Zero
Waste

If everyone on Earth lived the American Dream it would take 4.9 earths to support that lifestyle. We can do better. Education plays a key role in living sustainably as an inter-faith community. We offer fun, engaging, fulfilling programs to share ideas on ways to reduce, repurpose, and renew existing materials while directly addressing needs of our community. We reject greed and over-consumption and look to our Creator and Creation for solutions that are good for all creatures.

BEE KIND: Stealing from honeybees (their wax) is not kind or good for the bees who must start all over again when we steal. While there are additional reasons behind the collapse of America's honeybee population, destroying their homes does not help with the highest death rates on record registered in 2020-2021. Making cute bowl covers with beeswax is not a sustainable replacement for plastic. Try idea 30 instead.

36 Ways to Reduce Waste

Find thirty-six ways to reduce waste at home including ways to help decrease pet waste, and create healthy habits for yourself and the planet. Included are links to local places that can help make the journey to a zero/low-waste lifestyle easier.

While there are many more ways to reduce our footprint at home, this list makes a solid start. To participate in our Sustain Memphis non-profit community events please connect with us.

1. Shop Smart: Use cloth bags

Make the switch to cloth bags and for the searing summer heat, invest in a couple of insulated grocery bags to keep food cold on the way home. Both types of bags are readily available online

2. Shop Locally

Memphis is home to some amazing farmer's markets! Bring your cloth bags and support the local economy. For a full list check out our Blog.

3. Update Your Grooming Game

Plastic is so 20th Century. There are a multitude of sustainable choices for everything we need to do to look good and feel good.

4. Say 'No' To Plastic Serve Ware

It can be tempting. Friends are coming over for and clean-up is a hassle. While taking the time to party with regular silverware and dinnerware, is the best choice, compostable serve ware is available as a compromise.

5. End the Bottle Habit

Water bottles and soda in plastic are bad for the planet from start to finish. Creating food grade plastic is harmful and tossing it on the roadside is worse. There are many options for reusable water bottles and it is easy to make soda at home these days.

6. Crush the Coffee Pods

It's easy to believe that coffee pods are recyclable, when actually many are not. Look for reusable pods, or just make coffee the traditional way. The taste is great and it's good for the planet

7. Draw the Steel Straw

Make the switch to cloth bags and for the searing summer heat, invest in a couple of insulated grocery bags to keep food cold on the way home. Both types of bags are readily available online

8. Tea for Two

Memphis is home to some amazing farmer's markets! Bring your cloth bags and support the local economy. For a full list check out our Blog.

9. Compostable Pet Pellets

Hard clay, mixed with pet waste forms hard balls that take years to break down. Choosing wood pellets, or if safely possible, pets can go outside to do their business.

10. Get Thrifty

Thrift stores offer a great way to save money while reusing old goods. Can't find the perfect fashion or fit? Try our classes to learn how to repurpose your finds.

11. Community Cooking

Yummy food, prepared fresh from the garden. There is nothing that tastes better. Join in our Urban Gardening program for chances to grow, cook, and preserve food together.

12. Save the Jars

Re-use food jars for storage of hobby items, coins, dried foods, and more. There are a multitude of ways to re-use. What is yours? Share with us at our monthly Meet-Up

13.Plan Household Meals

Cooking once for the week saves energy and time. It also helps with portion control. If you have family members eating at different times, this is the way to go.

14. Compost Scraps

Composting is a great way to turn food scraps into nutrient dense soil amendment. Memphis doesn't have composting service but there are good choices for home

15. Bento Box Lunch

Packing your lunch for work saves money and time. Bento boxes made from straw, like the ones shown are gentle to the earth unlike plastics.

16. Get Potty Trained

Reducing use of toilet paper and paper products in general is one way to protect our forests and reduce waste in the water system. A bidet toilet seat helps with personal cleansing while reducing pressure on forests.

17. Green Clean

Sustainable cleaning products are reusable and concentrated. Many cleaning jobs are easily handled with basic water with a bit of acid like vinegar or lemon.

18. Double Duty Soap

This tried and tested favorite smells great and the products are good for the planet . It's also awesome to support a small business like Grove Collaborative*.

*We bought our products to test and do not receive any money the link above.

19. Spice It Up

Spices, especially fresh ones, can make a mundane meal sparkle. Choose compostable/biodegradable packages paired with reusable glass bottles for delectable dinner.

20. Bars in the Bath

Memphis is home to some amazing farmer's markets! Bring your cloth bags and support the local economy. For a full list check out our Blog.

21. Green Cat Snacks

Gohan (my cat) loves cat grass! Growing inside is a nice treat while reducing carbon emissions from shipping across the country or the ocean. So convenient :)

22. Use a cup

Use a menstrual cup or reusable pads and never deal with running out again. It's convenient and good for the planet.

23. Just Hang It

Washing clothes in cold water and hanging them to dry reduces your monthly energy consumption, saves money and is better for clothes.

24. A Little Lighter Reading

Easy to carry and it can store hundreds (or thousands!) of books. Amazon has a recycle program for electronics and you may even get a gift card.

25. Save on Utilities

Here in the South, honeycomb blinds make sense to ease the heat but it is also true in the North where the trapped warm air acts as insulation.

26. Window Greens

Mugs, cups, bowls, anything that is chipped or cracked can be repurposed into a window sill feast. Use planting pots inside, add small stones for drainage. Yummy!

27. Switch Out Old Bulbs

Each replaced bulb will save about $1 per year on your bill which isn't much but they save time thanks to lasting up to 11x longer than old incandescent.

28. Make The Essentials

They smell good, feel good and are fun to make. Homemade soap and other essentials are simple to create and you can customize the fragrance or skip it.

29. Choose Your Next Ride Carefully

Shown here are the excess e-cars produced in China, now rotting in lots. While e-cars, especially charged with solar, sound great, research the numbers carefully.

30. BEE KIND Bowl covers

Plain fabric covers with elastic instead of beeswax are a great option to plastic wrap or foil for covering bowls. Use a drop of concentrated dish soap to spot clean.

31. Cloth Diapers

Since babies were first swaddled, some form of cover has been used. Modern cloth diapers fit well and a great substitute for busy parents.

32. Use the Dishwasher

Did you know your dishwasher can use less water than handwashing? It's true. As kids we used to bicker over whose turn it was at our house. Not anymore :)

33. Recharge your lawn

Mowing the lawn with a rechargeable mower means never running out of gas again. Leaving the clippings and cutting less often is good for the lawn and the planet.

34. Flip the Switch

Electronics use a lot of energy, even when it seems they are turned off. Turn off power strips completely to reduce usage and prevent annoying 'self-on' moments.

35. Rags to riches

Use cloths instead of paper towels or wipes. Making old t-shirts, towels or other clothes into rags is a great habit.

36. Clear the clutter

Many electronic stores now accept cords and wires for recycling. Cords can be so messy! Clear the clutter and reduce contaminants in landfills.

Walk Gently Upon the Earth, Live Humbly Among Creation

Zero
Waste

36 Ways to Reduce Waste

Connect with Ana-Genesis

Walk Gently Upon the Earth, Live Humbly Among Creation

Zero Waste

36 Ways to Reduce Waste

Zero
Waste