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The (Almost) Zero Waste Guide: 100+ Tips for Reducing Your Waste Without Changing Your Life
Cut back on waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and live more sustainably with these 100 (almost) zero - waste tips
In a perfect world, we would all be able to fit a year’s worth of waste in a mason jar. But for most of us, doing so can be immensely intimidating or simply not feasible.
But even if you can’t be perfectly zero waste, you can still have a profound impact on our environment, climate, and health by making some simple changes to your lifestyle and habits. Author Melanie Mannarino shares 100 simple tips for being less wasteful in a variety of
- At Home , with advice not only for the kitchen and food, but also for cleaning and home organization
- Travel , from commuting to vacations
- Fashion , including finding sustainable brands and caring for your clothing
- Community , helping you identify ways to make a broader impact beyond your home
Beyond limiting your personal waste, learn about how you can reduce your “unseen” waste by making more eco-friendly choices, such as purchasing clothes with more sustainable fabrics and adopting a “Meatless Monday” regimen to help decrease your carbon footprint.
If you’re someone who wants to reduce waste in your daily life and make a positive impact on the planet without making drastic changes in your habits, then look no further. This highly accessible and practical guide will have you living a greener, more sustainable life that is (almost) zero waste in no time!
In a perfect world, we would all be able to fit a year’s worth of waste in a mason jar. But for most of us, doing so can be immensely intimidating or simply not feasible.
But even if you can’t be perfectly zero waste, you can still have a profound impact on our environment, climate, and health by making some simple changes to your lifestyle and habits. Author Melanie Mannarino shares 100 simple tips for being less wasteful in a variety of
- At Home , with advice not only for the kitchen and food, but also for cleaning and home organization
- Travel , from commuting to vacations
- Fashion , including finding sustainable brands and caring for your clothing
- Community , helping you identify ways to make a broader impact beyond your home
Beyond limiting your personal waste, learn about how you can reduce your “unseen” waste by making more eco-friendly choices, such as purchasing clothes with more sustainable fabrics and adopting a “Meatless Monday” regimen to help decrease your carbon footprint.
If you’re someone who wants to reduce waste in your daily life and make a positive impact on the planet without making drastic changes in your habits, then look no further. This highly accessible and practical guide will have you living a greener, more sustainable life that is (almost) zero waste in no time!
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
24 people are currently reading
3106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
September 10, 2020
Decent starter for anyone dipping their toes into reducing personal waste.
For people already working on being more environmentally conscious this will provide little info.
Lots of cool references for companies that can help reduce your waste, by buying smarter and donating more often.
They are all American references though , so you're doing your own digging if you live elsewhere.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tiller Press for my DRC.
For people already working on being more environmentally conscious this will provide little info.
Lots of cool references for companies that can help reduce your waste, by buying smarter and donating more often.
They are all American references though , so you're doing your own digging if you live elsewhere.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tiller Press for my DRC.
February 3, 2021
I listened to this via audio, and perhaps it would have been a better experience if I had turned the actual pages. I didn't really care for the narration.
The info in her list of 100 tips for practicing zero waste is basic. This would be a good starting point for newbies. But her list of ideas didn't sound convincing. It was more like, "Yes this would be nice and so is this. I know it's hard and it takes time." Yada. Yada. Yada. I think I was expecting more about environmental impact or humor or encouragement. Overall, 2 stars.
The info in her list of 100 tips for practicing zero waste is basic. This would be a good starting point for newbies. But her list of ideas didn't sound convincing. It was more like, "Yes this would be nice and so is this. I know it's hard and it takes time." Yada. Yada. Yada. I think I was expecting more about environmental impact or humor or encouragement. Overall, 2 stars.
March 13, 2020
This is a fabulous little book that you can fly through in one sitting. I love the tone--it's not preachy or judgmental, but rather offers practical advice to easing into a life of sustainability and growing from there. I was pleased to know that I've already incorporated some of Mannarino's suggestions and I was given plenty more.
The format is part of the appeal as well. The tips are broken down into six chapters: (almost) zero waste 1. while cooking, 2. at home, 3. for personal care, 4. while travelling, 5. and your wardrobe, and 6. in your community. You'll find valuable advice for composting, reducing your single-use-plastic reliance, finding sustainable clothing manufacturers and more.
It's no secret that we are a disposable society, and you don't have to look farther than the discussions surrounding plastic straws and grocery bags to know the impact it's having on the environment. The good news is that we can all do our part to reduce our waste. If you're not sure where to start (because it can be overwhelming to look around your house and see evidence of your carbon footprint!), this book will put your mind at ease.
A special thank you to NetGalley, Tiller Press, and author Melanie Mannarino for making this review copy available to me.
The format is part of the appeal as well. The tips are broken down into six chapters: (almost) zero waste 1. while cooking, 2. at home, 3. for personal care, 4. while travelling, 5. and your wardrobe, and 6. in your community. You'll find valuable advice for composting, reducing your single-use-plastic reliance, finding sustainable clothing manufacturers and more.
It's no secret that we are a disposable society, and you don't have to look farther than the discussions surrounding plastic straws and grocery bags to know the impact it's having on the environment. The good news is that we can all do our part to reduce our waste. If you're not sure where to start (because it can be overwhelming to look around your house and see evidence of your carbon footprint!), this book will put your mind at ease.
A special thank you to NetGalley, Tiller Press, and author Melanie Mannarino for making this review copy available to me.
April 27, 2020
A good grouping of categories and the tips in them. Many tips you have likely seen elsewhere but author's own explanation of them. Nice book and some tips you may overlook.
August 27, 2020
Environmental books are kind of like self-help books-- even if I'm not the audience, I hope that someone else will find it useful. This book's organization wasn't my favorite, and some of the tips felt a little repetitive--it seemed that the kind of listicle-style meant that the book has to have 100 items, even if they are similar. For the person just beginning to think through consumption habits, though, it could be helpful.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.
February 5, 2023
Good quick foray into moving towards a last wasteful life. Definitely a very shallow look containing some broad generalizations we all buy into (myself included) that I'm only just now realizing while taking the Master Recycling class in my state, but worth the read if you only have a tiny bit of time and want to take steps.
May 2, 2023
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and I appreciated the conciseness of the tip descriptions. I liked that it hit just the big topics - it's easy to go into minutiae in these kinds of books, and I appreciate that this one didn't and just stayed high level. It was thought provoking and gave me quite a few ideas. I almost deducted a star because some of these options aren't super feasible - meaning, there's some economic privilege required for some of these tips (e.g., buying organic), but I think that could have resulted in a larger book of minutiae, so I decided to keep the star. Just note that all of these tips may not be applicable or doable for everyone. Definitely would recommend just to get your brain thinking of waste alternatives.
January 5, 2022
Very beginner. Nothing I didn’t know before.
August 19, 2020
There's a hefty promise in the title of this book. Can we really reduce our waste
without changing our lives?
Most ambitiously, can we achieve
(Almost) Zero Waste
without changing our lives? Melanie Mannarino helpfully asks and seeks the answers to questions about resource usage and material wastage. Her summarizations suggest that the answers aren't straightforward and often the goal of reducing wastage will require choosing between the lesser of two evils.
As someone with a pre-existing interest in preserving the environment, reading this book provided quite an esteem boost when I recognized many of my everyday habits featured as good advice in this book. This shouldn't be a stretch for most people: we're talking about taking the stairs instead of elevator, energy-saving appliances and renos, saving your leftovers, recycling and composting, donating used clothing, bringing reusable bags to go grocery shopping, and buying electric vehicles. In some jurisdictions (like my home province of British Columbia), government and commercial incentives have already made most of these practices commonplace and de rigueur.
With 118 tips to choose from anyone should be able to pick up some additional ideas. I would recommend bookmarking them as you read along, to keep track of them. It's easy to say to yourself "Oh, that's good! I could do that!" and then lose track of them as you move along. There are other recommendations that I would find more difficult to actualize but Mannarino offers this conciliatory opinion from her one quotable expert, Darby Hoover, senior resource specialist for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), "The world isn't going to end because you bought one bottle of water when you were thirsty. Understand where you can do stuff, and forgive yourself for everything else."
The main strengths of this book are its simplicity, practicality, and accessibility. However, some of the tips come across as overly obvious regurgitation of widely available educational propangada:
Other tips are so basic that they were annoying:
Thank you, Captain Obvious!
Who is this author? Her other book credits are The Best Gender-Neutral Baby Name Book and Epic Baby Names for Girls. She's a Marie Claire editor who prides herself on "repurposing leftovers like a pro." Overall, this book is helpful and will probably inspire a lot of positive action. Be warned. That action will require changes in your life. The parts of this guide that read like Jane Average's social media blog undermine the impact of all the EPA, Department of Energy, and NRDC research that this "award-winning" journalist laboured to put into writing. It's well-meaning and really feels as if you are just receiving neighbourly advice.
As someone with a pre-existing interest in preserving the environment, reading this book provided quite an esteem boost when I recognized many of my everyday habits featured as good advice in this book. This shouldn't be a stretch for most people: we're talking about taking the stairs instead of elevator, energy-saving appliances and renos, saving your leftovers, recycling and composting, donating used clothing, bringing reusable bags to go grocery shopping, and buying electric vehicles. In some jurisdictions (like my home province of British Columbia), government and commercial incentives have already made most of these practices commonplace and de rigueur.
With 118 tips to choose from anyone should be able to pick up some additional ideas. I would recommend bookmarking them as you read along, to keep track of them. It's easy to say to yourself "Oh, that's good! I could do that!" and then lose track of them as you move along. There are other recommendations that I would find more difficult to actualize but Mannarino offers this conciliatory opinion from her one quotable expert, Darby Hoover, senior resource specialist for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), "The world isn't going to end because you bought one bottle of water when you were thirsty. Understand where you can do stuff, and forgive yourself for everything else."
The main strengths of this book are its simplicity, practicality, and accessibility. However, some of the tips come across as overly obvious regurgitation of widely available educational propangada:
Don't cook too much food if you are going to waste it, but also cook more food so you don't have to cook as often.
Don't leave the water running while washing dishes.
And multiple variations of the theme of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Other tips are so basic that they were annoying:
Let yourself go gray. Embracing your natural hair colour will save a car trip to the salon, and the ingredients of the hair dye, and even the little plastic tray that the dye is mixed in.
Thank you, Captain Obvious!
Who is this author? Her other book credits are The Best Gender-Neutral Baby Name Book and Epic Baby Names for Girls. She's a Marie Claire editor who prides herself on "repurposing leftovers like a pro." Overall, this book is helpful and will probably inspire a lot of positive action. Be warned. That action will require changes in your life. The parts of this guide that read like Jane Average's social media blog undermine the impact of all the EPA, Department of Energy, and NRDC research that this "award-winning" journalist laboured to put into writing. It's well-meaning and really feels as if you are just receiving neighbourly advice.
January 27, 2021
he (Almost) Zero-Waste Guide, as the sub-title declares, shares "100+ Tips for Reducing Your Waste Without Changing Your Life." While some of the tips shared are familiar, others were new to me. Author Melanie Mannarino does a great job of explaining how and why each tip will help reduce waste and positively impact the environment. While encouraging readers to reduce their waste, Mannarino emphasizes implementing a few tips at a time rather than trying to implement all 100 tips simultaneously. Tips are grouped by topic which allows readers to focus on what area of their life at a time. Readers will find it useful to read the book from beginning to end and then select the section of life where they want to reduce their waste. Following the great advice given, readers will find they are able to reduce their waste substantially. This would be a great book to read and apply with a group of like-minded individuals.
I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley. I am not required to provide a positive review.
I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley. I am not required to provide a positive review.
June 13, 2021
I won an ARC of this one in a Goodreads Giveaway. This book isn't effective at zero waste or assisting others to a closer to zero waste lifestyle, but it is good for a laugh for the following reasons:
1) The author thinks "buy a used house" is a viable answer to this question. There are many reasons this is not helpful - spoiler, most people already do this. Double spoiler - the author, in her typical scatterbrained fashion, fails to address the associated considerations therewith. (Rennovations, upgrades, green improvements, etc.) This is the type of half-assed approach you should just expect from this book.
2) There are multiple pages dividing chapters that are just coated in green ink. Yes, multiple pages without information on them whose sole purpose is to use green ink and take up space. Wasted space. Waste. Yup, between every chapter, four pages of this wasted green ink. Seems rather counterproductive given the topic of the book, no?
3) Buy a new sustainably made yoga mat (insert other thing here)...and get rid of your old yoga mat/other thing. That's right! Almost zero waste means...buy new things and discard your old things! Making....waste. But! Have no fear! If you don't want the old perfectly serviceable things you're now getting rid of to go to waste....you can cut them up and turn them into other things!
It's like a crunchy mom barfed their essential oils all over stuff - you can see where a semi-solid idea started and then just went sideways, crashed into a barrel, and hit its head really really hard, and the results of that semi-decent idea's concussion are vomited in the pages of this book. Don't take it seriously....and if you want to decrease the amount of waste in your life? Just avoid this book. Eesh.
1) The author thinks "buy a used house" is a viable answer to this question. There are many reasons this is not helpful - spoiler, most people already do this. Double spoiler - the author, in her typical scatterbrained fashion, fails to address the associated considerations therewith. (Rennovations, upgrades, green improvements, etc.) This is the type of half-assed approach you should just expect from this book.
2) There are multiple pages dividing chapters that are just coated in green ink. Yes, multiple pages without information on them whose sole purpose is to use green ink and take up space. Wasted space. Waste. Yup, between every chapter, four pages of this wasted green ink. Seems rather counterproductive given the topic of the book, no?
3) Buy a new sustainably made yoga mat (insert other thing here)...and get rid of your old yoga mat/other thing. That's right! Almost zero waste means...buy new things and discard your old things! Making....waste. But! Have no fear! If you don't want the old perfectly serviceable things you're now getting rid of to go to waste....you can cut them up and turn them into other things!
It's like a crunchy mom barfed their essential oils all over stuff - you can see where a semi-solid idea started and then just went sideways, crashed into a barrel, and hit its head really really hard, and the results of that semi-decent idea's concussion are vomited in the pages of this book. Don't take it seriously....and if you want to decrease the amount of waste in your life? Just avoid this book. Eesh.
June 20, 2020
This is the most realistically titled eco-friendly book I have ever come across, and I have read many. I appreciate that Melanie Mannarino states upfront that being completely zero waste is practically impossible given today's current manufacturing state. Her suggestions are easy to do, easy to fit into your lifestyle. Many of them you probably do already and don't even think about the fact that they are minimizing your waste output into the world. I would absolutely buy this for anyone wanting to begin their journey towards lowering their carbon footprint on the world.
May 31, 2020
This is a very basic guide to transitioning to a lower- waste lifestyle. Many of the tips were repetitive. I think many people who want to become zero waste have already begun with these sorts of tips.
Also, there was more than one fat-phobic comment in this book, which I found to be in very poor taste.
Also, there was more than one fat-phobic comment in this book, which I found to be in very poor taste.
October 10, 2020
Received an advanced reader's copy courtesy of NetGalley. I've read many zero waste books and I would rate this one in my top 3. This would be the perfect present for someone who is just starting out and needs some ideas. For me it added a brand new look at house renovations that I had not thought of. It includes references so readers can fact check. Highly recommend.
February 6, 2023
Everything in this book can be found online with little effort, so it won't help most people who are already aware of zero waste living and making an effort. For those who are truly just starting out (and don't prefer the internet), this could be a good place to begin. Also, it could offer encouragement to those who are already making efforts and feeling a little burned out.
The author didn't advocate the "reduce" aspect of the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra as much as I would have liked. I mean, the subtitle even claims that you can somehow "reduce your waste without changing your life." But that's an oxymoron. Americans desperately need to hear the message that we're simply consuming too much in general, and we need to stop. Why replace a plastic straw with a metal, glass, bamboo or paper version when the vast majority of people just don't need to use straws at all?
Also, the author says that she tried to keep the book concise so as not to waste paper, but there are several blank pages in between each chapter. Yeah, I get that this is sometimes cheaper and more energy efficient for the publishing company, but it was still ironic.
The author didn't advocate the "reduce" aspect of the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra as much as I would have liked. I mean, the subtitle even claims that you can somehow "reduce your waste without changing your life." But that's an oxymoron. Americans desperately need to hear the message that we're simply consuming too much in general, and we need to stop. Why replace a plastic straw with a metal, glass, bamboo or paper version when the vast majority of people just don't need to use straws at all?
Also, the author says that she tried to keep the book concise so as not to waste paper, but there are several blank pages in between each chapter. Yeah, I get that this is sometimes cheaper and more energy efficient for the publishing company, but it was still ironic.
August 13, 2021
This is a great little guide filled with useful tips! I marked so many passages in this book for things to remember to try. It strikes a nice balance between ambitious and realistic tips so that most of the tips feel absolutely doable rather than overwhelming.
The only thing I wish the author mentioned is that I take issue with the idea that we as consumers are the only ones to blame for global warming. I would love a small section somewhere at the back that just makes the point that as consumers we've been told that recycling can save the planet when really it's so much more complicated than that. It requires a big shift in consumerism culture and how business and industry is run. But really, those points are outside the scope of this book so I can understand why they didn't want to get into that.
I'd like to thank the author and Tiller Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I will definitely be sharing this book with my eco-minded friends and family :)
The only thing I wish the author mentioned is that I take issue with the idea that we as consumers are the only ones to blame for global warming. I would love a small section somewhere at the back that just makes the point that as consumers we've been told that recycling can save the planet when really it's so much more complicated than that. It requires a big shift in consumerism culture and how business and industry is run. But really, those points are outside the scope of this book so I can understand why they didn't want to get into that.
I'd like to thank the author and Tiller Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I will definitely be sharing this book with my eco-minded friends and family :)
November 30, 2021
Lots of excellent things to consider when trying to be better occupants of our world - creating less waste is a wonderful start And as I’ve shared with many, one degree of change is significant over time.
September 7, 2021
Quick starter guide if you never really paid attention to waste. If you’ve reduced, reused and recycled already for a while, you won’t find much new in here.
September 20, 2021
This book was well written for the beginner who is just getting interested in living more ecologically-minded. For someone who is already down that path, however, this book is extremely basic.
September 23, 2021
Even if there are just a couple of new to me ideas, I am happy for it.
Every drop of goodness helps to fill the bucket of making the future world better for all who live -- people, animals, plants, and the land and air and waters themselves.
Every drop of goodness helps to fill the bucket of making the future world better for all who live -- people, animals, plants, and the land and air and waters themselves.
March 26, 2025
Lots of tips that almost anyone can do- I would have liked more company names, but I understand that to make it evergreen, sometimes that’s not going to work.
August 17, 2020
***I received an e-ARC of this book on NetGalley.***
This is a fantastic primer on how to incorporate smart strategies for reducing waste in your home and everyday life. Several of the tips in The (Almost) Zero-Waste Guide will sound familiar to waste-conscious consumers - for example, reducing the use of straws, starting a compost pile, incorporating re-usable cleaning cloths. But others are quite inventive, including reducing food waste by pickling otherwise inedible food scraps like watermelon rinds.
Pros:
- Easy-to-read
- Checklist-style organization of chapters makes it easy to follow (and check things off as you go!)
- Each chapter/focus area provides a variety of options so that you will definitely find something that works for you
Cons:
- When clicking through the the source material on which the tips were based, I found at least one case (e.g., cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers) where the author's recommendation for reducing waste didn't necessarily align with the research findings. While I think she does an admirable job trying to show the "behind the scenes"" waste we should all be aware of, it felt clear to me that she favored options that led to a reduction of the things you, the reader, put in the landfill even in a case where industry-wide waste "behind the scenes" might be the bigger issue.
- I wish the marketing for this wasn't focused on "reducing waste without changing your life." When it comes to making better choices for our planet, some life changes are both necessary and good (and not that hard to do!) and so we shouldn't shy away from that.
All in all, a fantastic, quick read - and one I plan to buy when it comes out. I'd just encourage readers to use this guide as a starting point and then on topics you are especially interested in, it's important to do your own follow-up exploration by searching out the latest research on the issue.
This is a fantastic primer on how to incorporate smart strategies for reducing waste in your home and everyday life. Several of the tips in The (Almost) Zero-Waste Guide will sound familiar to waste-conscious consumers - for example, reducing the use of straws, starting a compost pile, incorporating re-usable cleaning cloths. But others are quite inventive, including reducing food waste by pickling otherwise inedible food scraps like watermelon rinds.
Pros:
- Easy-to-read
- Checklist-style organization of chapters makes it easy to follow (and check things off as you go!)
- Each chapter/focus area provides a variety of options so that you will definitely find something that works for you
Cons:
- When clicking through the the source material on which the tips were based, I found at least one case (e.g., cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers) where the author's recommendation for reducing waste didn't necessarily align with the research findings. While I think she does an admirable job trying to show the "behind the scenes"" waste we should all be aware of, it felt clear to me that she favored options that led to a reduction of the things you, the reader, put in the landfill even in a case where industry-wide waste "behind the scenes" might be the bigger issue.
- I wish the marketing for this wasn't focused on "reducing waste without changing your life." When it comes to making better choices for our planet, some life changes are both necessary and good (and not that hard to do!) and so we shouldn't shy away from that.
All in all, a fantastic, quick read - and one I plan to buy when it comes out. I'd just encourage readers to use this guide as a starting point and then on topics you are especially interested in, it's important to do your own follow-up exploration by searching out the latest research on the issue.
August 30, 2020
Sometimes we need some centering, a reminder of what's in the circle of common sense, and just some polishing of our skills. We're bombarded every day with information, traumas, fears, worries...our brains are stacked right now, and earth friendliness has to compete with other scary things. So it's nice to get a compendium of smart ways to waste less, live smarter and greener and just feel better about having the power to adjust our habits for the better. I liked this book a lot, never expecting to find hundreds of never-before-seen tips and being happily reminded of what my family could be doing better. It's worth your time.
February 23, 2025
A lot of good ideas in here. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to implement all of them. But it's worth reading through to see which ones you might be able to add to your life if you'd like to reduce your negative impact on the environment.
October 10, 2021
Good ideas to create less waste.
August 19, 2020
The general premise of this book is a very good one: reducing waste and becoming an environmentalist imperfectly is better than not doing it at all. The tips were generally helpful and some of them were things I hadn't thought of before. I love the research involved and the casual conversational tone. What I didn't like was that it made it seem that personal impact matters more in fixing the planet rather than corporations. Also, the tips would be good for a middle class and privileged beginner, it's not helpful for people who already were heavily involved in environmentalism and people who experience systemic oppression that makes it harder to do many of the things listed. I think having poor voices and indigenous voices involved could add a lot of dimension to this book. I would have loved if some of the tips involved ways we can work with legislation to help the environment or ways to hold large corporations accountable and a part about the land back movement and how indigenous people are the front-runners of sustainability. It has potential, but it ultimately seems like something a white, middle-class woman would buy and vaguely use to appease her guilt.
Read
February 22, 2021Made me feel that my small efforts were a responsible start
Gave fresh ideas that are easily initiated and maintainee.
Gave fresh ideas that are easily initiated and maintainee.
January 22, 2021
Visionary, contemplative and poignant. The irreversible and dire situation of our climate has become one of the most talked about topics around the world. New laws are being enforced, changes are being made within continents, countries, and communities. Though it would appear as though we may be too late. We are a point where, if we do not collectively make moves toward change on a drastic scale, we are looking at a very different world in five years. The (Almost) Zero-Waste Guide is here to change that ominous future picture.
Drastic change doesn't just start at the government level. It starts in each and every person's home. Through self-policing ourselves we can help to influence industry and political leaders to make these sweeping changes. And even with these dire circumstances, and the daunting list of things that need doing in order to attempt to save the planet, it may not be enough. But there is no rule that says we cannot try, right?
What I love most about this book is that is acknowledges, right from the beginning pages, the living a zero-waste lifestyle is easier said than done. The concept is simple: live in such a way that you leave no impact on the world around you. This can be done through recycle practices, sustainable farming and water collection, reducing emissions and harmful impact on the environment and more. However, the book makes it clear that, despite everything, it is practically impossible to live completely zero waste. It does give us guidance on how to get closer to that goal. It also gives you different levels of how to do things.
For example, we all go grocery shopping - well, most of us anyway - and there are different ways and levels of how to shop, zero-waste style. The simplest is to no longer use plastic bags as they difficult to recycle, but one can also forgo paper bags and use only reusable bags. You can also use produce bags and shop for items that are not pre-packaged with non-recyclable packaging. It recommends getting your fish, meat and poultry cuts directly from the butcher to avoid unnecessary food packaging. Furthermore, purchase the food you need and grow the rest.
Now, for many people some of these seem incredibly outlandish or impossible to do. And I get that, as did the author Melanie Mannarino. Not everyone lives in a place where they can grow their own food. Some communities are limited in their fresh food options so things are required to be purchased frozen vs. fresh, which can lead to unwanted non-recyclable or compostable packaging. This book not only tells you HOW to get closer to living a zero-waste life, but lets you pick the extent of how you can do it. This book is filled with alternative options for just about everything and encourages its readers to become inspired and motivated to make changes in their own lives.
I have already been taking steps towards living a more eco-friendly, sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle (much to my boyfriends chagrin). In making some of these changes I have realized just how easy some changes are to make while others seemed so out of reach. Regardless, this book inspired me to make sweeping changes but reasonable ones at that. Like ensuring we use only reusable bags to shop or use paper bags (which double as our trash bags since we can't compost at our apartment). Only purchasing products that follow sustainable, eco-friendly practices like recyclable/biodegradable/compostable packaging. By making ourselves hyper-aware of everything we touch and use, we realized just how many things we had were made out of pieces that weren't recyclable in their current state or at all. Or were a waste in itself, like trash bags which are made of plastic which doesn't break down well.
Everyone needs to get their hands on this book and read it. Then they need to decide what changes they can make and encourage family and friends to do the same.
Drastic change doesn't just start at the government level. It starts in each and every person's home. Through self-policing ourselves we can help to influence industry and political leaders to make these sweeping changes. And even with these dire circumstances, and the daunting list of things that need doing in order to attempt to save the planet, it may not be enough. But there is no rule that says we cannot try, right?
What I love most about this book is that is acknowledges, right from the beginning pages, the living a zero-waste lifestyle is easier said than done. The concept is simple: live in such a way that you leave no impact on the world around you. This can be done through recycle practices, sustainable farming and water collection, reducing emissions and harmful impact on the environment and more. However, the book makes it clear that, despite everything, it is practically impossible to live completely zero waste. It does give us guidance on how to get closer to that goal. It also gives you different levels of how to do things.
For example, we all go grocery shopping - well, most of us anyway - and there are different ways and levels of how to shop, zero-waste style. The simplest is to no longer use plastic bags as they difficult to recycle, but one can also forgo paper bags and use only reusable bags. You can also use produce bags and shop for items that are not pre-packaged with non-recyclable packaging. It recommends getting your fish, meat and poultry cuts directly from the butcher to avoid unnecessary food packaging. Furthermore, purchase the food you need and grow the rest.
Now, for many people some of these seem incredibly outlandish or impossible to do. And I get that, as did the author Melanie Mannarino. Not everyone lives in a place where they can grow their own food. Some communities are limited in their fresh food options so things are required to be purchased frozen vs. fresh, which can lead to unwanted non-recyclable or compostable packaging. This book not only tells you HOW to get closer to living a zero-waste life, but lets you pick the extent of how you can do it. This book is filled with alternative options for just about everything and encourages its readers to become inspired and motivated to make changes in their own lives.
I have already been taking steps towards living a more eco-friendly, sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle (much to my boyfriends chagrin). In making some of these changes I have realized just how easy some changes are to make while others seemed so out of reach. Regardless, this book inspired me to make sweeping changes but reasonable ones at that. Like ensuring we use only reusable bags to shop or use paper bags (which double as our trash bags since we can't compost at our apartment). Only purchasing products that follow sustainable, eco-friendly practices like recyclable/biodegradable/compostable packaging. By making ourselves hyper-aware of everything we touch and use, we realized just how many things we had were made out of pieces that weren't recyclable in their current state or at all. Or were a waste in itself, like trash bags which are made of plastic which doesn't break down well.
Everyone needs to get their hands on this book and read it. Then they need to decide what changes they can make and encourage family and friends to do the same.
February 7, 2021
This was a good entry-level book on reducing waste. I had heard most of the tips in here but I think it’s always good to be reminded/convicted of some of the things that we can do to improve our world. After reading this, I think I’m going to start a rain barrel to water my indoor plants!
February 1, 2021
I've been really interested in being more eco-friendly in every way for the past few years. This book really caught my attention mainly because of the word "almost" in the title. It's a sure fire way to help people realize that while being eco friendly is best for everyone, it's not always easy and possible for all cases. Some people get deterred by the idea of changing so much, but knowing that sometimes it's little things like purchasing bar soap over liquid can help us get into the right mindset. Sometimes we need to choose what works best and this book provides solutions, tips and ideas to help us get there. It doesn't push us to be 100% zero-waste, but it helps us do our best. I'd definitely recommend this book for friends and family.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
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