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7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
1/26
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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scribnerA Dvo o Smo & Shut, I.1230 Avu o th AmaNw Yok, NY 10020
Copyght 2013 y Ba Joho
All ght vd, ludg th ght to podu th ook o pototho ay om whatov. Fo omato, add S SudayRght Dpatmt, 1230 Avu o th Ama, Nw Yok, NY 10020.
Ft S tad papak dto Apl 2013
scribner ad dg a gtd tadmak o Th Gal Goup, I.,ud ud l y Smo & Shut, I., th pulh o th wok.
Fo omato aout pal dout o ulk puha,pla otat Smo & Shut Spal Sal at1-866-506-1949 o u@moadhut.om.
Th Smo & Shut Spak Buau a g autho to you lv vt.Fo mo omato o to ook a vt, otat th Smo & Shut SpakBuau at 1-866-248-3049 o vt ou wt at www.mopak.om.
Mauatud th Utd Stat o Ama
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-1-4516-9768-1ISBN 978-1-4516-9770-4 (ook)
Th ook wa ptd ugyld pap ad vomtallydly k.
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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conens
Itoduto 1
Th 5 R ad th Bt o th Zo Wat Ltyl 13
Kth ad Goy Shoppg 37
Bathoom, Tolt, ad Wll 79
Bdoom ad Wado 113
Houkpg ad Mata 135
Wokpa ad Juk Mal 161
Kd ad Shool 181
Holday ad Gt 209
Out ad Aout 235Gttg Ivolvd 251
Th Futu o Zo Wat 261
Akowldgmt 267
Rou 268
Idx 277
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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the 5 Rs and he Benefis
of he Zero Wase Lifesyle
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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ZERO WASTE HOME14
Its easy or you to be sitting there at home, in ront o your
television, consuming whatever you want, tossing every
thing in the trash, and leaving it out on the street or the gar
bage truck to take it away. But where does the garbage go?
Maga, om ylg pk
at Ro d Jao Jadm Gamaho ladll
th doumtay Waste Land
W dag th tah a to th u at ght, ad y th tm w gt up th
xt mog, th al l ad dty pap towl hav dappad,
a y mag. But wh w ay w thw omthg away, what do w
ally ma? Away mght tak tah out o ou ght, ut that dot
ma t hould out o ou md. At all, ou dad dot jut vap-
oat au th gaagma whkd thm o. Ou wat d up
ou ladll, polg ou pou vomt, lahg tox ompoud
to ou a ad ol, watg th ou ud to at th dadd
good, ad otg u llo o dolla ah ya pog.
That why Zo Wat o ual. So what Zo Wat? Zo
Wat a phloophy ad o a t o pat amd at avodg a muh
wat a pol. I th mauatug wold t p adl-to-adl
dg; th hom t gag th oum to at poly. May po-
pl hav th mopto that all t volv xtv ylg, wh
o th otay, Zo Wat do ot pomot ylg. Rath, t tak
to odato th utat ad ot aoatd wth ylg
po. Rylg gadd oly a a altatv to hadlg (vu,
dally, lmatg) wat matal, ad although ludd th Zo
Wat modl, t dmd a lat ot o th ladll (a ompotg).What do Zo Wat tal o th hom vomt? Cuttg wat
a houhold qut mpl you ollow th v ay tp: u
what you do ot d; du what you do d; u what you oum;
yl what you aot u, du, o u; ad ot (ompot) th t.
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
A llutatd th gaph low, I hav oud that applyg th 5 R in
order atually ult vy lttl wat. Th t ad od R add
th pvto o wat, th thd R thoughtul oumpto, th outh
ad th R th pog o dad.
STeP 1: ReFUSe {WHAT We Do noT neeD}
Wh my amly makd o th Zo Wat jouy, t qukly am
appat that mplmtg Zo Wat th hom ally tat wth ou
havo outside th hom.
Cug oumpto a majo apt o dug wat (what w do
ot oum ultmatly wll ot d to dadd), ut oumpto
do ot ou olly though th ovou at o hoppg. I ou o-
ty, w tat oumg th momt w tp out th doo ad pk up a
dy lag ad hagg o th ko o a plat ag tud wth a laftpomotg ladapg v th ot yad. At wok, u ad
gt hadd out lt ad ght ad w lav th mtg wth a hadul. At
a o, w tak o o th goody ag. W hk th ott, ad
although w alady hav ough p at hom to lat u a ltm, w
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ZERO WASTE HOME16
thk: Cool, a p! O ou way hom, w uy a ottl o w; t gt
doul aggd wth a pt o w a ay aythg; ad th w
mov a fy tukd ud ou wdhld wp. O hom, w hk
ou malox ad d t ammd wth juk mal.
Zo Wat tak to odato oth dt ad dt om o
oumpto. Th t R (u) add th dt typ, th hadoutad maktg matal that p to ou lv. W mght al to y-
l mot o thm, ut Zo Wat ot aout ylg mo; t aout
atg o dl wat ad toppg t om omg to ou hom
th t pla.
Evy t w apt, o tak, at a dmad to mak mo. I oth
wod, ompulv aptg (vu ug) odo ad o
watul pat. Wh w lt wat ll ou gla wth wat that w
wot dkg ad a taw that w wot u, w a ayg: Wat
ot mpotat ad Pla mak mo dpoal taw. Wh w taka hampoo ottl om a hotl oom, mo ol wll ggd to mak
a plamt. Wh w pavly apt a advtg fy, a t ut
dow omwh to mak mo fy, ad ou tm uwly pt dal-
g wth ad ylg omthg that tval.
I a oum-dv oty ug oppotut aoud, ad h
a ou aa woth odg:
1. Single-use plastics (SUPs): Dpoal plat ag, ottl, up, ld,
taw, ad fatwa. Th ttoal thty-od u o a plat
podut do tox dutal po; uppot hamul hm-
al lahg to ou ol, ood ha, ad od; ad udz th
mauatug o matal that ot do ot o aot gt yld ad
wll v odgad. Th podut a th ou o oa polluto
a oud th Gat Pa Gaag Path ad a daly aoud
u, o oadd, ou t, ad pak ad ot. Th polm
moumtally ovwhlmg, ut you a hal you utato
to ato y mply ug SUP ad y vowg v to u aoth
agath dpl o vowg a xtmly tv at ahv-
g goal. SUP a aly avodd wth a lttl plag ad ug( Stp 3: Ru).
2. Freebies: Hotl oom tolt, paty avo, ood ampl, wag ag
om o/awad/vt/tval (ludg utaal vt).
I a ha you: Oh, ut thy a ! A thy? F a pmaly
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
otutd o plat ad mad haply, whh ma that thy ak
qukly (paty avo ot do ot lat ay log tha SUP). Ay ma-
uatud o plat podut om wth a havy ao ootpt ad
aoatd vomtal ot. Th aumulato th hom alo
lad to lutt, toag, ad dpoal ot. Rug qu
tog wllpow, ut at a oupl o pat u, youll qukly
ma th mpovmt you you l.
3. Junk mail: Coutl popl ta juk mal om a malox taght
to th ylg wthout a od thought. But th mpl ato ha
olltv oqu that uta th dtuto o th 100 llo
p o juk mal t ah ya. Juk mal otut to dota-
to ad u pou gy ou to aat. Fo what? E-
tally watg ou tm ad tax dolla. I hav oud that a o-tola
poly ( Juk Mal o pag 172) th t way to ght t. Uo-
tuatly, t mpol to ompltly lmat t wth th malgopto utly od y th Utd Stat Potal Sv. A you
wll ad th pag ahad, I wt to wa agat juk mal. Ad
whl Iv motly wo, wagg th attl ha th mot utatg
pat o my Zo Wat jouy. I d t md-ogglg that I a lok
wat om tg my hou ut ot my malox.
4. Unsustainable practices: Th lud gg dvdually wappd
ak to kd potg vt au t th tadto, aptg
pt o u ad that w wll v oult, uyg x-
v pakagg ad dadg t wthout ugg th mauatu to
hag. Th xampl how wh ou dvdual ato a hav
a tmdou t hagg th way thg a do, a thy o
oppotut to pak up ad gt volvd ( alo Atv Dad
o pag 256). Coum a hag watul po thy lt
mauatu ad tal kow what thy wat. Fo xampl, th
olltv at o ug pt at a d o og alta-
tv, uh a ot ptg ad/o malg thm tad.
O th 5 R that w wll ov th hapt, you mght d that u-
g th mot dult to ahv oally, pally o houhold wthhld. Noody wat to go agat th ga o ud wh om-
thg od wth o ll wll. But a lttl pat ad hot jutato
mak t ay o u to dl th poltt tat. All you hav to ay
, I am oy, ut I dot hav a tah a, I am oy, ut I hav go
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ZERO WASTE HOME18
papl, I am oy, ut I am tyg to mply my l, o I am oy,
ut w hav too muh at hom alady. Popl uually udtad o
pt a poal ho ad wll ot t. I om a, w oud that
poatvtyuh a takg ou am o malg lt o juk mal
t outwok t.
Rug ot amd at makg u l adquat oal tuato;t tdd to au u to ft o ou vyday do, th dt
oumpto whh w patak, ad th pow that w hold a a oll-
tv ommuty. Whl th dvdual at o ug do ot atually mak
th wat dappa, t at a dmad o altatv. Rug a o-
pt ad o th pow o olltvty: w all u hotl , th
thy wll o log od; w all u pt, th thy wll o
log d to ptd. Ad a a a pot, you go to may tal
to (.g., Appl) o hotl ha, you ow hav th opto to v a
mald pt vu th ptd tatmt. Gv ug a ty. Th oa-o a t.
A oupl o ya ago, I wa omatd o Th G Awad ad th
pottal ah pz o twty-v thouad dolla to pad th wod
aout Zo Wat. Th vt wa pood y G Gat, whh od
to fy m ad a gut o my ho to th awad moy Lo Ag-
l. I ho to g my o Max ad lt wth a pla to dtly u
(wthout odg my gou hot) th poal wag ag ad pot-
tal awad. Rug th om wa ay, ut th ollowg ght, wh
my am hod o th mopho, I aptd th gla glo, ldd y
lato ad potlght (o oom o dt ual h). I pod o th
p, awad had, ad o th t o th vg, Max poudly hld t
ud h am, a h alway watd a tophy. I mdd hm that w dd
ot om to w a phyal ojt ut to w th oppotut that th ah
pz would aod tad. H td o takg th tophy hom ayway.
But a oupl o moth lat, a th xtmt o wg add, o dd h
attahmt to th awad.
Ca I d t ak to G Gat to ud o xt ya pat-
pat? I akd.Go o t, ad my o.
Ad o I dd. H ha ot gttd t o momt, o hav I. Th p-
tu tak that ght, th mmo that w ha, ad th magul
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
davo that th gat ha udd a md o a t v-
g. Ad I dot hav to dut tho thg!
STeP 2: ReDUce {WHAT We Do neeD AnD cAnnoT ReFUSe}
It seems that i you have little in lie, you have little to worry about. I you
have much, it seems you have much to lose.
Rk Ray h doumtay 10 Questions or the Dalai Lama
Rdug a mmdat ad to ou vomtal . It add th
o u o ou wat polm ad tak to odato th mmt
vomtal oqu o populato gowth, aoatd oump-
to, ad th t platay ou that aot uppot th wold
d. Rdug alo ult a mpld ltyl that allow you to ouo qualty vu quatty ad xp vu tu. It ouag qu-
tog th d ad u o pat, pt, ad utu puha. Th thg
you ow, you ow au you d thm.
H a th pat w hav mplmtd to atvly du ou
hom:
1. Evaluate past consumption: A th tu u ad d o vythg
th hom ad lt go o th uay though th po o pag
dow. Challg youl to od lttg go o thg you alway
thought you had to hav. Fo xampl though th po, w oud
out that w dd ot d a alad p. Quto vythg you
hom, ad youll mak may dov.
Paring down forms better shopping habits: Th tm ad wok
vtd valuatg pvou puha lad u to thk tw
o gg aythg w to th hom. Though th po,
w la to ta ou-dpltg aumulato ad hoo
(paal) qualty ov (dpoal) quatty.
Paring down supports sharing with others: Doatg o llg p-
vou puha uppot th odhad makt ad ommuty( Stp 3: Ru). It ot olltv goty though hag
ou alady oumd ad a ud vtoy (tho
makg t a to uy ud).
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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ZERO WASTE HOME20
Paring down makes Zero Waste manageable: Smplyg mak t
ay to pla ad ogaz th logt o Zo Wat. L ma l
to woy aout, la, to, pa, o dpo o lat.
2. Curb current and future consumption in amount and in size: Rta-
g hoppg atvty (w o ud) laly ov valual -
ou. It av th ou dd to mak w thg ad mak
ud tm avalal to oth. Aa to od lud: dug
pakagg (Ca I uy ulk tad?); a uag (Ca I k mo?);
hom z (Ca I dowz?); poal t (Do I d t?); th-
ology (Ca I do wthout?); ad pap load (Do I d to pt t?).
Ca I uy a l amout (may a otatd om)? I th
amout o z ttd to my d? Quto pottal puha, o-
d th l yl, ad hoo podut you a at t u o at
lat yl ( Stp 4: Ryl, o ltg ylal podut, o
pag 24).3. Decrease activities that support or lead to consumption: Mda xpo-
u (TV, magaz) ad lu hoppg a o a gat dal o
pato; howv, th tagtd maktg that ud th om ad
th lv mhadg that pomot th latt td to am at mak-
g u l ut, uool, ad adquat. Th lg mak t ay to
uum to tmptato od to aty pvd d. Cotollg
ou xpou a hav a tmdou t o ot oly ou oump-
to ut alo ou happ. Fd atato wth what you alady
hav.
Th pat o ug a ptty ut-ad-dd matt. Smply ay
o. Rdug, otat, a muh mo dvdual aa. You d to
a you omot lvl gv th alt o you amly l, aal
tuato, ad goal ato. Fo ta, lmatg a uag ot
pol o mot popl lvg ual o mual aa, odg th
uavalalty o pul tapot. But dug ouag u to od
may gog dow to o a ad/o mply dvg l. What t t,
aov all, g awa o ut oumpto hat ad dg way
to du uutaal o.Rdug ha th mot vlatoy apt ad pott t g-
dt o my Zo Wat jouy. Amog th may t that volutay
mplty ha to o, om uo advatag hav mgd.
Wh Sott qut h jo to tat a utaal oultg pat
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THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
oPTionS FoR ReDUcinG
Whl tht to uh a Goodwll o th Salvato Amy a a
ovt way to tally lt go, may oth outlt xt ad a
ot mo appopat o ual tm. H a om xampl:
Amazo.om
Atqu hop
Auto hou
Chuh
Cogmt hop (qualty tm)
Caglt.og (lag tm,
movg ox, tm)
Cooad Tadg Co. (tdyloth)
Dgglt.om (hom
mpovmt)
D o Su (wokpla
att)
Eay.om (mall tm o valu)
Fla makt
Food ak (ood)
Fyl.og ( tm)
Fd
Gaag ad yad al
Hatat o Humaty (uld-
g matal, utu, ad/o
appla)
Homl ad wom hlt
Laudomat (magaz
ad laudy uppl)
Lay (ook, CD ad
DVD)
Loal SPCA (towl ad
ht)
Nu ad phool
(lakt, toy)Opato Chtma
Chld (w tm a
ho ox)
Optomtt (ygla)
Rgtg
Rummag al o a au
Salvag yad (uldg
matal)
Shool (at uppl,
magaz, dh to
lmat la paty
dpoal)
Tool o-op (tool)
Watg oom (magaz)
You u wth a F g
th mdt o th Gat Ro, w w alady wll gagd vol-utay mplty, ut out o aal ty, w w od to du
xp uth. W ould o log ud th amly vaato ad gt-
away that mad l xtg, povdd u mtal pt om wok, ad
od a h vw o ou oty. W oold oulv y mag
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ZERO WASTE HOME22
th vdt t o th Zo Wat ltyl. Dowzg had aodd
a tt ghohood, ad mplyg ou lv mad hom mata
ay. But at om pot, w alzd that th omd t allowd
o o uxptd ou: th oaoal tal o ou hom. Th t tm
qud a t o ppaato o lavg, uh a atg lal, wtg
a Zo Wat Hom Opatg Gud ad tallg th tah/ylga o th t. But ou ot w wll wadd: tg ou hom
ovd ou fght ad aommodato Fa to vt my amly ad
to mm ou kd th od laguag. Makg ou hou avalal
ha aodd u wkd tp ad v tavl to wam dtato
dug th holday. Now that o pk w dd ot atpat om th
ltyl!
STeP 3: ReUSe {WHAT We conSUMe AnD cAnnoT ReFUSe oR ReDUce}
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
At pov
May popl ou th tm reuse ad recycle, ut thy d gatly
tm o ovato. Rylg t dd a pog a podut
to gv t a w om. Rug, o th oth had, utlzg th podut
t ogal mauatud om val tm to maxmz t uag ad
a t uul l, tho avg th ou othw lot though
th po o ylg.
Ru ha ad a ad putato y aoato wth th hpp
ltyl ad hoadg. I ud to ou ovato wth qulg
away ou, aoatg Zo Wat wth ota luttg kth
outtop. But t do ot d to th way! Rug a mpl
ad autul.
S ug ad dug lmat th uay, adg y th
hahy o th 5 R taml ug. Fo xampl, plat goy
ag a pupod (o pakg a a altatv to ul wap o
o tapotg muddy ho). But thy a alo aly ud,a Zo Wat hom wot d to to o d u o thm. Muh th
am, dug to th pot wh tu poal d a mt otol th
amout o ual. How may ual ag do I tuly d? Though
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2THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
dug, I valuatd my uag, ad oud that I d oly th hoppg
tot.
Rug th tppg pot o Zo Wat: t add oth oump-
to ad ovato ot ad o a ultmat dvo om d-
poal. It a tvly (1) lmat watul oumpto, (2) allvat
ou dplto, ad (3) xtd th uul l o th good puhad.
1. Eliminate wasteful consumption: Rual a lmat th d o
pakagg ad watul gl-u podut though:
Shopping with reusables: Bgg th ay ual to th
to du o lmat th d o oum pakagg.
Swapping disposables for reusables: Fo vy dpoal tm aval-
al, a ual o llal altatv xt. Th patal hapt
wll ou o th uth, ut o tat, to th Ba Ru-
al Chklt o th xt pag.2. Alleviate resource depletion by:
Participating in collaborative consumption (sharing): May o th
tm w oum t uud o hou o omtm day at a tm
(law mow, a, hou, t.). Though oowg, loag, tad-
g, atg, o tg p to p, w a maxmz uag ad
v mak a pot. Exampl lud ut a ot lmtd to uh
tm a a (RlayRd.om), hom (A.om), o pa
(dkam.om), ad tool (haomuga.om).
Buying used: Tht to, gaag al, ogmt hop, atqu
makt, Caglt, Bay, ad Amazo a gat ou o uyg
ud. Shoppg hould alway tat at th t.
Buying smart: Look o podut that a ual/llal/
hagal, paal, vatl, ad dual. Lath ho, o
xampl, a dual ad a mo aly pad tha plat/
ytht o.
3. Extend the useful life of necessities through:
Repairing: A tp to th hadwa to o a mpl all to th mau-
atu wll olv th polm mot a.
Rethinking: Dkg gla a doul a phold, ad kthtowl a kottd to wap ad ay Zo Wat luh.
Returning: Dy lag w hag a tud to th to
to ud.
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ZERO WASTE HOME24
Rescuing: Shppg ox ad gl-d ptd pap a ud
aga o gttg yld. Wo-out lothg a ud a ag
o gog to th ladll.
BASic ReUSABLeS cHeckLiST
Tot
Wdmouthd ulatd up
Ja
Bottl
Cloth ag
Rag
Kth towl
Cloth apk
Hadkh
Rhagal att
STeP 4: RecYcLe {WHAT We cAnnoT ReFUSe, ReDUce, oR ReUSe}
Recycling is an aspirin, alleviating a rather large collective hangover . . .
overconsumption.
Wllam MDoough, Cradle to Cradle
Ot at pat wh popl d out that I u a Zo Wat houhold,
thy lk to ha wth m that thy too yl vythg.
O ou, y ow you kow that a Zo Wat houhold ot all
aout ylg ad that wat maagmt tat outd th hom y
ug oumpto, whh lmat muh ylg ad gatly du
aoatd o. Th o lud th at that th oad ytmo ylg ot oly qu gy to po ut alo lak gulato
to gud ad oodat th ot o mauatu, mupalt, o-
um, ad yl. Rylg utly dpd o too may vaal
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2THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
to mak t a dpdal oluto to ou wat polm. Fo xampl, t
l o:
mauatu to communicate wth yl, design podut that a
dual ut alo hghly ylal (mxd matal a otly to pa-
at ad ot hap to d to th ladll tha yl; om thg
a ylal o ty ut ot aoth), ad label th ylal-
ty ad yld ott aodgly (utly at th dto)
oum tobe aware o loal ylg pol, to recycle poly,
ut alo to purchase aodgly adbuy recycled od to at a
makt o ylal
mupalt to provide ud ylg ad ollto loato o
had-to-yl tm ad share dt duato wth haul (m-
pl gaph ad ud dak hav povd to t)
haul to work with mupalt povdg ovt ad a-ally tg v to dt (uh a pay-a-you-thow at),
vg adquat tag om MRF ( low) to answer utom
quto (haul a uually th oly otat utom hav wth
ylg v)
matal ovy alt (MRF) to sort tvly ad offer th
gatt qualty o otd matal (.., wth th lowt at o o-
tamat), to answer utom quto, ad to contract loal y-
l (wh t aoad, ylg aqu a whol w t o vaal)
yl to communicate wth mauatu, to make th podut
vl ad wdly avalal, ad to encourage upylg ad ylg
vu dowylg (.., mad to a uylal l kd o pod-
ut) makt
Wth vy puha, th t l yl o a podut hould valu-
atd, ludg ylalty. Plat a ot oly tox to podu, o-
um (o-gag ad lahg) ad yl, ut tho that do gt yld
(gally um 1 ad 2) dgad th po, a mad to o-
ylal podut (dowyld), ad a tho dtd to d up
th ladll.A addtoal polm to tak to odato th ult o th
mgg w g oomy, whh ha mauatu atg podut
mad wth myty ld o matal (uh a odgadal o om-
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ZERO WASTE HOME26
potal plat). Th podut at ouo amog otou
oum ad tho th ylg duty, ad ot d up tatg
th ylg tam. I th pupo o ylg to lo ou wat loop
poly, th th po d to mpld to uppot th goal. I
a Zo Wat wold, ylg would tadadzd ao th glo, o
v tt, podut would dgd o u ad pa o that y-lg would ot v ay o at lat would gatly dud.
W ot th yt.
Th gat w that w oum a gatly allay th o
aoatd wth ylg y applyg th 5 R od. By th tm w hav
ud what w do ot d, dud what w do d, ad ud what
w oum, lttl d to yldalo mplyg th guwok
aoud ylg (o d to d out whth a dpoal up yla-
l o ot) ad dag th tp to th had-to-yl ollto t.
Wh t aolutly ay, ylg a tt opto tha d-g a tm to th ladll. It do av gy, ov atual ou,
dvt matal om ladll, ad at a dmad o ovd mat-
al. Although t a om o dpoal, t povd a gud o makg t-
t puha, ad o th kowldg o what yl t. Wh uyg
w, w hould hoo podut that ot oly uppot u ut alo a
mad o matal that hav a hgh potoum ott, a ompatl
wth ou ommuty ylg pogam, ad a lkly to gt yld
ov ad ov (.g., tl, alumum, gla, o pap) vu dowyld
(.g., plat).
I would lov to al to wt h that w hav ahvd lo to Zo
Rylg ou hom, ut gv th puha that w mad o mak-
g o th Zo Wat ltyl ad th ut mauatug pat
pla, I hav om to tm wth th at that t ot yt al (jut a
aolut Zo Wat ot yt al). W dd gv t a ty ut oud t
too ttv (t od u to u w ottl od y d), too
tm-oumg (I had to mak pap to yl ou kd hool pap),
ad ot utaal o th log tm (o xampl, hom mata a-
ot ly olly o th u o matal). But th xpmt mad m akquto ad la a lot aout th po. Wh w ok a oupl o
dkg gla, I had to gu out how t to dpo o thm: ladll
o ylg? My ah o th Itt dd ot uamouly aw my
quto ad lad towad dg thm to th ladll, ut I watd to
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THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
kow o u. It took vtg two dt ylg t, otatg
twty-o popl, ad hppg p o ok glawa to my gla
yl (takg hm dow wa ot ay) to d out that my dkg
gla w ylal at all (ytal o a ot, au thy mlt at
a dt tmpatu tha mot gla). I am ot uggtg that you too
put you gla th (pla t hk wth you loal judto), ut
that you alz how omplatd th ytm , ad ft o th at that
o ylg to uul, dg aw hould ay. Utl th,
yl wh ay, ut look to th oth R t.
STeP 5: RoT {coMPoST THe ReST}
My whole lie has been spent waiting or an epiphany, a maniestationo Gods presence, the kind o transcendent, magical experience that lets
you see your place in the big picture. And that is what I had with my frst
compost heap.
Btt Mdl, quotd th Los Angeles Times
HoMe RecYcLinG cHeckLiST
Kow y hat what you ommuty a o aot yl at th
u. Fo xampl: adt lghtul, mo, ytal, Pyx,
am ad photo pap a ot ylal at my u.
Cod vtg you loal MRF (matal ovy alty) o ga
kowldg o plat ylalty. Dot mply tut th hag
aow. Som podut wth t a ot ylal, oth wthout a
ylal.
Alloat ovt ylg loato th kth (ud th
out t) ad hom o. A Zo Wat athoom o doom
do ot qu ay.
Fd ollto t o had-to-yl tm (ok, wo-out ho
ad loth) ad hazadou matal (att, pat, ad moto ol).Eath911.om ad t Ryl app a a gat ou.
Alloat paat ota a p dop-o loato.
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ZERO WASTE HOME28
Rottingd th po o ompotg, whh mply th ylg
o oga matal.
Compotg atu way o ylg, allowg o oga dad
to dompo ov tm ad tu th utt to th ol. At hom,
ompotg at dal odto ad pd up th po o kth
ad yad wat to ak dow; tho dvtg wat om a ladll,wh t atual dompoto would othw htd ad ot-
ut to a ad ol otamato. Ad odg that a thd o hou-
hold wat oga, ompotg mak omplt tm o wat
duto.
I d ompotg atyg. Compotg oval: you a put
vgg ap a wom , wt th wom at wok, wath thm ta-
om oga matt to utt-h matal, ad u th tagl d
podut. Th outom o what w put ou ompot a taty: h
ol, d to a lak gold y gad. O th oth had, th out-om o ou plat ylg ot. Wh w d away a mpty ottl o
otat l oluto, do t lat om a dk? A h? A toothuh?
O ladll? Dtly ladll th d. I ud to ptu ompot a ky,
mlly, my, omplatd, ad t. I hav oud that o o th
oto povd tu.
A wth ylg, I am ot a xpt o th ujta om t. So
may gato adoptd t wll o Id v had o t. But my amly
aly mad t ad tm o Zo Wat, t ha mad a al d.
Rottg a ky ompot o th ltyl, pog tho tm that
aot ud, dud, ud, o yld. Wv oud t vy uul
allvatg plat oumpto. W hoo ompotal wood mat-
al wh mtal o gla opto a ot avalal (uh a toothuh).
Ov tm wv td th dt typ o ompotg. W tatd
wth a op ao ompot; w th addd a wom ompotg ;
lat, w adoptd th ty ompot, lttg go o ou ogal op ompot.
But vyo tuato ad ompotg u dpd o dt a-
to. Ad hoog a ompotg mthod a ovwhlmg wh ad
wth th multtud o opto out th (pally o th ov). I atd
th Compot Typ Compao Tool o th ollowg pag to a youdo makg.
Th a ytm out th watg to mt you d. Choog a
ompot typ a muh a poal ho a t a utoal o. H
what to tak to odato:
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2THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
Cost: Som ytm a to t up, a thy do ot qu a tutu;
om a mad om what you hav o had (ltov g, o
xampl); whl oth tal vtg a oday ut to al th
ug o th pmay ut output.
Location: I you hav a yad, you mght wat to adopt a ompot y-
tm that wll apt yad wat. I you lv a apatmt, you ho
wll aowd maly y th patulat o you loato.
Aesthetics: Som ytm a mply ugly. Bad o th pa that you
hav avalal, you mght wat a ytm that ld wth you do,
ompat, o ot vl. Sht ad th ompotg, o xampl,
a dal mupalt that do ot allow xto ompotg tu-
tu.
Food consumption: Ul pd, mot ompotg dv apt
ut ad vgg ap, ta lav ad o goud, gg ato, ad
uhd gghll (mo ompotal tm a dd lat thook). But om a alo po mat, day, ad o, whh a
a al ou a ovga Zo Wat hom.
End product: Dpdg o wh you lv ad what you gow (hou-
plat o dl), you mght hav a u o ompot o lqud tlz,
o may ot. Choo you ytm aodgly. Not that you ytm
dlv mo d podut tha dd, you a doat t to gadg
lu o d o pot t o o Caglt.
Involvement: I tadtoal ompotg, th ot ato o ow
(ao) to g (tog) matal mpotat. But you wat to
kp th po a, om ytm mak th optoal (
Compot RatoMag o Eo th Compot Typ Compa-
o Tool tal o th ollowg pag).
Pests: Pt otol ovouly dpdt o you dt (th uy pt
gally go at th ltov o a avo dt) ad what you wll
ompotg. Mauatud ompot, o xampl, a uually g-
d to ot oly pd up th ompotg po ut alo kp t-
t out o ompot matal.
Pets: I you hav a pt, you mght wat to od puhag a pt
wat ompot o makg you ow ( th tuto o pag159). I ay a, ug th d podut o dl ot ommdd.
Capacity: You ytm hould aommodat you houhold z ad
lvl o dpoalty. Fo xampl, pap towl, tu pap, ta ag,
o lt, otto all ad oplat lald ompotal a
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ZERO WASTE HOME30
Compost types Comparison tool
Yard
Waste
Pet
WastePest
Proof
Meat
Dairy
Bones
Speed Cost Urban
Cone n y *** y *** $$$$$ n
Tumbler y,
n *** n ** $$ n
Bokashi y,
cc
y,
*** y *** $$$$ y
Digester/Closed
Holding Bin
y y,
** n ** $$$ n
Under Counter n y *** y *** $$$ y
Worm y,
wd
y,
** n ** $$$ y
Trench twelve
feet deep
y y, f
f
db
* n ** $ n
CurbsidePickup/Facility
Drop-Offs
y n ** y *** $$$ y
Sheet
Composting
y n * n * $ n
Heap/Open
Holding Bin
y y,
u
* n *** $$$ n
sc w c vb, u c k u w ( uc g 159)
* lw** mdu
*** Hgh
$ ixv
$$ md c
$$$ exv
7/29/2019 Simplify Your Life by Reducing Your Waste: ZERO WASTE HOME by Bea Johnson
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THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
End Product Aesthetics Odorless
Curing
Requires
2nd unit/
location
Comments
Compost
Ratio
Margin
of Error
No ** ** Y,o two
wk
My to mpty(o vy two ya).
Boot powd mght dd.
***
Compot * *** Y Bulky.
Had to tu.
**
Sol
amdmt/
lqud
tlz
*** *** Y Nd Bokah mx to wok
(mak o uy).
Ed podut d to
addd to ol o ompot.
***
Compot ** ** Y Smlly ad low. *
Compot *** *** No Rqu ltty. ***
Compot/
lqud
tlz
** ** No No gal, oo, o twg.
Tak d wh old.
**
I-goud
ompot
*** *** Y Covt wh ompot pl
ot allowd y mupalt.
***
Somol
ompot
*** ** No Cotly.Hgh ao ootpt.
Vt FdACompot.om
o dop-o loato.
***
Compot * * Y Saoal. *
Compot * *** Y Dpdt o tug. **
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ZERO WASTE HOME32
ompotd (ot that low tmpatu hom ompot wll ult
low dompoto). Howv, applyg th 5 R od ad th
tp ovd th ollowg hapt wll povd altatv to lm-
at th podut.
Note: Should you puha a ompotal o a ylal tm whuyg w? To tay away om plat, ytht, o oplat, avo
dualty ad ylalty mtal, gla, pap, ad atual- mat-
al t; othw, hoo a podut mad om ompotal, wal,
ad utaaly havtd ou, uh a wood.
I hav oud ottg to a vlato. Th whol po ha opd my
y ad hlpd m udtad th mpl wokg o th atual wold.
I aot gt ov th at that I a gow a h o my dk (wth om-
pot), d t talk to my wom, u th atg to gow mo h,ad u th ompot ta to oot th gowth o my houplat, whh
tu mpov ou hom a qualty y aog pollutat uh a
omaldhyd ad z. Th tmmg, alog wth th dut u
that I wp, wll alo gt ompotd ad t th vomt. Rottg
pt th kd o g lod-loop wat yl upo whh ou mau-
atug modl hould hav ad om th gg.
BeneFiTS oF THe ZeRo WASTe LiFeSTYLe
Zero Waste is the mother o environmental nobrainers.
Jy Holld, CEO o Svth Gato,
a quotd The Story o Stu
Zo Wat o vdt ad tal vomtal advatag: t
du polluto (dag hazadou old ad vapoou wat) ad
ouag ovato (dag dmad o atual ou). But
th t o Zo Wat go way yod ologal apt. I th hom,
t udaly mpov o tadad o lvg. Th uomd mght Zo Wat a tm-oumg ad xpv (a I dd). Yt th uppo-
to ould ot ath om th tuth!
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3THE 5 RS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE
Faal
Th mot quatal t o th ltyl aal. My huad, Sott,
wa ot ovd aout th Zo Wat ltyl at t, ut h jumpd o
th Zo Wat wago o h aoutd o moy avg.H a t way Zo Wat mak aal :
1. Rdu oumpto o podut (ou o atvt vu tu)
2. Rdu toag, mata, ad pa ot
3. Elmat th d to puha dpoal ad o amazg umu-
latv avg
4. Eouag uyg ulk go, whh a gally hap
5. Rdu (o at t lmat) old wat, tho dug dpoal
6. Elmat th puha o tah l (wt dad a om potal)
7. Favo uyg qualty, ad tho povd valu o moy pt
8. Suppot a halthy ltyl ( low), tho dug halth a
ot
9. Advoat llg uud tm ad tg ldom-ud at o a
pot
10. O a opto to ll ylal dtly to MRF ad ompot
matal to gad
Halth
Th halth t o th Zo Wat ltyl a maly aoatd wth
dug ou xpou to ytht. Th oly dowd (ad th atu-
ally a t) that I am mo tv to hmal mll ad plat
tat. But ovall, my amly halth ad I l odt dg my
kd ood that havt houdd halth-hamg plat.
H a t way whh Zo Wat mpov th ovall halth o
you amly:
1. Douag uyg plat pakagg ad podut, thy dug
k aoatd wth th gowg o o plat lahg to ou
ood (uh a BPA) ad o-gag to ou hom (uh a vyl)
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ZERO WASTE HOME34
2. Suppot u (.., uyg ud), whh du o-gag, ud
podut hav alady (motly) lad th ga
3. Pomot hoppg halth ood to, whh o atual alta-
tv to ommo podut, dug xpou to uh tox hmal
a paa, tloa, ad ytht aga that a otad tolt ad makup
4. Eouag uyg ylal, dug xpou to th hamul hm-
al lad wh ug oylal Tfo-oatd ookwa
5. U atual md ad lag podut, dug xpou to
ukow hmal
6. Suppot lvg wth l, dug dut ollto ad th aompay-
g allg
7. Advoat outdoo atvt, whh hlp mdy vtam D d-
, povd la a (doo a a mo pollutd tha outdooa), ad a phyal atvty
8. Eouag uyg whol ood, lmtg th oumpto o hghly
pod o
9. Lmt mda/advtg xpou, dug th avg o uhalthy
ood
10. Povd a la dt y dug mat oumpto
Tm
Poaly th mot atyg t o th ltyl that o tm avg.
Ad a a wh tm ou oty mot valual ommodty, who
dot wh o mo?
By ug th aumulato o , oug tm-oumg
hat (.g., juk mal hadlg), ad dug hom logg, y
ad tm a lamd. Hadlg, tog, matag, lag, ad
ogazg a mpld. Hom maagmt ad Zo Wat a mad
ay. Ad ug av tm othw pt hoppg, tapotg, o
dadg dpoal.Ayo a t om a l d om th ud o tu ad wat-
ul pat, ad tad oud o xp. Tm alo op oppo-
tut to gt volvd ad patpat olltv oumpto, though
whh hag, tatg, ad og ommuty od a po-
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l. W dov lk-mdd popl, o log l alo, ad d hop
that w v o aw th utu. But vyo dvdual jouy
wth Zo Wat wll d.
Fo m ad tm ha allowd o a h l, dog th thg
I tuly joy, pt wth th popl I tuly a aout. It ha allowd mto d kowldg, wdom, mpowmt, od, pao, ad a
wd l pupo. It ha mad oom o gg my hom, lag
to oag, ad xpmtg wth a multtud o at. It ha gagd
my att alt to th ull xtt. It ha pmttd m to wt a log,
wt th ook, ad ot wth atu. I hav om to alz that tu
tak u away om ou oot, om th outdoo. Ad wth mo tm ow
pt outd, I o log tak th Eath o gatd ad I d my ptual
ath ha hagd.
Zo Wat ha otd all th dot o m; t a do wod oyou, too.
I ah o th ollowg patal hapt, I wll ha wth you om
poal to (I ould ot t) ad wll lt th 5 R gud u to Zo
Wat u, wth th ug lmt: mplty, ualty, ad
ollto. Simplicity wll ov th pvto o wat (u-du),
reusability wll add watul oumpto (u), ad collection wll
takl th maagmt o dad (yl-ot).
Zo Wat ot all wok. It a u, t a autul. Ad you
wot m th mll o tah o th vual lutt o dpoal, I pom.
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