WEBVTT 00:00:00.729 --> 00:00:01.440 Hi there, 00:00:01.440 --> 00:00:02.648 I have 10 tips for you 00:00:02.648 --> 00:00:05.162 on how to live zero waste on a budget. 00:00:05.162 --> 00:00:06.790 My name is April Hepokoski 00:00:06.790 --> 00:00:08.148 and my journey to zero waste 00:00:08.148 --> 00:00:09.735 started about 5 years ago. 00:00:09.735 --> 00:00:11.701 I started living a zero waste lifestyle 00:00:11.701 --> 00:00:14.106 when my health took a dramatic downturn 00:00:14.106 --> 00:00:15.851 which motivated me to look into 00:00:15.851 --> 00:00:18.172 natural treatments to live a healthier 00:00:18.172 --> 00:00:21.502 and in result, more sustainable life. 00:00:21.502 --> 00:00:23.066 Zero waste is really about 00:00:23.066 --> 00:00:25.515 living more simply and within our means. 00:00:25.515 --> 00:00:28.701 It creates a great mindset for reducing expenses. 00:00:28.701 --> 00:00:31.555 Tip number 1 is for when you are looking to swap 00:00:31.597 --> 00:00:34.240 single use items with reusable alternatives. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.246 Shop your home for reusable items 00:00:36.246 --> 00:00:37.200 you already own 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:38.222 instead of going out 00:00:38.222 --> 00:00:39.275 and buying new ones 00:00:39.275 --> 00:00:40.909 When you replace single use items 00:00:40.909 --> 00:00:42.376 with reusable alternatives, 00:00:42.376 --> 00:00:44.461 you will also reduce the amount of money 00:00:44.461 --> 00:00:46.444 you spend, because you are not continually 00:00:46.444 --> 00:00:48.446 needing to replace single use items. 00:00:48.446 --> 00:00:49.760 A great way to get started 00:00:49.760 --> 00:00:51.760 is to make a list of the single use items 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:53.095 used in your home 00:00:53.095 --> 00:00:55.404 and come up with a reusable alternative, 00:00:55.404 --> 00:00:56.994 putting priority on 00:00:56.994 --> 00:00:58.394 alternatives you already own. 00:00:58.394 --> 00:01:00.374 Some common reusable items I use 00:01:00.374 --> 00:01:01.644 are cloth napkins 00:01:01.644 --> 00:01:03.047 instead of paper napkins, 00:01:03.047 --> 00:01:05.860 reusable jars and containers with lids 00:01:05.860 --> 00:01:07.656 when buying bulk items at the store, 00:01:07.656 --> 00:01:09.993 instead of taking the single use bag, 00:01:09.993 --> 00:01:12.910 reusable utensils, straw, chopsticks, 00:01:12.910 --> 00:01:14.697 shopping bag for when I go places 00:01:14.697 --> 00:01:16.361 that only offer options 00:01:16.361 --> 00:01:17.743 that are single use, 00:01:17.743 --> 00:01:20.212 and cloth rags instead of paper towel. 00:01:20.212 --> 00:01:22.471 Tip number 2 is to save recyclable items 00:01:22.471 --> 00:01:25.620 like glass jars, containers, paper, 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:27.407 really anything that you would find 00:01:27.407 --> 00:01:28.480 useful in your home. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:30.814 For example, I use glass jars 00:01:30.814 --> 00:01:33.628 as a vase for flowers, a pencil holder, 00:01:33.628 --> 00:01:36.996 for bulk shopping at the grocery store, 00:01:36.996 --> 00:01:38.817 or just in general for storage. 00:01:38.817 --> 00:01:40.589 That way I do not need to buy a vase 00:01:40.589 --> 00:01:42.803 or mason jars for buying bulk food. 00:01:42.803 --> 00:01:44.780 Remember that reuse comes before 00:01:44.780 --> 00:01:47.077 recycle in the "5 R's of zero waste" 00:01:47.077 --> 00:01:48.628 and those 5 R's are 00:01:48.628 --> 00:01:51.765 refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. 00:01:51.765 --> 00:01:53.844 Tip number 3 is to use 00:01:53.844 --> 00:01:55.506 community sharing resources 00:01:55.506 --> 00:01:58.514 like the library, or community groups 00:01:58.514 --> 00:02:01.879 that encourage giving and trading 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:03.481 instead of buying and selling, 00:02:03.481 --> 00:02:05.708 or simply borrowing from a friend. 00:02:05.708 --> 00:02:07.078 There are many ways to 00:02:07.078 --> 00:02:09.187 acquire items that do not involve money. 00:02:09.187 --> 00:02:12.339 Tip number 4 is to buy second hand items 00:02:12.339 --> 00:02:14.509 instead of new as much as you can. 00:02:14.509 --> 00:02:17.042 Used items typically cost less money 00:02:17.042 --> 00:02:18.749 than buying something bran new. 00:02:18.749 --> 00:02:20.983 Hat and vintage homemade dress 00:02:20.983 --> 00:02:23.567 are some of my favorite secondhand items 00:02:23.567 --> 00:02:24.436 that I have found. 00:02:24.436 --> 00:02:26.434 If you are like me where you provide a meal 00:02:26.434 --> 00:02:28.535 at events for large groups of people often, 00:02:28.535 --> 00:02:30.737 look for used silverware at thrift stores 00:02:30.737 --> 00:02:31.557 instead of buying 00:02:31.557 --> 00:02:33.545 single use plastic utensils. 00:02:33.545 --> 00:02:35.294 It would have cost about 50 dollars 00:02:35.294 --> 00:02:37.356 to buy this set of forks bran new 00:02:37.356 --> 00:02:38.836 at a department store. 00:02:38.836 --> 00:02:42.103 Instead, I was able to find this set 00:02:42.103 --> 00:02:43.770 at a thrift store for only 00:02:43.770 --> 00:02:45.852 6 dollars and 50 cents. 00:02:45.852 --> 00:02:48.947 Also, I borrow this set to family members 00:02:48.947 --> 00:02:51.372 or friends who are also hosting events 00:02:51.372 --> 00:02:53.840 that do not want to use the single use utensil. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:55.127 When you buy used, you are 00:02:55.127 --> 00:02:56.747 supporting the second hand market, 00:02:56.747 --> 00:02:58.533 taking items out of the waste stream, 00:02:58.533 --> 00:02:59.919 and giving new life to items. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:01.398 Each time an item is purchased, 00:03:01.398 --> 00:03:02.855 you are voting with your money 00:03:02.855 --> 00:03:04.292 and supporting that business. 00:03:04.292 --> 00:03:05.660 So make sure to support 00:03:05.660 --> 00:03:07.529 businesses that align with your values. 00:03:07.529 --> 00:03:11.286 Tip number 5 is to embrace experiences over material things. 00:03:11.286 --> 00:03:14.332 In general, when you switch to a mindset that reduces 00:03:14.332 --> 00:03:16.145 the material possessions in your life, 00:03:16.145 --> 00:03:18.178 you have less of a desire to buy things. 00:03:18.178 --> 00:03:20.044 When you buy less, you are putting less 00:03:20.044 --> 00:03:23.115 demand on the earth to supply resources to create these items. 00:03:23.115 --> 00:03:25.081 Find value in immersing yourself 00:03:25.081 --> 00:03:27.742 in experiences and especially in nature. 00:03:27.742 --> 00:03:29.377 Connect with family and friends, 00:03:29.377 --> 00:03:32.491 sit out in the sun, go for a swim in the nearby river, 00:03:32.491 --> 00:03:34.235 forage for wild edible foods. 00:03:34.235 --> 00:03:36.337 There are so many experiences you can 00:03:36.337 --> 00:03:38.931 indulge in that do not cost any money. 00:03:38.931 --> 00:03:42.128 Tip number 6 is to grow and forage your own food. 00:03:42.128 --> 00:03:44.810 Food can be a huge expense on a household. 00:03:44.810 --> 00:03:46.442 Seeds cost hardly any money, 00:03:46.442 --> 00:03:49.322 compared to the amount of food you get from just one seed. 00:03:49.322 --> 00:03:51.651 There is also an abundance of wild food 00:03:51.651 --> 00:03:53.066 growing all around us. 00:03:53.066 --> 00:03:55.235 I can pick enough edible leaves from my yard 00:03:55.235 --> 00:03:57.968 to make a salad every day, from spring to fall. 00:03:57.968 --> 00:04:00.115 This food is not packaged, processed, 00:04:00.115 --> 00:04:02.019 or sprayed with chemicals, and supports 00:04:02.019 --> 00:04:03.264 eating a whole food diet. 00:04:03.264 --> 00:04:05.173 Gardens can be made right on the ground 00:04:05.173 --> 00:04:06.977 or with repurposed materials, 00:04:06.977 --> 00:04:08.414 making them very inexpensive. 00:04:08.414 --> 00:04:10.348 You can also join a community garden 00:04:10.348 --> 00:04:11.331 in your area. 00:04:11.331 --> 00:04:13.566 Tip number 7 is to start composting. 00:04:13.566 --> 00:04:14.931 This dramatically reduces 00:04:14.931 --> 00:04:16.074 the amount of material 00:04:16.074 --> 00:04:17.863 that you would send to a landfill. 00:04:17.863 --> 00:04:19.867 These materials break down and create rich 00:04:19.867 --> 00:04:21.862 compost that can be added as nourishment 00:04:21.862 --> 00:04:23.909 in a garden and help you grow your own food. 00:04:23.909 --> 00:04:26.111 It can be as simple as a pile in your yard 00:04:26.111 --> 00:04:27.408 or a bin in your home. 00:04:27.408 --> 00:04:28.992 I have red wigglers in my home 00:04:28.992 --> 00:04:30.315 that I feed food scraps to. 00:04:30.315 --> 00:04:31.667 I have a bucket on my counter 00:04:31.681 --> 00:04:33.700 to collect all the compostable materials. 00:04:33.700 --> 00:04:36.704 like food scraps, peelings, hair, floor sweepings. 00:04:36.704 --> 00:04:38.394 Many cities have community 00:04:38.394 --> 00:04:39.842 drop off sites as well. 00:04:39.842 --> 00:04:42.459 Tip number 8 is to repair items 00:04:42.459 --> 00:04:44.461 instead of buying a new one. 00:04:44.461 --> 00:04:45.735 Repairing extends the life 00:04:45.735 --> 00:04:46.740 of an item that could 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:48.242 have otherwise been thrown away 00:04:48.242 --> 00:04:49.821 or recycled into something new. 00:04:49.821 --> 00:04:52.149 It also takes less resources from the earth 00:04:52.149 --> 00:04:53.892 because you are not putting demand 00:04:53.892 --> 00:04:55.852 on bran new items to be made. 00:04:55.852 --> 00:04:58.489 Tip number 9 is to make your own items 00:04:58.489 --> 00:04:59.668 instead of buy them. 00:04:59.668 --> 00:05:01.733 When we make our own, we can repurpose 00:05:01.733 --> 00:05:03.912 items in our home that need new life 00:05:03.912 --> 00:05:06.299 like turning a ripped sheet into 00:05:06.299 --> 00:05:07.782 a reusable bag, for example. 00:05:07.782 --> 00:05:10.269 Use what you have already to create what you need 00:05:10.269 --> 00:05:12.778 and then your waste and your expenses are reduced. 00:05:12.778 --> 00:05:15.119 Tip number 10 is to reduce food waste. 00:05:15.119 --> 00:05:16.498 Food can cost a lot of money, 00:05:16.498 --> 00:05:17.890 when it is spoils, it is like 00:05:17.890 --> 00:05:19.126 throwing your money away. 00:05:19.126 --> 00:05:20.963 One way I reduce food waste in my home 00:05:20.963 --> 00:05:22.965 is by meal planning where I come up with 00:05:22.965 --> 00:05:24.546 meals for the week and write down 00:05:24.546 --> 00:05:25.645 the ingredients I need. 00:05:25.645 --> 00:05:27.596 I check my fridge, freezer, and cupboards 00:05:27.596 --> 00:05:29.264 for the ingredients and make a list 00:05:29.264 --> 00:05:30.478 of the ones I still need. 00:05:30.478 --> 00:05:32.657 That way, I'm not buying what I already have. 00:05:32.657 --> 00:05:34.396 I also plan a leftovers day. 00:05:34.396 --> 00:05:36.676 On that day I move all the food that is 00:05:36.676 --> 00:05:39.148 about to spoil to the front of the fridge 00:05:39.148 --> 00:05:41.252 just like a store would do with their shelf 00:05:41.252 --> 00:05:43.209 so that that food gets used first. 00:05:43.209 --> 00:05:44.825 I also do the pantry challenge 00:05:44.825 --> 00:05:47.214 when I have a lot of food left over for the week. 00:05:47.214 --> 00:05:48.978 This is where I use only what I have 00:05:48.978 --> 00:05:50.481 in my home to make meals. 00:05:50.481 --> 00:05:52.630 Sometimes I have to get pretty creative. 00:05:52.630 --> 00:05:54.624 I do not buy a certain food group until 00:05:54.624 --> 00:05:55.595 I am out of it. 00:05:55.595 --> 00:05:57.748 I so hope you enjoyed my 10 tips 00:05:57.748 --> 00:05:59.535 to live zero waste on a budget. 00:05:59.535 --> 00:06:02.176 Please share your tips in the comments below.