Ultimate List of Zero Waste Staps

Air fresheners are packaged in plastic and contain toxic artificial fragrances.

• Make a room spray using essential oils and water. Be sure to carefully dilute the essential oils; you just need a few drops. Store in a spray bottle. You can repurpose a used one.
• Use essential oils in a diffuser with a glass basin, such as the Pilgrim Sofia Nebulizer Diffuser.

• Mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Optionally, use citrus peels to scent it. Recipe

• Use a silicone mat.
• Lightly coat the baking pan with oil.
• If needed for covering a dish while baking, you can try layering a baking tray on top.
• Use aluminum foil, then wash it, dry it, and reuse it several more times.

• Cover dish with a plate turned upside down.
• Keep leftovers in the cooking pot, in the fridge.
• Cover dish with unbleached parchment paper (compostable).
• Cover with reusable and compostable wax wraps. Find them on Etsy
• Use a container with a reusable lid. There are glass dishes with plastic lids, stainless steel tiffins, and retro 1950s glass dishes with glass lids.
• Put it in a mason jar or repurposed jar that used to hold marinara, pickles, etc.
• Use a silicone bag. Stasher bags
• Wrap a burrito in a tea towel. We can't do this in my house because everything is covered in cat hair.
• If aluminum foil is needed, you can clean it, dry it, and reuse it again later. You can also keep balling it up until it becomes at least 2 inches wide and then toss it into your recycling bin.

• Choose a wood scrubber with brass wires. Redecker BBQ Brush

• Choose metal or wooden tongs. Redecker BBQ Tongs

Often made of plastic which contain toxic chemicals that are particularly harmful for babies. Plastic also retains odors and germs get trapped in the scratches.

• Mason Jar Baby Bottle DIY Kit

• Biodegradable bandaids. Patch Bandaids

• Use bulk epsom salt sold in bulk or buy it in the largest bag you can afford/store.

• At their end-of-life, recycle them. These don't belong in the curbside recycle bin. Find a battery recycling program. Counties / cities offer this at a recycling center.
• Opt for rechargeable batteries for common sizes.

Often sold canned or in glass.

• Consider buying dried beans and investing in a pressure cooker, which will allow you to speed up your cooking time significantly. Instapot is a popular type of pressure cooker these days. Small beans such as lentils cook more quickly.
• Aluminum cans have a high recyclability rate (unlike plastic), but note they're usually lined with plastic to prolong shelf-life and prevent rusting. Some cans are marked BPA-free, but there are several other chemicals in plastic that are a health concern. Another note is that mining for aluminum is environmentally destructive.
• Something to consider about glass is has the potential to break, which renders it non-recyclable. But glass jars are great for reuse as you go bulk shopping.

Often made with plastic.

• Cardboard + Metal Binder - At end-of-life, the metal pieces are detachable and are recyclable as scrap metal and the paper can go in the paper recycling.

• Paper Binder Dividers

• Make a bleach alternative using a lemon, hydrogen peroxide, castile soap, and hot water. Recipe

• Opt for a lotion bar. Bestowed Essentials Solid Lotion Bar
• Use coconut oil, olive oil, or sunflower seed oil.

• Use bar soap, ideally unpackaged or wrapped in paper. I avoid purchasing soap with fragrance, for health reasons. Sappo Hill bar soaps are widely sold unpackaged and are on the cheaper end even though they're high quality and made with essential oils.

• When you're done with a book, consider donating it to your local library or putting it in a Little Free Library for others to enjoy.
• If you have an e-reader, take advantage of the low carbon footprint of buying (or borrowing through your library) e-books.
• Support your local library. Yes, checking out books supports your library because it enables the library to prove their usefulness to the community.

• In most parts of the US, tap water is safe to drink. Detroit, MI is a notable exception; it's horrible what is going on there and it's completely understandable for folks there to use bottled water. If the tap water is safe for consumption in your area, please do take advantage of it and bring a reusable bottle when you leave your home.

• Purchase bread at a local bakery using a cloth bag.
• Some grocery stores also sell local bread unpackaged.

• Consider sending e-cards via Paperless Post (several free options).

• Try non-clay litters such as corn and wheat based ones.
• Get unconventional and try sawdust, mulch, and dirt which you can buy package free from your local landscaping store.
• Using a compostable litter enables you to compost the poop and pee. Many local composting facilities don't allow animal poop, but some do; check the rules in your area. If you have a backyard, you can compost it at home. Make a special compost pile for this use only (don't mix it in with a compost pile you use for your edibles).
• Some non-clay litters are marketed as flushable, but do not flush it down your toilet. Some cats have a parasite called toxoplasmosis which is found in cat feces and has infected marine mammals and otters
• Look for bulk cat litter. I've seen this at Petco before, but it's not at all of them. I've seen them refill it using plastic tubs, so note this isn't a perfect zero waste solution.
• Opt for litter in paper bags and paper boxes. Sometimes this is lined with plastic, or re-enforced with plastic strips (since litter is so heavy), and therefore may not be allowable in paper recycling. But it is less plastic, which is good.

• Crumple used aluminum foil into a ball.
• Set out an empty cardboard box. When they're bored with it, cut it up into 3D shapes.
• Seek out natural, non-animal based products that will decompose. Hemp or organic cotton cloth sacks filled with dried catnip are a hit.

• Bulk cat treats
• Try giving cat kibbles as treats
• Nutritional yeast, seaweed
• Make your own; there are recipes online.

• Wooden cleaning brushes with plant fibers. At end-of-life, they can be composted.

• Above all else, reduce your consumption and avoid fast fashion.
• Shop at thrift stores, consignment stores, and used clothing apps like Depop, ThredUp, and Poshmark.
• If you do buy something new, look for manufactures that offer warranties.
• As your budget allows, try to opt for quality over quantity.
• Check out Good on You for brand ratings based on three factors: planet, people, and animals.
• Opt for natural fibers like cotton, hemp, and tencel over synthetic materials (polyester, nylon, spandex, etc.) which shed plastic fibers into the environment, especially when washing.
• Donate clothes to thrift stores. If it's too worn out for resale, put it in a fabric recycling bin. These can be found at some recycling centers.

The to-go cups provided at most cafes are of mixed material and are therefore not recyclable. The cups are made of paper lined with plastic to make it water resistant. This plastic lining is harmful for our health, especially as hot liquids come into contact with it. The lids are a soft plastic that is not commonly recyclable. Sadly, all these coffee cups belong in the landfill.

• For to-go: Use a reusable travel mug. Opt for plastic-free ones; hot liquids can leach plastic chemicals into your beverage.
• For dine in: Request a ceramic mug.

• - Use raw wood colored pencils not coated in paint.

• Opt for a wooden comb
• ‍Baby Comb‍
• Pocket Comb‍
• Wooden Comb / Pick‍
• Wooden Comb with Handle

• Wisdom Supply Co. Composition Book made of recycled paper

• Conditioner bars, such as Wildcrafted Conditioner Bar and Bottle None Conditioner Bars

• Liquid conditioner in a refillable metal bottle. Plaine Products

• Bausch + Lomb Recycling Program
• Eyeglasses
• Hard contact lenses
• Laser surgery

• Use washable cleansing rounds. I like these hemp ones from Handcrafted Goodies on Etsy.
• Make your own cloth wipes by cutting up an old t-shirt. You can cut them into squares to most efficiently use all the fabric (circles leave bits of unused fabric). Use pinking shears (the scissors that cut in a zig zag) to minimize fraying.

• Use a washcloth or rag (cut t-shirts are great for this since they're so thin) while you're in the shower.
• The Last Swab, a reusable ear swab
• There are reusable stainless steel picks, but I don't recommend them since you can seriously injure your inner ear.

• Use silicone liners.
• Lightly coat the muffin pan with oil.

• Use leaves or branches that have fallen in your yard or local park as table or wall decor.
• Dry out fresh flowers as decor. I've had success with eucalyptus and billy balls. Soaking them in a mixture of water and vegetable glycerine helps them retain their color as they dry out.
• Find decor at thrift stores, Craigslist, and Bunz.

• Make your own using coconut oil, baking soda (or cornstarch or arrowroot powder for sensitive skin), and essential oil (optional). Recipe
• Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Stick - packaged in a compostable paper tube‍
• Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Stick (baking soda-free) - packaged in a compostable paper tube

Disposable diapers are commonly used, and they take 500 years to break down. They don't really decompose since they're made of plastic, which breaks down into tiny particles and can end up in waterways. In landfills, they don't break down easily because they aren't exposed to sunlight and oxygen.

• Try cloth diapers (check out Naturally Tess's advice on YouTube). They require an upfront investment, but are much cheaper in the long run. The tiny newborn sized ones are used for a short period of time, so you may want to shop for used ones on Craigslist.

• Some cities have free dirt pickup, as part of their composting program. Take advantage of this nutrient-rich soil that supports a circular system.
• Try backyard composting, such as a turnable one with a handle or a worm composter. If composting pet feces, have an entirely separate compost pile for your edible garden scraps.

Often sold in plastic bottles.

• Look for bulk dish liquid in your area. Bulk Biokleen Dish Liquid at Fillgood
• Use castile soap diluted with water. 1 cup of water + 2 tablespoons of castile soap + 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda + essential oils (optional for fragrance)

• Cloth or rag made of natural fibers
• Bamboo pot scraper‍
• Wooden Redecker dish brush‍
• Wood + metal + plant fiber Redecker dish brush with long handle
• Wood + plant fiber Redecker pot brush (tougher, for pot scrubbing)
• Wood + plant fiber pot brush (softer, for general dish washing)
• Copper pot scrubber
• Straw brush made of metal and sisal fibers
• Wooden + plant fiber bottle brush
• Natural loofah sponge

• Make your own using 4 parts baking soda to 1 part salt
• Buy it in bulk. LAMissApple Automatic Dishwasher Detergent from Fillgood

Disposable cutlery is often made of plastic and is not recyclable in most municipalities. Cutlery marked as "compostable" must be processed at an industrial compost facility. And even then, it may not be accepted. Some compost facilities only accept BPI certified compostables since they keep the compost up to a certain standard. Also, the sorting line moves very quickly and sometimes compostable foodware gets pulled from the compost if it looks plastic-y (as many compostable utensils do). If compostable / bioplastic foodware gets into the plastic recycling stream, it risks contaminating entire batches of plastic from resale. Buyers demand recycling to be under a given contamination rate. See China's National Sword.

• Keep a set of utensils in your bag. This can be as simple as wrapping a fork/knife/spoon with a cloth and using rubber bands (I have a stash of these I save from bunches of leafy greens) to secure the bundle. You can include chopsticks too, if you frequently use those. Alternatively, this bamboo fork/ spoon is small and lightweight enough to fit in a pocket. Or you can buy a set of bamboo utensils that come in a pouch.

• Metal safety razor with refillable and recyclable blades. Albatross Butterfly Razor

• Cut fresh parsley and sprinkle it onto their food.

• Use one made of compostable/metal materials Dog Brush with Metal Pins or Wooden Pins.

• Raw veggies such as broccoli, carrots, green beans, kale, and zucchini.
• Cooked (and cooled) sweet potatoes, canned pumpkin.
• Bulk dog treats.
• Make your own; there are recipes online.

Often made of plastic.

• Brick
• Rock
• Redecker wooden door stop

• Declog your drain using baking soda, vinegar, and hot water. Recipe

• Make your own using bentonite clay, cornstarch/arrowroot powder, and cocoa powder (for dark hair). Recipe

• Use plastic-free wax crayons. Stabilo Dry Erase Crayons

• Hanging clothes to dry prolongs the life of your clothes while also reducing energy consumption. I air dry most of my clothes and put bulkier things like towels and sheets in the dryer since I don't have space to hang everything.

• These aren't really needed, and they accelerate the wearing down of clothing.
• Use bamboo dryer balls, such as Buddah Bunz.

• There's no need to replace a plastic dust pan, but if you're shopping for one then opt for a metal dust pan

• Natural rubber eraser

• Donate them to a local creative reuse center in your area. In the bay area, we have Scrap in San Francisco and Creative Reuse in Oakland. They both accept used art / office supplies.
• Donate them to a school in your area.

• Natural loofah sponge
• Compostable Dry Body Brush
• Massage used coffee grounds onto your skin then rinse off
• Make an exfoliator using jojoba beads. Recipe

• I haven't really needed it, and I've read it can accelerate the wearing down of clothing.
• Some people make their own using 3 tablespoons of citric acid to 3 cups of water, which is then added 3 tablespoons (per load) to the fabric softener compartment. Or some people simply add between 1/4 to 1 cup of white distilled vinegar during the rinsing cycle.

• I actually just use water and a washcloth to wash away my minimal, water-based makeup. Then, I put homemade toner on a hemp round and that scrubs the remaining makeup residue off my face.
• Use jojoba oil. Google "Oil cleansing method" for other oil ideas.
• Meow Meow Tweet Cleansing Oil - packaged in a glass container with a plastic pump in a paper box
• Juniper Seed Mercantile Facial Moisturizer and Eye Makeup Remover

• Make your own Turmeric Apple Cider Vinegar Mask (recipe forthcoming)
• Bestowed Essentials - Face Mask for Dull Skin
• Bestowed Essentials - Face Mask for Sensitive Skin

• Make your own using tea tree oil, witch hazel extract, lemon oil, and rosewater concentrate. Recipe
• Buy it in a glass container. Bestowed Essentials Face Toner

There are machines made of plastic that are for facial steaming, but a bowl of hot water and a towel works!

• Heat water in a kettle and pour into a glass bowl. Optionally, add a couple drops of essential oils like lavender for a calming effect. Lean over the bowl with a towel over your head. Let the steam relax you and open up your pores.

• Baby's Bamboo Feeding Spoons

• Terra & Co Biodegradable & Vegan Dental Floss
• Georganics Charcoal Dental Floss (vegan and made of polyester/plastic yarn)
• Eco-Dent GentleFloss (vegan and contains minimal plastic)

• Use glass jars with a screwable lid, such as Mason jars.
• Repurpose jars, such as ones used for marinara, pickles, olives, etc.
• Stainless steel tiffins

Often made of plastic.

• Use a glass jar. If it's liquid, be sure to not fill it up to the top; leave an inch or two of space at the top since liquid expands as it freezes. Not leaving enough space will make the jar crack.
• Use a silicone bag. Stasher bags

Consumables

• Jar of jam
• Loaf of locally made bread
• Your favorite bulk food in a jar
• Beer, wine, hard liquor

Enjoyables

• Potted plant
• Locally grown flowers wrapped in newspaper and tied with compostable twine

Gift wrapping Ideas

• Japanese furoshiki gift wrapping
• Mason jar with a square piece of cloth secured on top and a piece of twine tied in a bow.

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• Forego grass and plant low-maintenance, low-water plants that naturally thrive in your area. Depending on the rules where you live, in many places you can turn your front yard into an edible garden. It's a more efficient use of space and water.

Usually made out of plastic.

• Bamboo Hairbrush made of bamboo and natural rubber

• Make your own using flaxseeds and water. Recipe

• Redecker Lint Brush
• Rub fabric with a damp cloth. The hair will lift off and start to clump.
• Rub fabric with rubber gloves.
• Use a reusable roller like the Chom Chom (made nearly entirely of plastic, but it works great)

• Try making your own with oils such as jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, aragan oil, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil.

Usually made out of plastic.

• Choose plastic-free hair ties, such as these rubber + organic cotton Kooshoo hair ties

• Make your own with sugar and water. Recipe

• Make your own using 99 percent rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and aloe vera. Recipe

• Castile soap diluted with tap water (1 part castile soap to 10 parts tap water)
• I use a glass/metal foaming dispenser to extend it and make it easier to suds up. Liquid Soap Foamer from Fillgood

• Use a compostable heating pad made of cloth stuffed with rice, beans, and herbs. Large Herbal Heating / Cooling Pad
• Make your own microwaveable heating pad using rice and a scrap piece of cotton/hemp fabric or an old sock. Tutorial
• Find a used electric heating pad on eBay or Craigslist.

• Use plastic-free raw wood highlighters (chunky)
• Wax-peel highlighters (slender)
• Multi-colored, uncoated highlighters

Prepared foods are packaged in a lot of plastic. For events, try to prepare foods with minimal packaging. Even better, prepare finger foods that don't require utensils.

• Cut veggies and serve with homemade hummus
• Dates stuffed with peanut butter and topped with chocolate chips
• Cookies
• Stuffed baked and halved baby potatoes
• Olives
• Nuts
• Fresh fruit
• Toasted sliced baguette with bruschetta
• Popcorn
• Buy locally made bread, slice it, and serve it with various spreads (local jam, nut butters, olive tapenade, roasted red pepper spread, etc.).

• Opt for electronic bills and statements.
• When you receive unwanted mail, look up the company's privacy policy and find a contact email. Tell them you want to opt out of receiving physical mail.
• Opt out on DMAchoice.org.
• Use CatalogChoice.org which will submit a catalog opt-out request on your behalf.
• Use OptoutPreScreen.com if you don't want to receive credit card and insurance offers.
• Use YellowPagesOptout.com to opt out of receiving the Yellow Pages phone books.

• Use a reusable filter
• Use a french press to make coffee.

• See if there are any bulk cat/dog food options in your area.
• Make your own.
• Reuse the plastic food bags. Give them a second life by using them as trashcan liners, compost storage, etc.

• Bamboo Baby Bowl

• Shop for used baby and kids clothes online at Kidizen or at your local thrift store.

• If your yard can be easily managed with a push mower, they are very eco-friendly since they don't require gas or electric to operate.
• Try to minimize grassy areas, instead prioritizing low maintenance landscaping.

• Gas-powered blowers create terrible air quality and run on fossil fuels. Opt for an electric one if you really need it; otherwise, use a rake.

• Make it using wax and oils. Recipe
• Organic lip balm in a biodegradable tube
• Tinted lip balm

• Sprinkle baking soda into the litter.

• Washcloth
• Natural loofah sponge

• Consider switching to a digital subscription.
• When you're done with it, consider leave it in a waiting room for others to enjoy.
• Place it in the paper recycling.

• Look for options in minimal packaging. Elate Cosmetics sells makeup in little or no plastic. Pressed powders are sold in stainless steel tins and packaged in seed paper. Foundation and creamy solutions are sold in glass jars with bamboo/plastic lined tops.

• Use washable cleansing rounds. I like these hemp ones from Handcrafted Goodies on Etsy.
• Make your own cloth wipes by cutting up an old t-shirt. You can cut them into squares to most efficiently use all the fabric (circles leave bits of unused fabric). Use pinking shears (the scissors that cut in a zig zag) to minimize fraying.

• Use plastic-free wax markers. Stabilo Wax Markers

• At its end-of-life, find a mattress recycling program in your area. Some cities have invested in these public programs for no or low cost.

• Don't stockpile medicine. Buying large sizes or taking advantage of a buy-two-get-one-free deal is tempting, but oftentimes the medication expires before it's used.
• If given the option, choose medicine in a container (it's often plastic) instead of a blister pack. The container is more likely to be recycled; the blister pack in not recyclable.
• If given the option, choose a metal tube instead of a plastic tube.
• Research natural remedies for your ailments. I'm not well-versed in the science of natural medicine, but there are some effective treatments, especially for minor conditions. I opt for more gentler treatments whenever I can. That said, there is definitely a time and place for modern medicine, pharmaceuticals, and so on so please consult your doctor above all else.

• Silicon cups
• Period underwear: Thinx | Aisle
• Reusable pads: Aisle
• Reusable pantyliners: Aisle or GladRags
• Underwear for bladder leaks: Speax
• Organic, toxin-free, applicator-free tampons: Cora‍
• You can sew your own out of organic cotton flannel. Tutorial

• Make it using aloe vera, distilled water, xylitol, and baking soda. Recipe

• Opt for a compostable brush. Wood + Plant Fiber Nail Brush

• Nail clippers are typically all metal and last a long time!
• Use a stainless steel file instead of those pressboard ones that fall apart.
• Compost the nail clippings

• Find one made of 100% recycled paper, ideally with a high percentage of post-consumer waste.
• Use scrap paper from junk mail, misprints from your office printer, etc.

• When you're done baking, open your oven door to warm up the house. This is great in the wintertime!