Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash

by Shia Su

Easy and Effective Strategies to Jumpstart a Sustainable, Waste-Free Lifestyle

We have a worldwide trash epidemic. The average American disposes of 4.4 pounds of garbage per day, and our landfills hold 254 million tons of waste.

What if there were a simple—and fun—way for you to make a difference? What if you could take charge of your own waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and make an individual impact on an already fragile environment?

A zero waste lifestyle is the answer—and Shia Su is living it. Every single piece of unrecyclable garbage Shia has produced in one year fits into a mason jar—and if it seems overwhelming, it isn't! In Zero Waste, Shia demystifies and simplifies the zero waste lifestyle for the beginner, sharing practical advice, quick solutions, and tips and tricks that will make trash-free living fun and meaningful. Learn how

Build your own zero waste kit
Prepare real food—the lazy way
Make your own DIY household cleaners and toiletries
Be zero waste even in the bathroom!
And more!

Be part of the solution! Implement these small changes at your own pace, and restructure your life to one of sustainable living for your community, your health, and the earth that sustains you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sustainability, Environment, Self Help, How To, Lifestyle, Reference

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2016

About the author

What if there were a simple—and fun—way for you to make a difference? What if you could take charge of your own waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and make an individual impact on an already fragile environment?

A zero waste lifestyle is the answer—and Shia Su is living it. Every single piece of unrecyclable garbage Shia has produced in one year fits into a mason jar—and if it seems overwhelming, it isn’t!

Shia demystifies and simplifies the zero waste lifestyle for the beginner, sharing practical advice, quick solutions, and tips and tricks that will make trash-free living affordable, fun, and meaningful.

Blog: wastelandrebel.com
Instagram: instagram.com/_wastelandrebel_
Facebook: facebook.com/wastelandrebel

Reviews

[T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book ok. Maybe it's because I've been reading and researching this topic for a long time. It's a friendly, chatty book and a better place to start than Zero Waste Home and I say that because some areas felt really lacking. I was confused as to what location she was coming from: Japan? Canada? Europe?

I also found issue with the formatting of the book. Half the book is reasoning and chatty and suddenly shifts into recipes. There's also no conclusion.

Lastly, it ends in worm composting and I have read over and over banana peels are fine for worms and she said they weren't which casts her work into a different light for me. My worms seem to enjoy banana peels like nothing else and I read it can promote breeding.

Overall, if you're trying to get into Zero Waste, this is a good place to start and then follow up with Zero Waste Home which fills in some gaps.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good, short, easy to read intro to zero waste, full of tips on ways to reduce the garbage you produce in your home. Its practical and realistic. Almost all of the easier items- carrying reusable water bottles and grocery bags, packing lunches at home in reusable containers, buying vegetables, fruits and grains instead of processed food- are all things we've been doing in my house for years. But here are the three most useful new things I learned: 1) If you would like to stop getting junk mail letting you know you are pre-approved for various credit card offers, you can opt-out of them for life at the website https://www.optoutprescreen.com/. 2) Bamboo toothbrushes are a made of about 95% compostable material (the wooden handle)- only the bristles have to be thrown away. I just bought a pack from Brush With Bamboo and the packaging is also 100% compostable. 3) Apparently you can make single-serving amounts of coconut or almond milk out of coconut butter and almond butter. The recipe in the book says "Whisk 4 teaspoons of nut butter into 1 cup of hot water, or else mix with a blender into 1 cup cold water." I have not tried this yet, but I plan to. There are also recipes for things I am much less likely to do, such as make my own shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and laundry detergent. Maybe someday.

[Madame Histoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fairly good read, especially if you are a beginner at this. But the tips are quite US-oriented as it was obviously the target audience, and the place of residence of the author. But the tips don't quite go further than than if you are already into in your zero waste or eco-mindful living. (hence the loss of 2 stars - this read didn't enlightened me that much)

A couple of things annoyed me, like when she recommends to digitalize papers but doesn't talk about the enormous environmental impact of cloud storing (or anything online for that matter) or recommend the vinegar hair rinse if you have coloured hair (as she has), but doesn't talk about more natural and zero waste ways of coloring your hair (although she has blue hair so that's impossible to get with henna, as it require bleaching + chemical coloring, all of which would actually require plastic packaging and equipment) --> i don't say this to be bitch on the author, these are only observations and no one can live an actually zero waste life style. Anyone tending towards it as much as they can/want is already a MVP!

The book focuses mainly on household and personal consummation but an added chapter talking more in depths about less common zero waste topics like electricity providers, banks, politics (esp local), internet/cloud use etc would have been welcomed

Notes:
-laundry bags as mesh bags (see-trough and lightweight but less resistant)
-pouches for clean and use hankies in handbag
-water bottle -> go for stainless metal, not aluminum
-nut butter by just grinding different nuts (hazelnuts, peanuts, cashews, coconut flakes) in blender + you can also add hot water (or cold water+ blender) and whisk it to make milk --> milk cartoons are actually hard to recycle + store bought milks can contain as little as 2 per cent of almond, the rest is water
-make cottage cheese or even tofu by adding lemon juice or vinegar to soy or nut milk (doesn't work on grain based-milk like oat milk)
- leftover lemon halves as rinse aid, by placing it in the cutlery basket
-horse chestnut as laundry nut, either 1/ chestnut tea or in a bag. remember to peel it first

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe her blog is fun to read once in a while; I haven't seen it. This book was extremely irritating. No philosophical, thoughtful underpinning, just a bunch of trendy gobbeldy-gook. The advice often contradicted the principle she supposedly espouses. "Catch-penny" is, I believe, the old-fashioned label for a book like this.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great intro into a zero waste lifestyle. Especially liked the pictures.

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a good excuse to visit a library. If it leads to less waste and consumption, so much the better.

[Catullus2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic, I didn’t learn anything new.

[Colona Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to reduce my carbon footprint and stop wasting so many things, so I picked up this book. There are tons of examples in this book of how to accomplish this. Some are easier than others. The author was not "preachy" which I liked. She understood that some things were not for everyone. That anything you do to produce less waste is a victory. She did bring to my attention things that I really did no think about, For example, we all buys things that we only use once and throw away. We should stop doing that. PERIOD. All the paper plates and paper towels, just for convenience sake. There is a help list at the end of the book that gives examples of things we can use in place of easily disposable items. Other tips Shia Su mentioned that we should attempted to do is buy things in bulk, change our diet to accommodate less waste, use cloth bags instead of plastic bags, and if allowed bring your own containers to the store to fill them up. A lot of the things in this book is a life style change that will take time. She also included recipes for food and cleaning. If we make our own cleaning supplies from scratch, it is cost effective and healthier for us.


~April

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh, there are better books on this subject out there.

Good book for beginners I guess. Not a fan of using the term “life hacks” as it’s more of a clickbait term. The discussion about soaps kind of got my attention. One minor inaccuracy. Dr Bronners does use palm oil that they partner with palm oil farmers to provide fair trade & living wages etc. None of which harms orangutans & their habitats. Palm oil is a good soap ingredient ONLY if it is ethically grown & harvested. Their labels, social media & websites all provide transparency about their supply chain for palm oil. Coconut only Castile soap is very drying for some people to use on skin. That’s obviously a personal choice but one is not inherently better than the other. Just my 2 cents. Kind of disheartening to see yet another “zero waste” lifestyle thing knocking an eco-conscious brand when there are much much worse options out there. Green washing is a massive problem. Anyhow, this wasn’t the worst book I’ve read on the subject but not the best either. Save the reading and just search Google for ways to lower your carbon footprint & waste output.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been wanting to get more into a zero waste lifestyle for awhile now, and this book has given me the push to actually go through with it!

I was just browsing Barnes and Noble with my mom and she came across this book and pointed it out to me. She and I have been going on a small sustainability journey together, so the title stood out to her. I immediately had to have it, and here we are.

I love the concepts that were talked about in this book because it really does make so much sense to be more environmentally conscious. Reducing your waste really isn’t that difficult to do, you just have to be diligent about it.

There were some amazing tips and recipes throughout this book and I plan on doing a reread of it when I get back home for Christmas break. I think it’s a super amazing book to be able to flip through and reread.

I highly recommend this book to you if you’re at all interested in a more eco-friendly and earth happy lifestyle. Zero waste (or low waste) is totally do-able. It also goes really hand-in-hand with minimalism, which I’ve also started to get into.

https://pointextaken.com/2018/11/25/r...

Aubrey Joy

[Sasha V · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant read to get started in the Zero-waste concept.
The author digs quite deep on two of the Rs of sustainability: Reduce and Reuse. The book is heavily based on the recipes, tips, and tricks that make it very practical for those who would like to reduce the amount of waste drastically in daily life. Some tips strongly depend on the context of living and available infrastructure but, all in all, everyone can find something useful.
The language of narration is conversational and friendly but not too informal. Additional points to the author for tackling such sensitive topics as toiletry and periods. I was mindblown with the toilet paper alternative!! :D

On the other side, I was lacking some underpinnings about WHY one must go as radical as zero-waste instead of simply lowering consumption. I was also not satisfied with the amount of evidence from credited sources of holding this lifestyle – indeed, the references were present in the book but on the tiniest scale.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic, good place to start if you have read very little on the topic.

I learned on the author’s website she quit her job and spent a year learning to live more sustainably. When I read Bea Johnson’s book, Zero Waste Home she was a stay at home mom with children in school. While I think there is merit to encouraging folks that there are simple changes to be made can be motivating. I also think we need to talk more about how hard it is to live a sustainable lifestyle when all adults in the household work full time. Neither of these books acknowledge how the scarce resource of our time impedes our ability to do many of these ideas regularly.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Hats off to this couple for becoming so involved in living green! They go to a level most of us are not willing to reach for in order to reduce their waste (a worm farm in their kitchen!) The book has lots of tips on buying in bulk, how to go greener with homemade cleaning supplies, toiletries and hygiene items, and suggestions for greener meals. There are recipes for many things. Throughout the book, they remind us that in order to waste less, we need to buy less.

The ideas presented in Zero Waste are worth reading about, and will give you a lot to think about. I recommend this to all who are concerned about living greener and leaving less behind them.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super quick read and if you're not new to learning about zero waste efforts, you likely won't pick up a lot of new info here. For newbies though, it would make a great introduction to how to go about decreasing their waste in every area - food, body care, cleaning, etc. She includes recipes for various home cleaners as well as for hair/body care and gives suggestions for avoiding many types of trash. While not much was new to me, I love seeing books like this being published because that means there's a growing interest out there! Very happy my library decided to add this title to their collection after I requested it. I hope it grows a nice long waitlist! :-)

I read most of this book while the trash trucks zipped up and down my street collecting the contents of my neighbors' often overflowing bins. The trucks may haul it away from your home, but trash doesn't just disappear. We need to change how we shop and support more positive efforts with our purchases.

[Toni Okamoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lessening the negative impact I have on the world is always something I'm striving for in my mind, but often fail to apply in a world of convenience and Amazon Prime. I appreciated that the author gives permission to the reader to go at their own pace when considering zero-waste living, and provides simple swaps to get started.

Although I didn't pick up many new hacks for my own life, I am now considering buying a bidet! =D

And one solid star for promoting cruelty-free options!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up this from my library’s Earth Day display, and enjoyed the quick read. Appreciated the judgement-free approach and got ideas for what more we could be doing without too big a lift. Because I’m not about to start grinding my own horse chestnuts for laundry detergent, but admire anyone who does!

[Chella]

This is a friendly, chatty book that makes a low waste lifestyle seem both approachable and attainable. I wouldn't say it's my favorite zero waste book by any means, but it's definitely beginner-friendly and is deserving of a read - especially if you're into recipes, there are some good ones here.

[Ramona Ressler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hab das Buch vor Jahren schon mal gelesen und es jetzt im Krankenstand wieder hervorgekramt, um ein paar Inpulse zu bekommen.
Das Buch ist eher ein Einsteigerwerk für die Zero Waste-Thematik, sortiert in verschiedene Themenbereiche. Man bekommt sofort umsetzbare Tips, Anleitungen und Rezepte und man kann somit direkt loslegen und in ein nachhaltigeres Leben starten

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't the best book ever written, but it had some good recipes for money-saving and earth-friendly ways to replace the disposable and wasteful products most people currently use.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good tips/resources for reducing your waste.

[Laura Haske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a practical, non-judgmental book of ideas for living a life with less waste. The concepts in this book make me happy - simplicity, efficiency, and minimizing waste.

[Alfie · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book could be a decent introduction to the zero waste movement for someone who's just becoming interested, but for someone like me it was very surface-level, full of basic information i've already known.

i already know most of my trash is food packaging but i don't live in an area where you can find "naked" goods. i can buy produce from a market but for stuff like beans, lentils, rice and other dry goods, there's just no bulk buying option... there's no alternative for pre-packaged ingredients. granted, that's not her fault. it's just that the author's writing style made me feel guilty for not having options like she does.

what i think is lacking most from these zero waste books in general is a deeper analysis at the beginning. the author here dedicated her introduction to how much consumerism and the growth economy suck, but these are just the symptoms of a much bigger disease, which is capitalism. and these authors _never_ dare to go there, they just give you tips on how to support small businesses "that are trying to make a difference." but the sad truth is, you can't make a big enough difference under capitalism and i'm frustrated that these influencers never acknowledge that fact.

[Jina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these helpful tips on living a zero waste lifestyle. I was actually a bit surprised to learn that I’m not as terrible at the average consumer. However, I do feel like the full-on lifestyle is a bit extreme and over simplifies some things. For instance, rye flour and apple cider vinegar might work for straight hair, but as a girl with naturally curly hair, I have to have the shampoos, conditions, and other hair products I use. Also, going completely toilet paper free seems a bit crazy to me. Sure, I have a very simple bidet installed on my home toilet which has greatly reduced the amount of toilet paper we use, but it has no drying function, so… Shia Su also deviated a little from her topic of zero waste here and there to indulge in being minimalist - something she clearly loves being. Thankfully, though, she hardly brings up being a vegan (something that is stereotypically hard for vegans to do). Overall, I feel the tone of the book was light and honest. Su admits that getting down to so little trash is overrated, however, becoming more conscious consumers is not. “It should be about choosing the more or perhaps even the most sustainable option as often as possible. It is about making better choices and cultivating more sustainable habits; it is about kindness toward others and yourself.”

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

On one hand, I applaud the author for giving some practical advice on how to live more sustainably. On the other, I hope no one who lives like this lives under the illusion that this these kind of lifestyle choices will ever solve the problems that they seek to address. Reading through the book, it is simply too daunting to think of switching to all these things. I simply don't have the time, money, or geographic privilege to be figuring out how to source these sustainable products, and I'm surely someone who cares about these concerns in comparison to others. Maybe it is hackneyed, but I think it is true: these issues will ultimately be decided in the political arena and in an area of personal consumptive choices.

Now, with that disclaimer: every plastic bottle not tossed into the ocean is not tossed into the ocean, so bravo to Ms. Su for that. Hopefully, if nothing else, people can read it and glean some things to be frugal about from its pages.

This book, though mostly just DIY's and how-to's, is a testament to how difficult it will be to move toward sustainability, given the problems even with recycling. Even if we manage to purge fossil fuels (which will be a miracle, at this point), we will still have to face the heaps of waste we created looking for existential fulfillment.

[Jay Miraldi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is a good starting point for people who aim to cultivate more sustainable habits, but it is not a handbook for 100% zero waste living, which, to the author's credit, she says in the intro. The book is a collection of tips that the author and her spouse have gathered through their own journey of trial and error as well as some statistical data about the problems with convenience culture and the reasoning behind the solutions proposed. One thing that was a little troublesome to me was that many of the solutions are feasible for people who live in larger metropolitan areas that offer a big variety of sustainable shopping options (bulk stores/ refill centers). Like I said, it's a good place to start.

[Deena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the concept of zero waste, and this book definitely provides plenty of inspiration and practical ideas for reducing one's waste. Although some of the tips and strategies are not always realistic, depending on one's family size and where one lives, it is a great reminder that we can all do better and more to reduce our waste. I am much more aware of excess packaging and how best to avoid it after reading this book. I dream of the I will live in a city with a zero waste / bulk food store. Hopefully those will become more mainstream in years to come.

[Bookcrazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interessant, ein paar Anregungen werde ich ausprobieren z.B. den Rohreiniger, Putzmitteltipps, aber alles umzusetzen wäre mir viel zu anstrengend. Das Buch schneidet auch kurz den Minimalismus ein wenig an. Bei ein paar Bereichen hätte ich mir ein wenig mehr Details erhofft.
Außerdem, vielleicht sollte man um Müll zu sparen, dieses Buch auch nur als Ebook verkaufen?! Wobei dabei natürlich auch viel Energie und Ressourcen verschwendet werden... Gar nicht so einfach...

[Amanda Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accessible and practical introduction to zero waste lifestyle, that refers to more comprehensive reads for those seeking to gain more detailed insight. Highly recommend to anyone to reduce their waste and carbon footprint. In contrast to Bea Johnson's "Zero Waste Home", this book does talk about ethical decisions re: protein sources and the illegal exploitation of trees for cellulose and palm oil, which I really enjoyed.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you’re just getting started and also it’s nice inspiration for the seasoned zero waster. There are recipes in here for everything however, there are certain things I don’t want to sacrifice for zero waste like my dental hygiene. I think the current conversation on zero waste is that it’s a good start (to help the planet) but, we need large systematic changes that can only be achieved with voting and being active in politics. I love Shelbizleee’s channel! It’s a great resource! ☺️

[Meish · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had some good, practical tips and resources and DIY (definitely trying the lip balm recipe), but it felt superficial overall. I take off half a star for the whole trash mason jar thing, which I also think is a very superficial and misleading way of looking at zero waste and sustainability. Also, I don't believe all palm oil is evil (but maybe I'm just too much of a Dr. Bronner groupie).