simplify your life by reducing your waste: zero waste home by bea johnson

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 [email protected].

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.


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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


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the 5 Rs and he Benefis

of he Zero Wase Lifesyle


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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.


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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


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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


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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).


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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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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


16/26


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-


17/26

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


18/26


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.


19/26

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:


20/26


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


21/26

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


22/26


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. **


23/26

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!


24/26


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)


25/26

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-


26/26

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.

simplify your life by reducing your waste: zero waste home by bea johnson

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