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Go waste-free for Zero Waste Week
Start the 4th annual Zero Waste Week by trimming your 'waste-line' on the go.
Tue, Sep 06 2011 at 10:57 AM
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Photo: Mr T in D.C./Flickr
This week — Sept. 5-11 — marks the fourth annual National Zero Waste Week, and this year's theme has me thinking beyond what goes in my trash can at home. This year, the theme is "Reducing waste away from home," focusing on the trash we generate when we're eating out, commuting to work, packing the kids' lunches for school, shopping or traveling.
Fortunately, there are lots of great ways to trim this "waste-line" on the go. Here are some ideas:
- Opt for a reusable travel mug instead of a disposable cup for your morning java.
- Pack a waste-free lunch for your kids to take to school.
- Bring home fruit peelings and cores from your lunch to compost at home.
- Bring take out containers to restaurants and skip the Styrofoam boxes.
- Avoid straws or disposable cutlery when eating out.
Need more inspiration? Check out the Zero Waste Week 2011 website for ideas, comments and collaboration on reducing the waste you create at home and on the go.
What's your favorite tip for minimizing waste away from home?
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We use stainless steel straws, instead of disposable. With 6 kids, we really are making a difference.
Great stuff Teatime, I love how making these small differences can add up to significant impact. It's something to keep in mind when we're wondering how much difference we can make as an individual :) I've seen glass straws too (not sure about those for kids) and someone told me about compostable bamboo ones...
thanks so much for writing about zero waste week; we appreciate you helping to spread the word. We have so many wonderful pledges made from remembering reusable shopping bags to campaigning to local restaurants to 'clean up their act'! And of course, the real idea is to give people a sense of fun and achievement so they continue the work throughout the year ;)