop around the headland with hessian bags cleaning up all along the waterfront. No fishing line tangled on the rocks, no plastic on the pristine beach, just dolphins coming up to say hello at smoko. Small actions, great impact.
I I 4 years ago
or just try taking your crap home ffs , it's nice but also a shame people like you give up their time because others are just lazy
M O'Connell 4 years ago
Not necessarily. I live on a state highway that happens to be on the route that trucks take going to the local landfill. I've picked up quite a bit of trash myself, and most of it feels like trash that has escaped from trucks as opposed to things people have deliberately thrown out of their cars. This is another reason to flatten your recyclables whenever possible, it makes them less likely to be blown around. Ultimately airborne trash will end up in whatever low spots it winds up in.
Load More Replies... Tuna Fish 4 years ago
My husband would do this for a living if he could make enough to live off of. He's always asking me to check into govt grants that will just pay him a minimum salary just to pick up garbage in our community that will end up in the river.
Sarah Marie 4 years ago
Soooo...he does it bc he wants to get payed to do it? Not bc he is a nice dude that does it out of the kindness of his heart? Maybe I have read your comment the wrong way and if so, I am sorry for being rude.
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s. vitkovitsky 4 years ago
Tnis is great, but only if the stuff is for sure going to be recycled. So much recyclable stuff ends up in landfills, formerly and better known as garbage dumps.
Victor Kollaps 4 years ago
I do it every morning when I go to walk at 6:30 am. I left in 3 points the bottles that I have found and when I go to work I carry them in my car for recycling when I come back at home
#15
This Is Completely Out Of Season And I Did It Four Years Ago, But I Work In A Bakery In A Health Food Store And This Is How I Evaded Throwing Away Broken But Otherwise Perfectly Fine Cookies That Didn't Make The Cut For Platters. Injure Bread Men!
A B C 4 years ago
I made you some ninja breadmen as a thank you for the suggestion. They're right on your kitchen counter. You can eat them all - if you can see them. :)
Load More Replies... Lisa Timora 3 years ago
I like this idea. You could grind them up and use for cheese cake crusts.
The ‘Zero Waste’ subreddit currently has more than 577k members. It’s been around since early 2013 and has since then become one of the main environmentally-friendly subreddits on the site. Reddit’s full of these and you can always find the niche that you’re particularly interested in, whether it’s r/composting, r/Frugal (which we've written about recently on Bored Panda), r/minimalism, or others.
The r/ZeroWaste moderators and community members have a lot of great info to share in their wiki. One of these pearls of wisdom is Bea Johnson’s family’s ‘5 R’s’ which help move toward a lower-impact way of life. “REFUSE what you do not need. REDUCE what you do need. REUSE by using reusables. RECYCLE what you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse. ROT (compost) the rest,” the subreddit explains in their wiki.
#16
A Few Weeks Back I Put A Box Of Empty Candle Jars Out On My Verge For Giveaway - I Didn't Want To Throw Them Away - And Today I Found A Lil Box Of Candles In My Doorstep With Some Of The Jars Refilled With Lovely Scented Candles
GirlFriday 4 years ago
There is a stall at my local farmers market that will issue you credit for your used and clean glass containers. I took them a whole box full and got a $7 credit. When I returned the next week, they had filled all of the containers with candles and I used my credit to buy one back. It was genius.
#17
A Library That Rents Cake Pans!
Joanie 4 years ago
Wonderful! At the library in my hometown, one can borrow cake pans, fishing poles, strollers, Halloween costumes and others! They also have a free seed catalog. People donate heirloom seeds from their garden for others to plant and enjoy. The library provides small paper packets for the seeds. It is a small library with a big heart!
Martin John 4 years ago
My local library has musical instruments you can check out...you can even "rent" a librarian for your research needs!
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Vasha 4 years ago
My local library also loan out food dehydators, mixers, pasta makers, telescopes, VCR to DVD conversion machines, board games, musical instruments, karaoke machines, cake decorating kits, chocolate fountains, popcorn machines, sewing machines, laminators, etc etc. Awesome service.
Vasana Phong 4 years ago
This is how community centers work back in the day, every thing you would need, as the years went, lack of funding, good citizens, it doesn’t exist anymore
Fact Perils 4 years ago
This is nice when you want to make a recipe with a very specific pan that you won't use again.
Eglė Bukauskaitė 4 years ago
I LOVE this. We have a one library where you can rent board games or children toys!
Luna Lovegood 4 years ago
My local library has something like this! They have "make away kits" that you can check out. Cake pans, knitting stuff, wood carving knives, musical instruments, ect. Tons of different craft things!! They also just opened a "seed library" where you can get free seeds and return extra seeds from your harvest!!
#18
Picked Up A Used Cardigan That Turned Out To Look Much Better In The Picture Than In Person, So I Turned It Back To Yarn And Crocheted The Yarn Into A Cat Bed
Softsquatch 4 years ago
thats so clever! i love knitting and crochet and spend tons on yarn but never thought to reuse my old jumpers. will definitely be using this.
GirlFriday 4 years ago
I like to buy sweaters at thrift stores for about fifty cents each and the unravel them and use the yarn. I can get several hundred yards for just a few dollars and they make wonderful travel blankets, hats, etc.
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Bee / she/her 4 years ago
It's pretty simple to learn to knit online! There are many very useful tutorials on YouTube, if you're interested in doing something similar
Load More Replies... Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
What a great idea ! I knit blankets for an Etsy shop. This would be a great way to keep the cost of the blankets lower . Yarn is expensive !
Legen ( wait for it ) dary 4 years ago
Treglasta Farm in UK accept this kind of thing smaller for birds. Just check on Google.
Auntriarch 4 years ago (edited)
My Nana never threw out a jumper, either it was passed on to someone else, or unravelled. Doesn't work if the garment was machine knitted into lengths and cut out to shape
The subreddit suggests that people move toward a zero waste lifestyle “one small step at a time.” It’s about building a series of healthy and environmentally-friendly habits, so you can’t expect your entire philosophy to change immediately in one go. It’ll take patience, dedication, and you’ll have to overcome quite a few obstacles. Both within yourself and in your social circle.
“Start being more conscientious of what you're tossing into garbage and recycle bins. Then, identify one thing that you commonly throw away and could easily replace with a reusable item (such as replacing paper coffee cups with a travel mug),” r/ZeroWaste’s mods give newbies a sense of direction.
“As you continue making one change after another, you may find yourself considering a home composting setup, buying food in bulk, turning down free samples (and their associated packaging), taking steps to eliminate junk mail, and acquiring other reusable items to replace disposable products. Remember that each of these steps is only as sustainable as your willingness to stick with it long-term,” they explain.
#19
We Need More Coffee Shops To Do This
A B C 4 years ago
One of my neigbours is a nice, but absolutely haphazard, unplanned guy. He does have a stainless steel to-go coffee cup, but he tends to forget it at home and keeps getting himself 2-3 oneway to-go cups every. friggin. day. It's so annoying to KNOW he has one of the best reusable ones, yet seeing him with the throwaway garbage. =/
Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
I loved how Rome has little coffee and espresso carts with actual porcelain cups. You just stood or sat nearby to drink your coffee , then return the cups
Ivy la Sangrienta 4 years ago
In Finland the trend is to drink your coffee/tea in the shop, you don't really see that many people walk and drink. I prefer it this way.
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Lenka Smetanová 4 years ago
You know... I always expecting that in 'to go' coffee there is already cup included in the price of the coffee... So If I choose to bring my own cup, I could get a discount, which will motivate me more to bring it with me... but no... pay full price...
GirlFriday 4 years ago
My employer began using the "Bring Your Own Cup" rule a few months before the pandemic. It was wonderful to see them get on board with a "green" campaign.
Sandra Schmidt 4 years ago
I can hear the distant screeching of an entitled brat, demanding to speak to the manager.
#20
You Can Grow Loofahs (They Are In The Cucumber Family), Dry Them And Use Them To Wash Dishes. 5 Plants Make Enough For About 2 Years In Our House. Fully Biodegradable When They're Worn Out
La miss Vicky 4 years ago
Here in Mexico we clean ourselfs with those wile taking a bath, we call them "zacates"
Vicki Thill 4 years ago
I received a loofa as a gift. Just in case there's someone out there that doesn't know...they are hurty little bastards that peel the flesh from your bones, then point and laugh at you while you bleed out.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
I have one in my shower, great for smooth skin too(to remove dead skin).
Lillukka79 4 years ago
Same here. Tried a few times in the greenhouse, but the summer is too short.
Load More Replies... Lame cream 4 years ago
I have seen this done with gourds commonly found here in India. Not just as a loofah or dishwasher scrub, versions of it were used as water bottles and containers for juice. Also makes for a tasty vegetable when soft.
#21
For Anyone Out There Who Has An Old Trampoline And Isn't Sure What To Do With It
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Again, reduce, re-use, this is what I grew up doing... Either my family is very odd (very possible) or nobody wants to just admit "this is how poor people do things" b/c then it's not cool on the internet?
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I grew up like this also but I'm totally useless when it comes to diy staff! Also i have no imagination! It's hard for me to see a "garbage" and think oh that would become this and would be great!
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“For example, purchasing reusable silverware for use away from home does no good if you never remember to use it and/or give up on it after a few months. (You might also ask yourself if purchasing a new item is really necessary or if you could instead use something you already own or can get from a friend or secondhand store.)”
According to the mods, when making any decision at all, you should evaluate how convenient something is for you, how expensive it is (not just in terms of money but also in terms of time), and what impact your choice will have on the environment.
#22
My Dad Built A Green House Out Of Piles Of Random Stuff He’s Been Saving In The “You Never Know When It Will Come In Useful” Pile. Old Windows, Bits Of Flooring, Recycled Straightened Nails, And Off Cuts Of Steel Roofing. Only Had To Spend $40 On 8 Large Bolts. So Proud Of Him!
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Yeah, this is just called "how poor people do it" where I'm from. (Rural US)
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Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
Excellent ... and such is very common, indeed almost standard, on allotments.
Noel Benavente 4 years ago
“You Never Know When It Will Come In Useful” ... that's me to my wife :D
#23
Old Spice Has Plastic-Free Deodorant
bryguy 4 years ago
But why do you more than triple the price of the product when you are taking away plastic and using recycled paper? The plastic container costs roughly 17 cents to the manufacture. The paper container costs roughly 28 cents. So why is the price going from $3.47 for the plastic one to $10.99 for the paper one? (CAD in my area) You also end up with less product inside, 2.0oz for the one in paper 2.575oz for the one in plastic. They took away product to re-coop the cost of the packaging but are charging 3X the price for no reason.
I wish I could live in the ocean 4 years ago
Because they want to make money, not be environment friendly. They are a company. People love the "green" look and will buy it for more money. It's always about the money and nothing else, not people, not the environment.
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IlovemydogShilo 4 years ago
O Fortuna from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. Magnificent and beautiful piece of music.
Load More Replies... Vasana Phong 4 years ago
I’ve seen this done on sneakers from a large co., it cost them more $ to produce it out of recycled items, and double the price
Hineao Wharehineao 4 years ago
all these manufacturers should do this.Someone should come up with this for shampoo
Yara Balabanova 4 years ago
This seems like green-washing to me. If you really want to do something about plastic then make all your packaging plastic free, not just one of the dozens of deodorants that you sell
Chaos&Roses 4 years ago
This happens alot. People will pay anything to make them feel like they are trying to undo a little bit of thier big part that is everyone's responsibility in this planetary disaster of plastic waste. Boycott anything that contributes to unnecessary waste or plundering of your wallet. I tell ya, it limits your options, but you do it if you really wanna make a difference. Be good if we all could yeah?
#24
Bulk Frozen Vegetables In Romania! First Time I've Seen Somethibg Like This
Gosiaatje 4 years ago (edited)
We have had that in our supermarket in Poland ever since they opened :)
Protozaur Rex 4 years ago (edited)
same in RO but author is probably very young. And not only veggies: pastry of all sorts, and fruits.
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Radek Suski 4 years ago
It sounds not bad at first but I don't want buying lose food people may have cough at or touch with bare hands. Sorry
Alexandru Bucur 4 years ago
It's in a closed freezer and you use a ladle. Also, this isn't new, we've had these for years.
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#25
Sometimes Junk Store Frames Don’t Come With Hanging Hardware. Tin Can Lids Get The Job Done. Learned This Trick From My High School Art Teacher
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
The world needs more wombling - it's not just for Wimbledon Common
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Lynne Stankard 4 years ago
I've now got an ear worm and can't stop singing "Underground overground wombling free, the Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we...................." (wanders off happily singing!)
#26
My Boyfriend Wrote A Paper On How Superworms And Mealworms Can Digest Styrofoam Into Biodegradable Waste At A Fast Rate. We Expanded It Into A Project At School This Year. This Is A Farm That I Started A Week Ago. It's Simple And Low Maintenance. Please Try It Out!
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
The top comment is the OP giving details: https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroWaste/comments/dgdz7y/my_boyfriend_wrote_a_paper_on_how_superworms_and/
Load More Replies... denzoren 4 years ago
Why isn't this being funded? But the billionaires are in a d**k measuring contest to go into space.
Dave Nalesnik 4 years ago
I bet there are worms that one could feed otherwise useless billionaires to as well…
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primeline31 4 years ago
Ok... then what do you do with the mealworms? If you keep reptiles, is it safe for them to eat styrofoam-filled insects?
Ozacoter 4 years ago
If you have a gadden you can out then out for birds i guess
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#27
Our Local Supermarket Makes Juice Out Of Unsold Fruits. Literally Zero Waste
Vicky Z 4 years ago
Or to do what they do in France! If I'm not wrong they have a law that doesn't allow them to throw the staff but the supermarkets have to give them to people that need the food
Load More Replies... primeline31 4 years ago (edited)
It would have to be pasteurized to stop fermentation, though. Most of the passed up fruit is over ripe and, if you think about it, has been handled by an uncountable number of customers before being pulled by an employee's hands.
wifeofweasley 4 years ago
the only waste I see is the paper wrapping around the bottle. It's glass so you can re-use it as a to go bottle or to store something
Load More Replies... #28
As A Truck Driver I Am So Tired Of Seeing Garbage Everywhere Left By Other Drivers. So I Decided To Be The Change That I Wanted To See In The World
A B C 4 years ago
I'm somewhat astonished that a professional truck driver has the time for that. Aren't they under constant pressure for being late?
bryguy 4 years ago
A truck drivers "duty period" is 14 hours, of that they can drive 11 hours but will need to stop after and wait for the next duty period. They can work up to 7 days straight but would need to stop for 34 hours before starting their next 7 days. I can't see many truckers having the spare time to do this either.
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VidaLife 4 years ago
The amount of trucker bombs I have seen in my arearecently have been unbelievable. Like how hard is it to throw a bottle of piss in a garbage can? How do you just throw a bottle of human urine on the side of the road? Truckers are disgusting.
Molly Reece 4 years ago
Saw one making a delivery to a Dollar General store one day. He hung out eating his lunch for a few minutes. After he pulled out, he'd left 8 bottles of piss right next to the drivers side of where his truck had been parked. What a rancid group of humanity!
Load More Replies... kurisutofu 4 years ago
The pictures make it look like he just took the trash out of his truck and put them next to the road.
#29
My Drugstore Just Got A Refill Station For Laundry And Dishwashing Detergent!
Lytha 4 years ago
In France, we have this in a lot of supermarket (bio /organic product most of way!)
Hope 4 years ago
Really ? I'm French and I never knew we had that. Thanks for the info I'll look for one.
Load More Replies... GirlFriday 4 years ago
This was becoming more popular in the US before COVID. I hope they go back to it. One of my favorite stores did this for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash as well. Many stores had them for olive oil and other cooking oils too.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I am jealous. I'd do this with everything if I could. Rice, whatever...
Load More Replies... Vasana Phong 4 years ago
I use a public laundry mat, you should see all the empty containers in the big trash can, this will be awesome if we have one here in the states
Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
Um, I didn't mean to use also and too in the same sentence lol
Load More Replies... #30
Decorating My New Apartment My Updating The Furniture Left Behind
Lenka Smetanová 4 years ago
well.. I actually dont like this makeover... the original one looks nice... like from a castle
Beans 4 years ago
Yeah. I think they could've separated it for a change... Once you paint it that's it, you can never get the wood finish back
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Henry Halliday 4 years ago
These projects don't always come out nicely but I really like this. It'll fit in with a more contemporary decor, bringing new life to a beautiful piece of furniture.
Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
That is so beautiful ! I love upcycling furniture . I just hate the prep work lol
#31
I Built This House Almost Entirely Out Of Dirt And Reclaimed Materials!
Joan Zatorski 4 years ago
This is so beautiful! If you offered a class , I think a LOT of people would learn from your brilliant example!!
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago (edited)
Is there heating and plumbing and insulation and electricity?
#32
Can't Believe A Zero Waste Shop Opened Up Only 15 Minutes From My Rural Village In Scotland!
Laugh or not 4 years ago
It only works if the shop receives the products in bulk. There was a news piece where they showed that some shops receive things like cereals in bags of two or three kilos, so barely bigger than what you would buy them in normal supermarkets. The other thing is that such shops near my place sell with a big up mark compared to regular shops.
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
That's a big problem with shops like this, unfortunately
Load More Replies... Yara Balabanova 4 years ago
We had a shop like this in my city but sadly they went bankrupt because it was not very popular :( I must admit I didn't go there very often myself because the prices were so high
Maya Marsh 3 years ago
There is on near me in North Scotland, Re:Store in Lossiemouth. It’s been there since before the pandemic and it held strong despite the lockdowns and restrictions brought on by Covid. It has been very popular. It’s a great idea and should be adopted throughout UK!
elloelloello 4 years ago
I have one near me in Glasgow, it’s called Locavore and it’s brilliant!
#33
Today I Collected 8 Bags Of Garbage From Nature... We Try To Justify Our Ignorance In Front Of Ourselves And We Will Say "It's Not Mine", But We Are No Longer Entitled To That Nowadays. Nature Is Our Collective Responsibility, And This Sense Of Responsibility Motivates Me To Clean Up The Forest
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
Maybe just tired from waste collecting, but I could 9 bags. Well done. Super Well Done.
Laurie Ostergaard-Overbey 4 years ago
people, just STOP LITTERING, including your damn cig butts!! just stop!
2BX 4 years ago
It's a fair question. I think the point is that he cleaned up the forest area and will recycle what can be and appropriately dispose of the rest
Load More Replies... #34
Somebody Made Homes For Street Cats To Take Shelter In Out Of Water Jugs
VidaLife 4 years ago
Feral cats don't want a human home. They do deserve proper care though.
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Dave Nalesnik 4 years ago
Cool idea!This would work even better if they left half of the top intact as a roof to shelter the padding from rain .
JennyLaRue 4 years ago
Aren't those water jugs recyclable? Our supplier always took them away to reuse and refill
Ramadan Nalcıoğlu 4 years ago
if they are not older than 4 years after that they don't went to recycling. I know this because and I know the brand it is from Cyprus :)
Load More Replies... #35
My Eldest Daughter, 13, Started Doing Embroidery After She Saw Some Videos On Instagram. Yesterday She Surprised Me With This Beautiful Flower That She Stitched Over A Hole In My Favorite Jeans!
Auntriarch 4 years ago
My mother got a spot of bleach on a favourite t shirt, embroidered a sweep of leaves and flowers on it, kind of art nouveau, looks fabulous
Joan Zatorski 4 years ago
You daughter clearly understands the concept of making love visible! You must be an awesome parent!
#36
The Paper Didn't Reach
Ivy la Sangrienta 4 years ago
Lol. I've had this happen before, didn't think to draw the pattern on the cardboard.
#37
A Friend And I Have Started Doing Weekly Trash Walks Around Our Neighborhood In La. This Week We Filled Two Whole Trash Bags Going Less Than Two Blocks. We’re Hoping To Keep Growing Our Little “Club” And Maybe Inspire Some Others To Start One Too!
Vasana Phong 4 years ago
I’ve always wanted to do this, unfortunately due to physical limitations I can’t, but imagine every one having the mindset
Laurie Ostergaard-Overbey 4 years ago
OMG AGAIN, JUST STOP LITTERING!!! SUCH AN EASY SOLUTION!!
Phil DeBlanc 4 years ago
There is a group of four women that do this in our little village in Belgium. They pull a little wagon along and put the bags in it.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
Or just wash you hands after. Any walk i do is a trash walk, i pick up the things i see on the ground and i don't carry gloves everywhere, i just wash my hands and it's fine, and better to not use plastic gloves to create more trash.
Load More Replies... #38
I Sell Clothing Online And Finally Mastered Zero Waste Mailers! Made 100% Of Discarded Plastic And Sealed Shut With My Sewing Machine
Debbie 4 years ago
It's great! But.. how is it zero waste? I think plastic always will be waste eventually?
M O'Connell 4 years ago
Eventually it will be, but reusing what exists as many times as possible helps bring new plastic consumption closer to zero.
Load More Replies... Cosgrove Penfold 4 years ago
Is mailing someone else your trash considered zero waste? I still picture this going in a landfill.
Mister Ghost Foot 4 years ago
As someone said in a reply under somebody's comment "Reusing what exists as many times as possible helps bring new plastic consumption closer to zero" So basically that's several pieces of plastic reused as something else and hopefully recycled more from there. Making one thing out of several things sounds like a bit less waste in my book.
Load More Replies... #39
A Local Soapmaker Sells Miscellaneous / Broken Pieces Of Soap Without Packaging At A Discount. Perfect For Trying Out New Scents!
Trillian 4 years ago
I use soap and solid shampoo exclusively and it's amazing how long that stuff lasts. Plus it comes packaged in paper.
Little Wonder 4 years ago
I switched to solid shampoo and conditioner and I can't believe how long it lasts! For the same price as a bottle, I'm getting at least three times as many washes, it's very exciting (shoosh I'm old, I get excited about long lasting shampoo)
Load More Replies... cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
In France there is a society who take all the (barely) used soap bars in hotel, paid disabled people to peel the first layer and they make brand new ones with the hotel wastes and give them to NGOs and associations. It's called UNISOAP.
Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
Eco-Soap Bank in Cambodia is a fantastic initiative. https://www.borgenmagazine.com/access-to-soap-in-cambodia/ https://ecosoapbank.org/
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I was maybe 5 years old when my mom showed me how to take the leftover bits of soap to make "new soap". Still do it.
#40
George Kent Using His Own 64oz Nalgene Bottle Instead Of The Single Use Plastic Bottles Provided At The Impeachment Hearing Today
Hollysmom 4 years ago
Why aren't all of these people doing this? Lazy and such a horrible example
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago
People can still use plastic water bottles, you know. It's the fact that most people don't recycle them. Relax.
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sofacushionfort 4 years ago
I predict that with rising temperatures, future clothing will have a bladder pad on the upper back filled with water and a drinking tube draped over the shoulder.
Moe Lewis 4 years ago
There's still a pandemic happening, so as of now, they hopefully aren't.
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Michaelann Dahlman 4 years ago
Remember that "single-use" is their idea, you can re-use all kinds of things like this. I used to buy a big jug at the dollar store when I lived in a place where the water was awful. I'd buy 1 small bottle, clean & refill it.
JJ 4 years ago
Have you tried one made of glass? I reuse milk or smoothie bottles for water or cold tea. Just had to replace the lid after a couple of years.
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#41
With An Axe And Two Knives, I Carve Spoons From Freshly Fallen Wood Picked In My Forest. Spoons Are Everyday Tools That Have Been Used Since The Beginning Of Humanity
Klára Buriánková 4 years ago
Last sentence of the description sounds like it was meant to explain the meaning of the word "spoon" for aliens living among us..
#42
Office Goes Zero Waste And Gave Everyone One Of These
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
My colleague bought 20 sets of Knives, forks, desert/soup spoons and tea-spoons. Within a week they had all disappeared. Now we all have to bring our own. My friend was excited that she was able to help out our small team of workers by not using plastic crap. and they couldn't even simply wash them and put them back into the tray in the cupboard.
magpookie1133 4 years ago
They should have given out glass containers so they could be used in the microwave.
#43
Diyed A Soap Dish Out Of Unused Takeout Chopsticks, Glue, And Thread
M O'Connell 4 years ago
My inner boy scout wants to know what happened to the frapping. It's essential for sturdy lashings.
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s. vitkovitsky 4 years ago
Well, wet soap mskes a goopy mess in s dish, at least here, it has a chance for its bottom to dry out instead of soften up in water.
Load More Replies... #44
I Used Bird Seed For My Graduation Pictures Instead Of Glitter/Confetti!
Deborah B 4 years ago
If you want glitter for photo shoots, try using edible glitter. Get the sugar-based type, and it is fully biodegradable. May attract ants though.
Alex K 4 years ago
do you want ants? cause that's how you get ants! (rip)
Load More Replies... #45
A Knit A Sweater Made Entirely Of Old /Scrap Yarns I Had Lying Around
Paisley Nougat 4 years ago
may be "old school" but new school to me. very nice. thanks for the post.
Lame cream 4 years ago
It is beautiful. My grandmother makes rugs from scraps like that. They are beautiful!
Little Wonder 4 years ago
I do this with my weaving/crocheting left overs. I tie them all together into a big ball and crochet something out of them. I've just finished a circle shrug, but I've also made the biggest, warmest shawl. All the colours are random, and I love them.
#46
So Someone On My Street Put Two Twin Bed Frames On The Curb. I Made One Into A Trellis
#47
I Work At A Hospital Where Employees Eat Everyday With Plastic Utensils. My Solution: Fork And Spoon In An Old Pencil Case
Marika Miettinen 4 years ago
Ohhh, I should do this for my eating utensils when I go camping! They just end up all over the tent every time :D
#48
It's Not For Everyone, But I Do Get A Lot Of Compliments On My Decorating. My Secret Is That Everything Is Second-Hand, Preferably From Curbs And Dumpsters (Including Cats)
#49
My Local Dump Has A Thrift Store In It So That Not Everything Goes To The Landfill
Spring Fisk 4 years ago
our Hazardous Wast center has a free store were you can get any paint on the selves that you like.
Meghan Wood 4 years ago
Mine too!!! I got the coolest 1940’s stove/oven and planted it with succulents. Wish I could post pics here!
Bob Stuart 4 years ago
The rural dump where I grew up had the trash in the middle, and the useful stuff leaning on the fence.
#50
A Cat Tree I Made A While Ago. Still Doing His Job
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
My late cat loved his homemade tree with trees. Best seagull observatory tower ever. 20170825_1...c83335.jpg 
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
Sadly when he died i made an announce on the local craiglist and nobody wanted a free cat tree. I had to put it in the municipal waste, i was really sad. 20171113_2...8247c4.jpg 
#51
India Is Slowly Moving Away From Plastic Milk Packets To Self- Serve Byo Container Vending Machines For Milk. Accepts Digital Payments Too! When A Country Of More Than A Billion Makes A Small Change, It Has A Greater Impact. It Has Reduced Prices To Discourage Plastic. I’m Proud We’re Trying
I' Gomez & Morticia's kid 4 years ago
In most parts of India, milk is used to deliver to each house by the supplier/ delivery boy
#52
My Toilet Has A Built In Sink To Help Reduce Water Waste, Flush Your Toilet With The Water From The Sink
Andrew Gibb 4 years ago
all toilets should have this- I bet there is a way of rerouting the waste sink water...
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
We have one of those cisterns, I am still waiting for hubby to install it. 6 years later.
Chaos&Roses 4 years ago
I worked in a 1930s built facility for disabled adults. All staff toilets had been replaced with these.
#53
My Friend Was Going To Throw Away A Torn Sheet, So I Rescued It, Made It Into "Yarn," And Crocheted Myself A Basket! I Added A Bit Of Color With Rags Pilfered From My Mom's Bin. I'm So Happy With How It Turned Out
Caro Caro 4 years ago
That's a nice bag. How do you make yarn out of a sheet? I've got loads of old sheets so ....
Ristina Nielsen 4 years ago
Yarn: just tear the sheets into long strips (3cm wide is good). To avoid joints, tear only to *almost* all the way through before you turn.
Load More Replies... #54
In An Effort To Have Less Water Waste, I Started Keeping This Pitcher On My Counter. Water From Leftover Drinks, Sippy Cups, Ice Cubes, Etc. Gets Dumped In Here And Then I Use It To Water My House Plants
Carol Emory 4 years ago
I did this at my work too. The ladies I worked with would leave half drunk bottles of water around. I would collect them and use them to water the plants, then throw them in a recycle bin I had in the back of my car. We have a good recycling program where I live. There is even a company here that takes old roofing material and recycles it into road paving material.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
After cleaning wild plants for my rabbit i keep the water to flush the toilet (i don't want seeds in my home plants but they probably won't grow in the toilet lol).
#55
My American Boyfriend Says These Aren't Common, I Had No Idea Because I Have Never Owned A Dryer And Most People In New Zealand Dry Their Clothes On Racks Or Lines
Mazer 4 years ago
American here. Both my auntie and my grandmother used drying racks, I don’t have the space so I use a line out on my patio
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Angela Robinson 4 years ago
I live in the northern U.S. and love using my clothes line. Unfortunately, I can only use it a few months due to the extreme winters. I have heard of neighborhoods where clotheslines are not permitted due to the "aesthetic" factor.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
In my city in France, some gardens have a roof in the middle of it or in a corner, because who want freshly washed clothes with seagull poop?lol
Aunt Messy 4 years ago
I have a drying rack that fits in the bathtub in an upstairs bathroom. There are some things that can't go in the dryer. That said, I will NEVER give up a dryer.
sofacushionfort 4 years ago
Hanging out the wash is a violation of many Homeowner's Associations. (As was selling your house to a Black family, so...progress not perfection?)
#56
"Food In The Nude" Concept In New Zealand Supermarkets Stripped Vegetables And Fruits From Plastic Wrapping And, As A Consequence, The Sale Of Spring Onions, The One Vegetable On Which They Tried The Concept At First, Rose To About 300 Percent
Rissie 4 years ago
This is very normal in most countries I believe? Just baskets of veggies and fruits for you to pick and weigh.
VidaLife 4 years ago
This is exactly what the produce section of my local grocery store looks like in Chicago
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
*raises hand* Even in Rural US this is how we buy/sell veg. What were they doing before?!
Dodo 4 years ago
In the UK we have a mixture of veg like this and veg in plastic, so I'd assume they were doing the same there.
Load More Replies... Nikola Murphy 4 years ago
I live in NZ and fruit and veges have always been sold like this. Never been individually wrapped in plastic. It's not new at all!
Agnes Jekyll 4 years ago
Where I live, at least 50% of fruit and veg comes prepackaged in plastic trays, styrofoam and wrap. It's so disheartening.
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago (edited)
I don't get people who put single produce items in plastic bags. One bunch of carrots, one stalk of celery, a chunk of ginger... just throw it in your cart and take it to checkout as is. I once saw a lady bag a single head of garlic. A plastic bag for one head of garlic!
zovjraar me 4 years ago
i need this in my grocery store. i have a household of 2 people. buying an entire bag of carrots, onions, celery, or garlic is wasteful as most of it goes bad before we can use it all.
Martin John 4 years ago
I worked in the grocery industry for nearly 17 years and in our litigious society here in the US, supermarkets began to package the hell out of produce when they were getting sued by people who were going down because of that wayward loose grape on the floor (my friend's mom was one of them...). I'm all about safety, but sure miss being able to choose my own loose cherries, etc.
Anne 4 years ago
It's New Zealand - they aren't too fussed about nudity :)
Load More Replies... #57
Got Permission To Share This Ladies Amazing Work! A Mat Made Of Hoses!
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
I have a presentiment that this beautiful mat+my dog would not be a good match, except for the dog. "awwww you are too kind, you made me a giant chewing toy!"
#58
I Read That A Lot Of Donated Clothes End Up In Landfills Anyway, So Started Saving Our Old Fabrics/Textiles That Didn’t Seem Nice Enough For Resale. Finally Used Them To Make This Pet Bed!
Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
In some places all donated clothes are used somehow ... even if just shredded for low value re-use.
memyselfandI 4 years ago
If you’re interested in how old textiles are recycled, read The Travels of a T-shirt in a Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli. It’s actually quite interesting, it shows the entire life cycle of clothes from farm to recycling.
GirlFriday 4 years ago
I cut up old T-shirts and make bath mats or pillow covers with them. My entire family saves their worn out t-shirts for me so I can give them a second life. It is a great hobby.
#59
My Mom Knows I'm Trying To Reduce My Waste, So For My Birthday She Made Me Homemade Body Soap, A Peeling Bar, Shampoo And Conditioner!
#60
I Convinced My Friend To Not Throw Away His Old Fencing And Let Me Build Him Garden Boxes. How Do You Think They Came Out?
#61
Today I Retired My 13 Year Old Cardboard Box
M O'Connell 4 years ago
I have a box from pre-made egg rolls that I've been using for years and years, it was much better assembled than it needed to be.
GirlFriday 4 years ago
Six years ago, my nephew left a plastic sports drink bottle at my house. I washed it out and I have been using it to water my plants ever since.
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
I'm still using two of the cardboard boxes from a house removal in 1980!
Ristina Nielsen 4 years ago
This is probably THE key trick for being eco-friendy. Use "simple enough" stuff and use it for a long long time.
#62
Found My Dad’s Unused 1982 Planner Yesterday. And The Days Of The Week Line Up With 2021!
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
I collected several journals from 2016 and use them for my home accounting and diaries.
#63
A Coconut Repurposed As A Salt Container That Has Been In My Family For Over 20 Years
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
I recently started using some condiment containers that belonged to my great-grandparents. It seemed silly to leave them in a display cabinet when they could be put to practical use
qwerty 4 years ago
Wouldn't the salt clump due to humidity? I mean, it's no big deal but it is unpleasant to bite into a clump of salt, and they would be harder to spot since the scoop is a spoon.
Anne 4 years ago
It will dissolve in any dish quick enough if there is liquid. I have an antique wooden salt jar too, it's fine.
Load More Replies... #64
My Search For Zero Waste Milk Is Over! Local Milk And I Get $2 When I Return The Bottle!
Leodavinci 4 years ago
If you had grown up in the first half of the last century, these would have been quite common.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
I find it really sad that they have to write "no artificial hormones" on milk. And glad that this is forbidden in Europe.
#65
Psa: Don’t Buy “Zero Waste” Cutlery Sets. Just Use Cutlery From Home Or Buy Some Second-Hand, And Wrap Them In A Tea Towel Or Cloth Napkin. You Can Even Sew Your Own If You Like!
Kamila Podolak 4 years ago
" The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn't buy." — Joshua Becker
iblowsheep 4 years ago
i know its not a solution for everything, but most people have 10 fingers on the ends of their hands. why the need for utensils in the first place?
Mazer 4 years ago
I use zero waste cutlery set that I bought and I actually gave them out to a bunch of friends of mine. We laugh every time we go out and somebody pulls out there packet of bamboo utensils and straws. Bamboo is exceptionally durable it lasts a very long time the plant grows exceptionally fast and when you throw it out you can throw it out in your own backyard!
#66
I Possibly Found The Best Ever Pencils. After Using Them You Can Plant Them In The Soil And Then A Sapling Will Grow From The Green Bottom!
Lame cream 4 years ago
These are quite popular here in India. First use it as a pencil and then plant the end stubs. Your own vegetable patch! They are pretty cheap too (10 pencils for ₹50 or $0.7)
M O'Connell 4 years ago
You can roll your own pencils out of scrap paper and a drafting lead, and you can get a box of 100 leads for about $5 (or buy a reusable lead holder, that works too).
Martin John 4 years ago
As an educator, I would love these...probably expensive as hell, tho! :(
#67
Couldn't Get Rid Of This Ugly Stain Right In The Middle Of The Shirt, Used Some Old Die To Make A Cool Patchy Shirt Instead!
#68
Learnt To Weave To Make 100% Biodegradable Bags, Made From Flax (Native New Zealand Plant)
Swamparella McJudgeface 4 years ago
Harekeke! Phorium tenax...not flax. Ataahua mahi kete ( beautiful basket work)
#69
Found This Deflated Balloon On A Hike, So I Used It To Wrap My Best Friend’s Birthday Present
Anne 4 years ago
Also, don't buy these balloons. Helium is not an infinite gas and hospitals need it too.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
Scientific research as well, and don't forget the welders!
Load More Replies... #70
A Plastic-Free Store In Slovenia
#71
My School Gave This To Every New Student So We Wouldn’t Use Disposable Cups. I Graduated In ‘96, And It’s Been My Work Water Cup Ever Since
Shannon Matthews 4 years ago
When my daughter finished up elementary school, the exiting 5th graders all got plastic cups with screw on lid & straw. 8 years later, she still uses this cup almost daily for her water.
#72
My Local Kroger Finally Carries Cherry Tomatoes In A Recyclable Package! (Bonus That They’re From A Local Farm Devoted To Sustainable Practices!)
Lara Verne 4 years ago
Great! Local supermarket sell tomatoes only in plastic. From time to time, they sell packaging-free tomatoes that cost twice as much. Makes me so mad.
GirlFriday 4 years ago
I notice more and more compostable packaging at Kroger these days. It is good to see them headed in that direction.
#73
Finally Striving Towards A Zero Waste Period
Anne 4 years ago
I do this too and it's a win. Seriously. You save SO MUCH money, plus these washable pads are not so sweaty so more comfi and less fungal infections. And a cup.. where to begin.. I wish I'd found out about them sooner.
Elin Noller 4 years ago
Yes, cups are the best! I dont have periods anymore because of my birth control, but if I did I would still be using a cup.
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Anne 4 years ago
You were down voted, I voted you back up. Not sure why - you are absolutely right! I guess menstrual products are scary to some..
Load More Replies... Auntriarch 4 years ago (edited)
I got caught out by my period, early on, my nan made up a couple of them quick as a wink. She said that's what she used to do, and when I made a face, she said, "why do you think they are called sanitary 'towels'?"
H Edwards 4 years ago
I don't use the cup, but I have the pads and I love them.
Load More Replies... Cassie 4 years ago
FYI, you may need more than one size cup. For example, at the beginning of my period, things are still kind of tight down there, but when my flow is heavy things get loose. So, I need a smaller cup to start and a larger cup for the heavy days. The larger cup fits too tight for the tight days and the smaller cup is loose and leaky on the heavy days. I also have two of each so I can wear a clean one while cleaning the used one. I know you can dump and reinsert, but I just can't. I need it to be washed.
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
I wish I could do this, but when I do get my period (which isn't as often now thanks to the injection and medication I'm on) they're extremely heavy, so using these was never any good. :(
Alice Platzer 4 years ago
Wish these were available 40 years ago when I started bleeding. Now I'm at the end and don't need'em anymore. Oh well. You GO, girls! Celebrate Youth!
#74
Repurposed This Bear For Dish Duty
Ristina Nielsen 4 years ago
Caveat: Please make sure that you don't do risky "lookalikes". No lemonade-colored detergent in old lemonade bottles - no matter how cute or fun they are. Someone *will* do a mistake, sooner or later.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
My father drank white spirit /turpentine when i was a kid, he was the dumb who put it in a water bottle previously with WHITE SPIRIT poorly written on the label, then he add orange juice in it and went to a table tennis tournament. "Don't breathe too close to the wall you will remove the paint" was the joke he heard most. He was fine but very surprised.
Load More Replies... Marika Miettinen 4 years ago
Ohh, I should do this with my honey bear that is almost empty! For camping purposes, at least.
#75
It’s Frustrating How Many Tissues I Go Through During Allergy Season, But This Year I’m Prepared. Made Some Reusable Tissues From An Old Duvet Cover
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
I am shocked at how few people use handkerchiefs these days. Especially when one is at home and nobody will see them (some expressed embarrassment over putting a snotty cloth in a bag/pocket.)
Little Wonder 4 years ago
I still use handkerchiefs. If people are grossed out by me putting it back in my handbag they are welcome to not rummage in my handbag...
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Caitlin Doyle 4 years ago
I did this with an Egyptian cotton sheet that I had, the best handkerchiefs ever.
Kamila Podolak 4 years ago
I use baby wipes. How's it zero waste? The secret is You can wash them. Can't say how durable they are cos... I'm using mine for at least 4 years and they are still ok (not perfect, but who needs perfect for wiping nose... :) )
KatHat 4 years ago
It's great you wash and re-use them but why use them in the first place? How are they better than a cloth handkerchief?
Load More Replies... KatHat 4 years ago
COVID is airborne. It's far more likely these will save some of the virus from polluting the air as the person blows their nose, than that someone will get ill later. There are still no confirmed cases of surface transmission of the virus. The advice we all got early on, about washing hands etc, is good general advice but turns out to be less applicable for this specific virus.
Load More Replies... #76
Been Buying Whole Chickens Instead Of Individual Cuts And Whole Veggies Instead Of Precut And Bagged Ones. Saved The Bones/Scraps For 3 Months In The Freezer And Decided To Make Chicken Stock!
Sabienn 4 years ago
Share it with family/friends/neighbours is an option, and freezing a part of it. And of course making a huge pan of chicken soup
Load More Replies... Dave Nalesnik 4 years ago
If you own an Instant Pot, it makes an incredible, gelatin-rich stock. If you pressure cook the bones long enough, you can blend/strain them up into bone meal to supplement your pet’s food (as long as they don’t have any veg/seasoning that are bad for them). Game changer!
Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
Please never feed animals cooked bones, this is dangerous. (https://blog.animalemergencyservice.com.au/cooked-bones-dangerous-for-dogs)
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#77
I Make As Many Of My Daughter's Toys As I Can, W/ Salvaged Bits As Often As Possible. I Made This Kitchen Set Out Of Old Cardboard Boxes, Bottle Caps, And Cds That I Scrounged From The Trash At Work. I Then Decorated It W/Paper
Otter 4 years ago
Some of the local mothers would do this when I was a smallish kid, they'd brag to each other about eschewing commercialism and raising kids who knew how to be creative and use their imaginations. The kids reacted by begging for Barbies and G.I. Joes, like their friends had.
zovjraar me 4 years ago
when i was a kid, it was very unpopular to have anything home-made. it meant you were too poor to buy things.
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Kiss Army 4 years ago
I don't remember the majority of toys I had as a kid but I do remember the toy refrigerator that my brothers made for me one year when I received toy food as a gift. They got cardboard boxes, paper, glue, etc. and put it together for me and I remember playing with that thing until it literally fell apart and they could not repair it any more. I'm getting warm fuzzies remembering it...
#78
Using Old Liquor Bottles To Serve Water At Restaurants
#79
Our Brand New Bed Broke. I Salvaged The Wood, And Turned It Into A Planter
M O'Connell 4 years ago
It depends on how it was received in the first place. Most mail-order companies can't afford to have a customer return something so large. After you've documented the problem sufficiently, they send you a replacement and you are free to dispose of the defective one as you wish. That's actually how I got a mattress for the bed in my guest room. I ordered a queen, but there was a full inside the box. It couldn't be returned since I had opened it (consumer safety laws, etc.), so they sent me one the right size, and I built a bed to match.
Load More Replies... #80
Just Discovered A Shop In Atlanta, Ga, That Allows You To Bring In Your Old Candle Jar And Get A Refill For 1/2 Price!
#81
The New Supermarket Near Me Has Frozen Prepared Foods In Bulk
Eglė Bukauskaitė 4 years ago
I know how people work in warehouses and my view on this concept - EWWW
#82
Restored These Thrifted, Super Old Dr. Martens For A Present
#83
Family Thinks I’m Frugal, I Just Like To Think I’m Helping The Environment. Saving Money Is A Plus Too. Any Time I Get Sealed Air Bags I Make A Slit On One Side To Put My Hand Through And Pick Up My Puppy’s Waste. I Do This For Almost All/Any Packaging I Receive...anything At My Disposal!
JennyLaRue 4 years ago
I reuse these for my pottery business, saves me in packaging supplies. (There's also no way the pouches would be big enough for my dogs deposits!)
Deanna Titolo 4 years ago
i will never understand why we are forced to pick up something that is completely biodegradable and place it in a non-degradable plastic bag to dispose of.
Kamila Podolak 4 years ago
Brilliant! I don't have a dog but of course know some people with dogs.
#84
I’ve Got Nothing But Cloth, Thread, And Time. Free Hand-Sewn Makeup Remover Pads, Just Pm Me!
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
But it's polyester, not great for the face and not great for the microplastics when you wash it. Still a good attempt.
#85
Made A Lamp For My Desk Out Of An Old Camera, A Broken Lamp And Some Driftwood I Found
#86
When You Forget Your Reusable Bag But Remember To Bring Your Wife
#87
My Wife Put Giant Googly Eyes On Our Trash Can As A Joke. But It’s Actually Working For Our Zero Waste Goals. Now I Feel Shame Every Time I Toss Something, It Looks Horrified!
#88
Made Some Shorts, A Bucket Hat And A Bag All From One Old Jacket
#89
Does A Waste Of Space Count?
Mazer 4 years ago
Unfortunately there are some places in the world where does just won’t work and we have to considered disabled people as well. Best public transportation I’ve ever been involved with was in Hawaii on Oahu. The Bus was efficient and one rarely had to walk more than a half a mile to get to a bus stop. Where I live public transportation as a joke and most of the bicyclists on the road are hazardous
Rissie 4 years ago
Disabled people can use public transport just fine if properly designed. The US as a bad example managed to put legislation in place that makes for a very hostile environment for bicyclists and pedestrians. In The Netherlands all roads and streets are designed to optimize usage and to promote cycling and public transportation. Making car ownership essentially unnecessary for every day live. This excuse of well we don't know how else because. Is a self perpetuating society dividing fattening choice we make.
Load More Replies... Andrew Gibb 4 years ago
the bicycles are good for the environment and our health and well being too
#90
Dumpster Diving
zovjraar me 4 years ago
the only thing about dumpster diving for food is- the produce and meats get mixed together and it can be very dangerous to eat the produce. but it is a shame how much food gets wasted when so many people are starving.
aj 4 years ago
Where I live dumpster diving is illegal and donating would still cost the stores taxes so of course they throw it away instead. It's awful.
Zephyr Anthem 4 years ago
Where i live, they put bleach in the dumpster so people can't do that ...
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Telmo Belo 4 years ago
Just google Too Good to Go. It's an app that connects you to local restaurants and other food providers and allows you to buy food at a fraction of a price. Just the other day I got 3.5kg of fish for €5 (~7.7lbs for my albanian friends)
#91
I Took A Friend's Thesis Poster That Was Printed On Fabric And Turned It Into A Weekender Bag He Can Use
GirlFriday 4 years ago
My local animal shelter took all of their old plastic and fabric banners from past fundraisers and events and turned them into shopping bags, weekenders, computer bags, etc and sold them. I have two of them. It was a great way to upcycle and raise money for the animals.
#92
From Ruined Jeans To An Area Rug
Julia Atkinson 4 years ago
Yes, it's amazing that everyone grasps the fact that a banana is exactly banana-sized
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#94
I’m In College And Got This Foldable Cup As A Replacement For Those Classic Red Solo Cups! Yes, It Was A New Purchase, But It’s Helped Me Divert So Much Waste And Also Made My Friends Think More Consciously About Theirs!
Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago (edited)
Now that's cool. I haven't seen this before. Easier for people to carry around. In fact, I've just ordered one!
#95
I Made Candles From The Old Unusable Wax In The Bottom Of Store-Bought Candles! They Have... Personality
Luther von Wolfen 4 years ago
I worked in a restaurant that got cheese wheels sealed in wax. I kept all the wax and made candles. I keep all the wax when candles burn down to re-use. I'll never need to buy another candle.
#96
Made My Own Celery Salt By Drying Out Celery Leaves I Would Have Otherwise Thrown Out, Crushing Them, And Adding Salt! Tastes Wayyyyy Better Than The Store Bought Kind, And I'm Using All Of The Celery!
#97
Up Marketed This $5 Chair With My Mum Instead Of Buying New
#98
I Used The Traditional Japanese Art Of Kintsugi To Repair My Cracked Toilet Seat Instead Of Throwing It Away
Mazer 4 years ago
By the way most toilet seats are actually recycled they’re used as a filler in putting in new roadways
M O'Connell 4 years ago
It depends on what they're made out of. Most residential-grade toilet seats are melamine over ground wood fiber. Better ones are made of polypropylene. I used to have a doctor in a very old building, the seats on their toilets were made of Ebonite (hard vulcanized natural rubber, same material as old bowling balls).
Load More Replies... HammerzToe 4 years ago
Thank you for this. I'd never heard of kintsugi before reading this article. How wonderful. I fix EVERYTHING. I was called the Fissit Mommy in my neighborhood because I fixed all my sons broken toys, he would tell his buddies and they would bring me theirs. Why throw away something when it can be fixed. Most times the thing being thrown away isn't as good a quality as the thing replacing it.
Alice Platzer 4 years ago
I use the same technique on my chipped crockery (all black) with gold ceramic paint. Looks fabulous!
Neill Powell 4 years ago
This type of repair needs to gain traction. I fixed a vase like this, but instead of using real gold i used a gold-coloured permanent marker and painted the crack in. A polyurethane coat and it was an improvement on the plain vase.
Eric Mac Fadden 4 years ago
I love the technique, but as a heavy guy with 115kg I don't think it is too much safe - a friend almost died from a toilet injury
#99
Mango With Label Stamped Into It Instead Of Having A Sticker
M O'Connell 4 years ago
The label contains information for supply-chain tracking, such as the processing company, and lot numbers for farms (sometimes the numbers aren't literal, but are based around the design of the sticker).
Load More Replies... Phil DeBlanc 4 years ago (edited)
Won't that bruise the fruit? I mean, I'm all for it, just asking.
#100
Man, Screw Paper Towels
Otter 4 years ago
I only use paper towels for mopping up stuff that I don't want going in my laundry...
NsG 4 years ago
I also use paper towels for food - soaking up excess grease for example - no way am I using a microfibre cloth for that!
Load More Replies... Tortuga Woman 4 years ago
These types of cloths shed microfibers that end up in water systems. These microplastics are harmful to marine life (and humans!). It's better to use discarded natural fabrics.
Mazer 4 years ago
I also use rags I bought a huge bag of rags from Orchard supply hardware decades ago it was like 10 bucks for 25 of them and I still have all but two. They are great for mopping up after arts and crafts projects, painting etc. And even though they’re loosely woven they are so durable!
#101
First Time Reusing Food Scraps To Make A Broth!
DC 4 years ago
Meaning - a lot of this looks like pristine vegetables, especially the onion and carrots. The shrimp shells, sure, would qualify as scrap, and some of the other things, too, but ... these just look like the parts that the scrap has been cut off from, not vice versa...
Load More Replies... #102
I Needed A Travel Pill Container For A Big Trip. Rather Than Buying One, I Made One Out Of An Old Altoids Tin And An Old Plastic Membership Card
Anne 4 years ago
But.. don't do this if you cross borders with your travel. Then keep them in their original container with the doctor's prescription note. Not all pills are legal in all countries, even if they are in yours.
Purple light 4 years ago
The blue pills are to make you sleep. They are illegal in some countries.
#103
Colgate Have Released A Recyclable Toothpaste, Both Tube And Packaging! (UK)
Little Wonder 4 years ago
If it's going out for sale in a supermarket, there is. Tubes are unstable on shelves, and tempting for people to squeeze.
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#104
My Local Shop Just Introduced A Refillable Oat Milk Station - I’m Very Pleased
#105
I Had A Pair Of Pants That Were Far Too Long So I Cut Off The Bottoms And Turned Them Into A Crop Top And A Mask, Matching My New Culottes!
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
I'm short and i give my jeans bottoms to my dog after making some knots, free chewing toy.
#106
My Aunt Requested Crocheted Face Scrubbies To Replace Cotton Pads/Balls. She Asked For 24 So I Put Them In A Repurposed Candle Container
#107
Started Taking My Nail Polish Off With A Shirt That Had Icky Armpits Instead Of Cotton Balls. Looks Kinda Cool Now!
#108
Getting There With My Zero Waste Kitchen
#109
Beer Made From Leftover Strawberries That The Supermarket Rejects
#110
I Use Panty Hose Filled With Husky Fur To Deter Rabbits From Snacking In My Garden. No Chemicals, Much Less Chicken Wire, And I Don’t Have To Keep Buying New Plants
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
That doesn't work at all. Wild rabbits don't care, they live in the same areas with foxes and other predators and their smells are everywhere... and they still wanders around, just a smell won't work they are not dumb, if their hear some barking it will be different. And that's not working at all with domestic rabbits. 20181021_1...a8473d.jpg 
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
Yes and you can even knit a lot of them, or give them to birds.
Load More Replies... HammerzToe 4 years ago
what a great idea. Cat fur should do the same, I'd think. I have enough cat and dog fur to make enough of them to last a lifetime. Thanks kitties and doggos!
#111
Was Going To Buy A Rug But Tried Making One Instead After Seeing Some On This Sub. Used Old Fabrics+clothes+fringe I Had Lying Around
#112
Love Seeing Restaurants Encouraging Their Patrons To Go Zero Waste!
M O'Connell 4 years ago
I asked for a to-go cup for a rootbeer I ordered at a bar, and they told me to just take the glass home and bring it back whenever!
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
Is it better to print it several times and use more paper and ink because it will be ruined fast? I don't know.
Load More Replies... #113
I’m Sure This Is Not New But It Blew My Mind A Bit
jenjie.newt 4 years ago
I trap them between a drawer or cupboard door and the counter and pull from the bottom
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Diane Aguilar 3 years ago
What I do with my tubes of toothpaste is I make sure to firmly fold the end in firm, tight folds, making sure to press all along the folds, then I squeeze from the tube. At the end I make sure to use the folds to press upward against the top of the tube to get the extra toothpaste that would normally be stuck on top. It's a great way to ensure that as much toothpaste as possible comes out and is used and then all I have left is the tiniest amount of waste to throw away. As for tomato paste, I make sure to get the canned variety and wash out the tin before throwing it in the recycling bin.
HammerzToe 4 years ago
Available at Blick Art Materials in metal for about $30 and in plastic for about $11 tube-wring...b43747.png 
HammerzToe 4 years ago
Why wouldn't it be real? I have something very similar to it in my tool box used for extracting the last bits from tubes of silicone, weatherstrip adhesive, etc. Can't live without it.
Dave Nalesnik 4 years ago
I only recently figured out cutting the tube open to get at those last few bits of toothpaste …
aj 4 years ago
I do that too with all tubes I have! They last me another 2-4 weeks that way and I don't throw away half the product
Load More Replies... #114
Who Says Philly Doesn’t Know How To Recycle?
primeline31 4 years ago
It's and endearing nickname for the city of Philadelphia, PA., U.S.
Load More Replies... #115
A Roll Of "Un-Paper" Towels I Made For Our Kitchen
Sonia Reddel 4 years ago
I use cloth in my house, made out of old fabrics, but would never want to snap them all into a roll or layer in a tissue box. It might look smart for a photo but who wants that extra work!
#116
Today I Found Out That You Can Reuse Those Little Plastic Thingies From Olive Oil Containers As Barista Gadgets For Alcohol Bottles
Add New Image
What do you think ?
No you didn't 4 years ago
Small deeds indeed. I'd prefer to see a post about how we force corporations to take responsibility for the environment over celebrating senators for using a reusable water bottle.
Yara Balabanova 4 years ago
I agree that large corporations should be held accountable for their environmental impact, but it's not like large corporations are solely responsible, it's a two-way street. Consumer demand has been asking for convenience for years, so this results in lots of single use (plastic) packaging.
Load More Replies...
Kate Fei 4 years ago
In the apartment I've bought there was a set of two old lamps covered in layers of paints by previous owners. I wanted to throw them away but then on a lazy Sunday I chose to refurbish them instead. They came out great I think (old on the left, refurbished on the right). 218498528_...3b81a1.jpg 
ChickyChicky 4 years ago
Wow they look really good! I have some lamps that are somewhat similar, you've inspired me!
Load More Replies... Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
Please don't use single use paper to wipe up after yourself.
Load More Replies... Fact Perils 4 years ago
For people saying that these are small things that don't really change anything; they are small things, but you're "voting with your dollar" telling big corporations what you want to see more of, and so they will gradually produce less waste. Of course the responsibility doesn't fall on the individuals, we are just victims of the system, but by speaking up, contacting companies and telling them what you would like to see, you can influence change, as well as by buying more sustainable products you can support companies who are already doing good, and show the market that this sort of thing can be successful.
Lucky2BAlive 4 years ago
Grocery stores, small and large, restaurants, etc., place doors and locks around their dumpsters to keep people out. To prevent freeganism . It’s stupid, what with all the good they COULD be doing.
Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
That maybe as a consequence of ravenous lawyers ... for law suits not free food.
Load More Replies... Bob Stuart 4 years ago
Discarded electric appliances often just need a new switch or cord. I drive reliable, economical, unfashionable cars for under $200 pa for parts and depreciation. I saved the current one from the scrap yard with left over fiberglass supplies, and made it into a mini-camper with left over boat wood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKoq3B8PRIg
M O'Connell 4 years ago
My experience with discarded appliances is they rarely need parts at all, often just a good cleaning. Vacuum cleaners with stuck motor-brushes, or plugged filters, etc. I grabbed a pressure washer that needed a few cents worth of o-rings, etc. People are intimidated by appliances due to all the warnings, and the few independent service centers that are left charge too much for most people, simply because of how much labor is involved.
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Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
I personally don't waste anything, especially food, just hate waste.
bill marsano 4 years ago
Simplest thing to do: re-use anything and everything that can be re-used. I take my plastic take-out containers back to my local Chinese restaurant. They were hesitant at first but now accept them w/o question.
No you didn't 4 years ago
Small deeds indeed. I'd prefer to see a post about how we force corporations to take responsibility for the environment over celebrating senators for using a reusable water bottle.
Yara Balabanova 4 years ago
I agree that large corporations should be held accountable for their environmental impact, but it's not like large corporations are solely responsible, it's a two-way street. Consumer demand has been asking for convenience for years, so this results in lots of single use (plastic) packaging.
Load More Replies... Kate Fei 4 years ago
In the apartment I've bought there was a set of two old lamps covered in layers of paints by previous owners. I wanted to throw them away but then on a lazy Sunday I chose to refurbish them instead. They came out great I think (old on the left, refurbished on the right). 218498528_...3b81a1.jpg
ChickyChicky 4 years ago
Wow they look really good! I have some lamps that are somewhat similar, you've inspired me!
Load More Replies... Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
Please don't use single use paper to wipe up after yourself.
Load More Replies... Fact Perils 4 years ago
For people saying that these are small things that don't really change anything; they are small things, but you're "voting with your dollar" telling big corporations what you want to see more of, and so they will gradually produce less waste. Of course the responsibility doesn't fall on the individuals, we are just victims of the system, but by speaking up, contacting companies and telling them what you would like to see, you can influence change, as well as by buying more sustainable products you can support companies who are already doing good, and show the market that this sort of thing can be successful.
Lucky2BAlive 4 years ago
Grocery stores, small and large, restaurants, etc., place doors and locks around their dumpsters to keep people out. To prevent freeganism . It’s stupid, what with all the good they COULD be doing.
Ninn Kynok 2 4 years ago
That maybe as a consequence of ravenous lawyers ... for law suits not free food.
Load More Replies... Bob Stuart 4 years ago
Discarded electric appliances often just need a new switch or cord. I drive reliable, economical, unfashionable cars for under $200 pa for parts and depreciation. I saved the current one from the scrap yard with left over fiberglass supplies, and made it into a mini-camper with left over boat wood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKoq3B8PRIg
M O'Connell 4 years ago
My experience with discarded appliances is they rarely need parts at all, often just a good cleaning. Vacuum cleaners with stuck motor-brushes, or plugged filters, etc. I grabbed a pressure washer that needed a few cents worth of o-rings, etc. People are intimidated by appliances due to all the warnings, and the few independent service centers that are left charge too much for most people, simply because of how much labor is involved.
Load More Replies... Christina Uhlir 4 years ago
I personally don't waste anything, especially food, just hate waste.
bill marsano 4 years ago
Simplest thing to do: re-use anything and everything that can be re-used. I take my plastic take-out containers back to my local Chinese restaurant. They were hesitant at first but now accept them w/o question.
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