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101 Ways to Go Zero Waste
We all know how important it is to reduce our environmental footprint, but it can be daunting to know where to begin. Enter Kathryn Kellogg, who can fit all her trash from the past two years into a 16-ounce mason jar. How? She starts by saying “no” to straws and grocery bags, and “yes” to a reusable water bottle and compostable dish scrubbers.
In 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste, Kellogg shares these tips and more, along with DIY recipes for beauty and home; advice for responsible consumption and making better choices for home goods, fashion, and the office; and even secrets for how to go waste free at the airport. “It’s not about perfection,” she says. “It’s about making better choices.”
This is a practical, friendly blueprint of realistic lifestyle changes for anyone who wants to reduce their waste.
In 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste, Kellogg shares these tips and more, along with DIY recipes for beauty and home; advice for responsible consumption and making better choices for home goods, fashion, and the office; and even secrets for how to go waste free at the airport. “It’s not about perfection,” she says. “It’s about making better choices.”
This is a practical, friendly blueprint of realistic lifestyle changes for anyone who wants to reduce their waste.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
326 people are currently reading
3596 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
April 6, 2019
This book was very informative and had a lot of helpful suggestions. I'm a big tea drinker, so the fact that most commercial tea bags have plastic was a huge surprise to me, and I've decided to switch to loose leaf from here on out.
However, while I enjoyed this book, my two issues with it:
1) Lack of sources. It shouldn't be the reader's job to fact-check your nonfiction book. Most things I googled were corroborated pretty quickly through the articles I found, but I would have liked definitive sources in the book itself.
2) The author is definitely speaking from a place of privilege. She doesn't judge the reader, which is a plus, but at times it gets a little frustrating that she presents zero-waste as economically efficient while also glossing over how expensive certain alternatives like CSAs and farmer's markets can be.
However, while I enjoyed this book, my two issues with it:
1) Lack of sources. It shouldn't be the reader's job to fact-check your nonfiction book. Most things I googled were corroborated pretty quickly through the articles I found, but I would have liked definitive sources in the book itself.
2) The author is definitely speaking from a place of privilege. She doesn't judge the reader, which is a plus, but at times it gets a little frustrating that she presents zero-waste as economically efficient while also glossing over how expensive certain alternatives like CSAs and farmer's markets can be.
August 10, 2022
Condescending, shallow, and sourceless. Try Waste Not instead.
➸ Trigger warnings for cancer & death of a grandmother discussed.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
➸ Trigger warnings for cancer & death of a grandmother discussed.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
July 16, 2021
I think the book served it's purpose, but didn't really go beyond that. Some of the tips were very repetitive; She mentions brining your own food container at least 20 times so I don't think we really get 101 unique ways to go zero waste.
The most unique suggestion was to use handkerchiefs instead of wasting tissues (I use tissues a lot), so I quickly popped onto etsy.com and purchased a set of 5 vintage handkerchiefs (that are very floral and very cute).
I bookmarked two resources:
Terra Cycle which I knew from my friend Katy
Environmental Working Group which I'll use to determine the best sunscreen to buy.
Overall, a very quick read that provided some helpful information but otherwise felt pretty straightforward and repetitive.
The most unique suggestion was to use handkerchiefs instead of wasting tissues (I use tissues a lot), so I quickly popped onto etsy.com and purchased a set of 5 vintage handkerchiefs (that are very floral and very cute).
I bookmarked two resources:
Terra Cycle which I knew from my friend Katy
Environmental Working Group which I'll use to determine the best sunscreen to buy.
Overall, a very quick read that provided some helpful information but otherwise felt pretty straightforward and repetitive.
May 7, 2023
This book is unfortunately a little shallow. The majority of the book is recipes or lists of snacks. The tips are cliche and obvious, and it doesn't go into any depth of detail or investigation. It reads like a loose collection of lite blog posts.
November 3, 2018
Far more approachable advice and tone than Zero Waste Home. I wish I had read this first. Suggestions were actionable and backed up with science and logic though most would be quite familiar to people in the minimalism community.
April 2, 2019
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me for review by the publisher. In no way does this affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This review was originally published on my blog, LaurenHannah.net.
101 Ways to Go Zero Waste is marketed as ‘an accessible guide to personal waste reduction’, and I couldn’t have described it better myself. It gives you all the hard facts without being preachy, and all the steps you can take to transition to a zero waste lifestyle are laid out in a way that makes them sound very doable! Dividing the big goal of ‘going zero waste’ up into small, actionable steps make it a fun personal project to work on, one step at a time.
Many people who are interested in zero waste first pick up Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste, the 2013 book written by zero waste guru Bea Johnson. Although that is a good read (I rated it 4 stars), it is very dense and the print is tiny. I would not describe it as a good beginner’s guide. 101 Ways is everything I was hoping Zero Waste Home to be: positive, simple, and accessible — and including a lot of (not-so-fun) facts backed up by science.
I’ve read quite a few books and blogs about plastic reduction and zero waste, and I was pleasantly surprised that I actually learned some new things from this book.
Beside inspiring me to make my next zero waste swap, it also reawakened my motivation to pick up litter off the street every time I walk my dog, knowing now that aluminium cans are infinitely recyclable without any loss of quality. It’d be a waste to just leave them lying there when they could become new cans!
And I’ve discovered that used tissues can go in the compost bin (at least in my area). I use a lot of paper tissues because my nose is permanently runny (thanks hayfever and frequent colds!). Knowing my snotty tissues can go into the compost makes me feel much better every time I have to blow my nose. (And no, handkerchiefs are not an option. They would be soaked an hour into the day.)
Here are some not-so-fun facts! Did you know that…
… produce starts to lose nutrition and flavor after it’s been picked? “Less travel time means a better tasting and more nutritious product.” Buy local!
… it takes 8 gallons of water to make one paper plate? “People often use paper plates to try and save water, but it’s important to look at the waste and resource upstream when making decisions.”
… every plastic toothbrush ever created still exists?
If you are in any way interested in reducing your (plastic) waste, this is the book for you.
And if you’re not interested in that, this is also the book for you because it will make you realize how big the problem really is. Zero waste and a circular economy is something we should all strive for.
October 11, 2019
Repeats a lot of the standard advice and tips you can find online. Frustratingly, Kellog doesn't provide many useful resources, forcing you to do more research. I read most of this book while sitting at my computer so I could google things and find actual brands, online stores, etc. But I still found a couple of new things in this, or was reminded of what I'd forgotten, so it was worth the read and the inspiration.
August 25, 2019
ehh, i had mixed feelings about this book. there was plenty of good advice, but there was also a complete lack of sources that made me skeptical about some of the more wild claims the author was making (pretty much any time she used the word "toxic").
unfortunately, as with a lot of sustainable living/zero waste books, the author is very much speaking from a position of privilege, and doesn't always acknowledge that. i recommend skipping the whole chapter on "special events" because yikes. our ideas of a party sure are different. there are some parts where i knew what she was saying was not going to be applicable to my life at all. it was also very obvious that the author lives in california. "just go down to your local tortilleria" isn't very practical advice for someone who lives in the suburbs of new england.
on the bright side, i really learned a lot about recycling and what can/can't be recycled. there are a lot of good recipes for diy cleaning and beauty products. there's a lot of emphasis placed on exploring your local community and community organizing. and the intro and final couple chapters are very encouraging.
unfortunately, as with a lot of sustainable living/zero waste books, the author is very much speaking from a position of privilege, and doesn't always acknowledge that. i recommend skipping the whole chapter on "special events" because yikes. our ideas of a party sure are different. there are some parts where i knew what she was saying was not going to be applicable to my life at all. it was also very obvious that the author lives in california. "just go down to your local tortilleria" isn't very practical advice for someone who lives in the suburbs of new england.
on the bright side, i really learned a lot about recycling and what can/can't be recycled. there are a lot of good recipes for diy cleaning and beauty products. there's a lot of emphasis placed on exploring your local community and community organizing. and the intro and final couple chapters are very encouraging.
January 8, 2022
I listened to the audiobook version and I love the narration done by Chloe Cannon. I find her voice soothing and clear. And that’s important especially when delivering a message that might be too much those who just started, someone is at the beginning on the journey or someone who is intrigue but don’t know where to start. I find the author’s tips reassuring and non-judgemental because she knows how overwhelming it can be, therefore she took this thought into account when sharing her tips and provide options on what to do.
December 16, 2020
A good book. I learned a lot and now I see plastic everywhere! 😳🎈
September 17, 2019
This book lost me at something along the line "oh well fuck the environment, my health is more important" . How can you be an activist of zero waste but cleaning not care about the environment ? It is as if you are saying let's burn forests down, and let's wear masks because our health is more important than simply stop burning the forests!
If I could give zero I would. I cringed at so many things she said, and I dont5recommend this book. There are more valuable information online than reading this book.
If I could give zero I would. I cringed at so many things she said, and I dont5recommend this book. There are more valuable information online than reading this book.
March 13, 2022
This was a quick and easy book to read. Most of the tips were ones that I already knew, and/or had read in previous books.
Please find two examples below:-
Tip #49. All-Purpose Cleaner
1 part warm water
1 part white vinegar
Mix together in a spray bottle.
Tip #52. Easy Carpet Deodorizer
1 part cinnamon powder
2 parts baking soda
1. Fill up an old spice jar a third of the way with cinnamon, and fill the other 2/3 with baking soda.
2. Sprinkle this mixture on the carpet or in your shoes and let it sit for at least four hours. Vacuum it up and repeat as many times as needed.
Kellogg shares lots of good ideas, many which my friends and I have been practising for years. I would recommend this book to someone who is newly interested in saving the environment and wanting to make less waste.
3 stars
Please find two examples below:-
Tip #49. All-Purpose Cleaner
1 part warm water
1 part white vinegar
Mix together in a spray bottle.
Tip #52. Easy Carpet Deodorizer
1 part cinnamon powder
2 parts baking soda
1. Fill up an old spice jar a third of the way with cinnamon, and fill the other 2/3 with baking soda.
2. Sprinkle this mixture on the carpet or in your shoes and let it sit for at least four hours. Vacuum it up and repeat as many times as needed.
Kellogg shares lots of good ideas, many which my friends and I have been practising for years. I would recommend this book to someone who is newly interested in saving the environment and wanting to make less waste.
3 stars
October 22, 2019
A bit too thin and balanced approach, this collection of tips has a little something for everyone, but leaves this reader with a feeling that anyway you want to approach reducing your waste is ok, when really the combined impact from all sources of environmental threat are real issues. It seems in trying to encourage people to do even a little it trivialized the actual concern. It does acknowledge that wholesale change is best advanced through advocacy, regulation/legislation and corporate changes.
August 17, 2019
There were a few ideas in this book I hadn’t yet heard, but mostly this was for people just beginning with this sort of thing. That’s fine and understandable, but my main disappointment was that it seemed to be directed toward those of higher financial means than the average person. If it’s made to seem like only the privileged/wealthy can be “zero waste”, then not much is going to change positively for the earth as that’s a pretty small percentage of humans.
June 4, 2019
Helpful content that is easy to navigate. However weak, and at times condescending, writing.
September 4, 2019
Are you tired of taking out the trash? Does it bother you that only nine percent of plastic is actually recycled? That it takes three liters of water to produce once liter of bottled water? Everyone is familiar with the saying: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. What Kathryn Kellogg emphasizes in this guide is that recycle comes last. First, what can you do to reduce and reuse?
Kellogg encourages change on an individual level. Start by monitoring your trash. What things that you throw away every day could you change to be more sustainable? Some steps will take more work than others, and you have the freedom to consider what is sustainable to you. I found many of the suggestions in this guide easy to do and overall supportive of a healthier lifestyle!
Even small changes, like drinking tap water instead of bottled water, bringing your own reusable bag to the grocery store, and not using a straw at restaurants can make a big impact. As consumers, we have the power to decide what products to buy or not buy. Going zero waste is a gradual change for most people. Kellogg’s guidance is helpful in navigating that change.
Elizabeth L. / Marathon County Public Library
Kellogg encourages change on an individual level. Start by monitoring your trash. What things that you throw away every day could you change to be more sustainable? Some steps will take more work than others, and you have the freedom to consider what is sustainable to you. I found many of the suggestions in this guide easy to do and overall supportive of a healthier lifestyle!
Even small changes, like drinking tap water instead of bottled water, bringing your own reusable bag to the grocery store, and not using a straw at restaurants can make a big impact. As consumers, we have the power to decide what products to buy or not buy. Going zero waste is a gradual change for most people. Kellogg’s guidance is helpful in navigating that change.
Elizabeth L. / Marathon County Public Library
January 6, 2020
This was basically a pinterest board in a book. For some this may have been abundantly helpful, but personally I didn't learn anything new. This did reinforce the practices I hope to continue and practices I hope to adopt.
August 21, 2019
This book was so inspiring and very easy to read.
May 23, 2020
Много бързо се свършва тази книжка. Не е лоша. Постарала се е авторката всяко съмнение, питанка или възмущение да го вадилизира, което всъщност й спечели четвъртата звездичка.
Книгата провокира палитра от емоции в душата ми. От една страна ми стана приятно, че много неща, за които съм се сещала интуитивно, се оказвали добри решения. Научих и някои други дребни неща, които няма да имам проблеми да пробвам и добавя към ежедневието си без да изискват много усилия от моя страна, което е чудесно. Винаги съм на линия за позитивни промени неизискващи мислене и енергия от моя страна.
От друга страна, обаче, като чух някои категории, нещата колко сложно звучаха и напомнянето, че всъщност някои неща са си опасни, ми припомни как живеем в икономическо общество, където не може да вярваш на нищо и никой докато не си направиш проучването, че и тогава е доста въпрос на шанс дали ще нацелиш правилния продукт или услуга. Мда, целта да намалиш негативния си отпечатък върху земята, е действие, което е като да се бориш с вятърни мерници в съвременното ни общество и това е борба само за тези, които всъщност тази концепция им е страст. Останалите, които си имаме други страсти и откровено казано само мисълта за подобна борба ни уморява, ще чакаме някой да ни сервира на готово решенията. :)
Книгата определено те кара да се замислиш, поне мен ме накара и то по много теми.
Циникът в мен се забавляваше, че със сегашната ситуация с вируса и как изведнъж всичко обратно бива пакетирано, дори неща, които досега не са били и огромното количество PPI, което ежедневно се използва - ами, връща това течение с десетилетия назад.
Истинска промяна ще настъпи, когато ножът опре до кокала. Винаги тогава хората реагираме. Така сме устроени и май е най-добре да приемем това и да живеем според нашите ценности, както казва авторката, дори и това да значи прахосване на кухненска хартия на поразия. Ако в друга категория се справяш добре, значи може да накараш гласът в главата ти да млъкне и да хаби енергия не в самоупрекване, ами в нещо по-конструктивно. :Р
Книгата провокира палитра от емоции в душата ми. От една страна ми стана приятно, че много неща, за които съм се сещала интуитивно, се оказвали добри решения. Научих и някои други дребни неща, които няма да имам проблеми да пробвам и добавя към ежедневието си без да изискват много усилия от моя страна, което е чудесно. Винаги съм на линия за позитивни промени неизискващи мислене и енергия от моя страна.
От друга страна, обаче, като чух някои категории, нещата колко сложно звучаха и напомнянето, че всъщност някои неща са си опасни, ми припомни как живеем в икономическо общество, където не може да вярваш на нищо и никой докато не си направиш проучването, че и тогава е доста въпрос на шанс дали ще нацелиш правилния продукт или услуга. Мда, целта да намалиш негативния си отпечатък върху земята, е действие, което е като да се бориш с вятърни мерници в съвременното ни общество и това е борба само за тези, които всъщност тази концепция им е страст. Останалите, които си имаме други страсти и откровено казано само мисълта за подобна борба ни уморява, ще чакаме някой да ни сервира на готово решенията. :)
Книгата определено те кара да се замислиш, поне мен ме накара и то по много теми.
Циникът в мен се забавляваше, че със сегашната ситуация с вируса и как изведнъж всичко обратно бива пакетирано, дори неща, които досега не са били и огромното количество PPI, което ежедневно се използва - ами, връща това течение с десетилетия назад.
Истинска промяна ще настъпи, когато ножът опре до кокала. Винаги тогава хората реагираме. Така сме устроени и май е най-добре да приемем това и да живеем според нашите ценности, както казва авторката, дори и това да значи прахосване на кухненска хартия на поразия. Ако в друга категория се справяш добре, значи може да накараш гласът в главата ти да млъкне и да хаби енергия не в самоупрекване, ами в нещо по-конструктивно. :Р
November 22, 2019
Only 9% of plastic gets recycled. Other than trash-eating dolphins, I don't know what's going to save us. It's a discouraging topic, but I like how Kellogg breaks things down into short practical tips and remarks that contentment with less is a radical concept. I love stuff so much. High-end. Low-end. It doesn't matter. She tells me how to get more cool stuff like Stasher Bags (silicone and reusable) and Plane Products (toothpaste and toiletries in non-plastic packages). I already have a bunch of mason jars and washed plastic bags in my house. I like thrifting and there are 3 thrift stores in my little town. I am utterly tired of breaking down packages and washing out recyclables, plus we have to drive it with our trash into town. Packing my child's lunch, whether in beeswax wraps or reusable plastic, gives me a frisson of anxiety every day. She's a hero for keeping a cheerful tone about this project, and urging people to buy their bread and desserts from local bakeries to serve at parties to keep life easier. She's realistic about what a time suck it can be to make things like pop tarts from scratch. She brings a lot of reusable eating ware on trips with her. She is the future.
March 22, 2020
All the information on recycling and composting was interesting so that's where the 3 stars come from.
It was unfourtunate that it took until the last 15 min of the audio book to mention that pretty much all of the sugestions would take significant time investments. I do think the environment deserves time investment but there were almost no solutions presented for people who don't have the time or ability to do these things. I just kept thinking of single parents or households where everyone has full time jobs out of the home. Who is going to get stuck doing all the meal planning and organization to pull this off?
Also there were not a lot of sugestions for people who are not fully able. The idea to switch to glass containers is great but glass is so heavy! Is she really carrying all her own glass containers shopping and walking back with them? Even carrying my lunch in a glass container to work and back on public transport would be a real challenge for me. I can barely lift my work bag as it is! Maybe the authour drives? I guess I was looking for more acessable tips or adaptable ones.
It was unfourtunate that it took until the last 15 min of the audio book to mention that pretty much all of the sugestions would take significant time investments. I do think the environment deserves time investment but there were almost no solutions presented for people who don't have the time or ability to do these things. I just kept thinking of single parents or households where everyone has full time jobs out of the home. Who is going to get stuck doing all the meal planning and organization to pull this off?
Also there were not a lot of sugestions for people who are not fully able. The idea to switch to glass containers is great but glass is so heavy! Is she really carrying all her own glass containers shopping and walking back with them? Even carrying my lunch in a glass container to work and back on public transport would be a real challenge for me. I can barely lift my work bag as it is! Maybe the authour drives? I guess I was looking for more acessable tips or adaptable ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2020
Goodness! This book did give me some very good useful information regarding waste and ways to lower that in your household - reusable bags for lunches (ditch the plastic baggies), cloth napkins for meals, hankies instead of kleenex . . . wait, what ??? I hated that my dad used hankies and I'm really not sure I can do that. But really, there are a lot of great suggestions in here for the beginner and I will implement some of these; however, there were some suggestions that I thought didn't really save anything - for example, instead of keeping some memorabilia, the author suggested you either take a photo of it or journal about it and either recycle or compost the memorabilia if possible. Isn't having a journal or possibly a multitude of journals the same thing?
I liked her ideas of gift giving consumable items whether it was something edible, or handmade soaps or foods, or spa treatments, etc. That was a great list to keep handy.
I liked her ideas of gift giving consumable items whether it was something edible, or handmade soaps or foods, or spa treatments, etc. That was a great list to keep handy.
December 31, 2019
a super quick read and its jam packed with tons of information - some self explanatory but also a lot of tips and tricks for making changes in your everyday life. the informal writing style made for a personal feeling as if you were having a conversation with a friend. this is definitely a book i will be passing on for others to read and enjoy
January 10, 2020
I definitely feel like I could be right chummy with Kathryn Kellogg she's just so friendly and not preachy at all. These 101 ways to lessen your trash and benefit yourself and your world are presented in a clear way and are doable. I'm going to start, one at a time.
January 17, 2020
this book was really a review of similar books to move towards a waste free lifestyle. One great idea that i will try is bringing my own container to take out restaurants to reduce garbage.
February 14, 2022
So insane how long this book as been on my currently reading list! I started it ages ago, got about halfway and then got distracted. I just borrowed the audiobook from my library to get to the rest of the ideas for going zero waste and finally mark this one off the list.
There are plenty of great ways to reduce our waste here. The variety of ideas gives everyone some very simple ways to make changes. I've already made a lot of changes over the years and had heard a lot of these previously, but there were some new ones to me as well. It's also great to have everything in one handy reference. While I agree with most of Kellogg's suggestions, please don't train your cat to use the toilet. Let your cat do what comes naturally (dig & bury) and give them a lower waste option for their waste.
I love that she discusses finding a personal sustainability level. Find what works for your life and do that. Add changes slowly so that you can keep up with those changes rather than trying (and failing) to do everything at once.
Thanks to Eidelweiss and Countryman Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
There are plenty of great ways to reduce our waste here. The variety of ideas gives everyone some very simple ways to make changes. I've already made a lot of changes over the years and had heard a lot of these previously, but there were some new ones to me as well. It's also great to have everything in one handy reference. While I agree with most of Kellogg's suggestions, please don't train your cat to use the toilet. Let your cat do what comes naturally (dig & bury) and give them a lower waste option for their waste.
I love that she discusses finding a personal sustainability level. Find what works for your life and do that. Add changes slowly so that you can keep up with those changes rather than trying (and failing) to do everything at once.
Thanks to Eidelweiss and Countryman Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 3, 2022
3.75 rounded to 4. I’m so glad this was the first book I read in 2022. Kathryn Kellogg writes about her life with a zero waste life and as the title states, gives readers 101 tips on how to start their own journey. This year I want to be more cautious about the environment and the harm that I am causing. Reading this book I now feel inspired to create small changes like starting to compost, replacing some of my plastic utensils like toothbrush (for a bamboo one), and maybe even start a club where we could work towards bigger goals. There are some sections that I simply skimmed (they even talked about the best environmentally friendly caskets for funerals lol) due to the fact that I can’t or won’t really be focusing on. I recommend this book to everyone!!! Even if you aren’t interested in helping out the planet or reducing your own carbon footprint it’s good to learn about our earth and maybe you’ll be convinced by logos and pathos🤷♀️
March 10, 2021
Good tips and advices for beginners. I guess it is a nice starting point, however I found it a bit weak and sourceless. It also doesn't look like a book, but a huge internet post.
October 1, 2020
So many relatable, easy tips to incorporate into everyday life. Very quick read. However, the book includes multiple health claims without a reference (???).
July 30, 2021
Wow great to be the least wacko in the room for once
Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews