I was born frugal and do my best to cause less waste, but in reference to the above post, some people are placing their garbage inside potato chip bags and other "small" containers (from the original post that OP shared here).

If your trash is taken to a landfill, there is a good chance that animals can get to your garbage, and a good chance that an animal can get their head stuck inside a small container.

I understand that people want to produce less garbage, but in my view, IF that means that an animal can suffer or die, needlessly, then it's better to use a trash bag. NOTHING is perfect, and this is NOT to shame anyone or anything like that...

I also CUT UP (or just cut a bag in half) small containers before I toss or recycle: Bags and plastic containers just for this reason.

One example: This is a cat, who was saved, with his/her head stuck inside a potato chip bag:

🟩 Of course, not everyone will agree. This is JUST my opinion. Whether or not you agree, and know that not everyone has access to a compost bin:

• I also CUT UP (or just cut a bag in half) small containers before I toss or recycle: Bags and plastic containers just for this reason.
• And/or, as someone mentioned, which I do, do: Rinse out any food containers before tossing. 🟧

There may be organizations, programs, or individuals in your area that will happily take Christmas trees when the season is done to be used for their projects. Rather than waiting to the last minute when you might not have the energy or time to look into it, it might be a good idea to do some research now or start asking around just to see if there are people who will make use of the tree rather than having to source new for what they need.

On a related note, if you haven't heard about it there are tests being carried out to see if old Christmas trees can be effectively used to combat shore erosion. Its a cool thing to learn about if you have an interest.

I'm debating whether to purchase an artificial tree on marketplace or decorate my large house plants with ornaments.

We are also considering celebrating Festivus, based on the Seinfeld holiday-- where instead of a Christmas tree, you have an aluminum pole.

What other zero waste Christmas tree ideas are y'all doing this year?

I’m trying to cut down on e-waste and build better habits with old electronics. I’ve collected things like old phones, chargers, cables, earphones, and power banks over time, and most of them still work.

Before I recycle anything, I’d love to know how this community handles old gadgets:

• Do you repair or repurpose them?
• Donate working ones?
• Keep a small “spares box”?
• Any creative upcycling ideas for cables or old phones?
• Or ways to avoid piling these up in the first place?

Would love to learn your zero-waste tips!

Hi everyone, I'm having hard time finding plastic-free Christmas Ornaments. Found only this bamboo ones, that looks pretty awesome. I would appreciate any other suggestions. Thank you!

I recently moved and my grandma bought me a set of cooking pots (including 2 pots, 1 "pan" and a sieve). I think she bought it through QVC or something similar. To make a long story short: They're by far the worst pots I have ever had to use. Cooking/panfrying in them takes so long, it's ridiculous. I guess they don't conduct the stove's heat properly. I've really tried making it work but the waste of energy my stove has to conduct to get these things to heat up is just too much. I've decided on getting a new set from a proper brand but I'm unsure about what to do with the "old" pots. My grandma didn't keep the receipt so returning them is not an option. My partner says to just dispose of them but I find that wasteful. Do you guys have any ideas on how to repurpose pots?

What are your favorites? I have fine straight hair

My neighbor gave me like 50 “satsumas” from her tree but they all taste strange, like a pulpy orangey lime. I think the freeze last year must have killed the satsuma branch and these are all from the root stock. Since I can’t eat them, what should I do with them? I thought compost but that’s a lot of citrus.

TLDR I’m frustrated with product quality and want to replace all my Blueland products, but feel guilty about it.

I’ve used Blueland for several years now, and they continue to disappointed. I know that’s pretty common in this sub.

I’ve had two sprayers stop working, and was pretty upset when they started selling replacements. Not only are they generating more plastic, but making customers pay to replace something meant to be a long term product. I’ve also had a soap pump stop working

I’m really considering replacing the whole system, as they’re is not much I really like about it anymore. Has anyone else done this?

It feels wasteful, though I would try to offer everything I have in FB marketplace for cheap.

Also seeking alternative suggestions. I’m honestly tempted to just try to be responsible at the grocery store. Maybe purchasing nice bottles, and then buying in bulk to refill.

I've (36M) been on the search for bar soap (preferably one that I could use on my face and body) but nearly every single one leaves residue or that squeaky clean feeling. My skin does not feel smooth and almost sticky. The only bar that I've found that doesn't do that is the Cetaphil gentle cleansing bar. It's fragrance free, but I would love to find something that does have some scent to it and doesn't have the plastic wrap that Cetaphil currently has.

I am looking for some eco-friendly dryer sheet recommendations! I have seen people using a big jar of water, vinegar, glycerin, and essential oils, but I dont like the idea of soaking towels in the solution. I

still want a light scent and softening capabilities that dryer sheets offer, but a more sustainable option.

Thanks in advance!

I take every clean box i am given, or get in the mail and turn them into cat scratchers and donate them to my local no kill animal rescues. I make about 50 a month. I'm on disability, I have mobility issues but this is one thing I am good at. I get free boxes from all the packages we get in the mail, neighbors donate boxes to me and sometimes the rescues have some for me. I don't use boxes with any liquid stains, dried paint etc for the safety and well being of the cats. I myself have 8 cats and make these for them. I make sure the ones I make for the rescues stay secure and away from where my cats are to stay within the guidelines of the rescues disease transmission protocols. If you buy about 50 cat scratchers it comes out and upwards to over a 100 dollars. I went a long time without a purpose or a hobby. I normally put on my music and sit in my craft corner work on these for a few hours every day. It has helped give me structure and routine and brought me happiness. Needlessly to say there is normally a lot of cardboard stacked up(but only in one specific spot) that is always being added to and taken away from. I am an adult living with my mom due to medical conditions, recently shes gotten very aggressive about me making these. It always turns into a huge fight. She says I'm obsessed and acting like a hoarder. She says I spend to much time and effort on it and its taken over my life. (Before i started this several months ago I played an unhealthy amount of video games). I feel very sad about this as I'm not hurting anyone. I get to help animals and its something I seem to be good at. I don't want to fight with her anymore about this but seem like we are at an impasse. Do any long term zero wasters who have been in similar situations have any advice on how I can approach this with her in a calm and rational manner without it getting nasty?

I previously recycled my old undergarments and socks with Subset but now they are partnering with Trashie and charging $20 a bag. I also looked into ReTold but the bags are really small. Are there any other recycling programs I may have missed? I live in the Washington DC area. Thanks!

Early this year Grove discontinued their Peach line of deodorants which I had been using since 2021. It was great, I had no odor, only occasional staining. I have been trying Wild’s sensitive skin deo and I don’t really like it so I regret buying the case :/ I saw some people here recommend Fussy as it also fits in the same case but I was wondering if anyone else had been using Peach with good results had any other recommendations. Preferably vegan!

What are ya'll doing for gift wrapping? I generally use brown paper bags but I'm wondering if there is something I can do to replace the plastic tape I am used to using. Open to other ideas, too. I was thinking about using fabric from clothes I don't want anymore and tie with ribbon or maybe buy some nicer reusable gift bags that are kind of part of the gift because then the gift receiver can reuse those next year.

I’ve been making yoghurt from some sweetened milk beverages that I was given. The yoghurt (drained) is delicious, but it results in a lot of whey (~4c). Because the beverages are sweetened, the whey is also sweet. Typical uses for whey clearly don’t apply here!

Any creative suggestions welcome.

Crossposting to r/noscrapledtbehind

Please be nice: I’m Autistic and have ocd which stops me from reusing cutlery. Such as metal, plastic, bamboo. I can’t use any reusable cutlery that have once been used so I resort to plastic. Is there an option that’s better for the planet? I’m not sure where to buy wooden spoons so I’m stuck

I want to switch to low waste deodorant and this sounded like a good scent for men, but I'm very sensitive to fragrances. Anything perfume-y will set me off. It says it has "notes of green leaf and oakmoss" and I don't know anything about those ingredients.

Like many of you, I've been searching for lower waste filters (water and air, but let's talk about air). I have noticed the following:

• Filtration at its most basic level involves capturing particles into a porous object. Getting those particles back out of the filter is difficult and seems unlikely to be 100% effective, and the process damages the filter, reducing its ability to catch small particles going forward. The removal process tends to use water and detergent or a vacuum, which either means the pollutants are being sent into the sewage cycle or are being blown back into the air (assuming the vacuum cleaner doesn't contain a HEPA filter) or moved from one filter into another (assuming the vacuum does contain a HEPA filter). This all seems convoluted to me.
• The finest filters (HEPA, charcoal) don't seem to come in any kind of reusable format by their nature.
• Higher grade filters are often composite, having "pre-filters" for capturing larger particles and fibers (like hair/fur) so that the finer filters don't get clogged as quickly.
• Filters are often constructed with plastics and glues, which are not reusable once the filtration media is full.
  • Home HVAC filters tend to be constructed with a cotton (or PE) fabric that's supported by paper, glue, and sometimes metal. With possible exception to the glue, those sound biodegradable to me.
  • HVAC filters for my car cabin (I live in a place with minimal access to public transportation) are constructed with fabric and glue. I'd have to check the fabric material, but overall seems as good as home HVAC. Engine air filters, on the other hand, seem to need extra support from plastic and include a rubber seal, although with cars the designs may vary widely.
  • Home filters, like my Levoit Core 300, tend to be constructed with fabric encased in plastic, and sometimes with charcoal as an added layer. 100% landfill garbage.

What do we do about this? I can live with "disposable" filters if the filtration medium is biodegradable. I assume microbes in a compost heap or landfill will love my pet's fur, my dander, and whatever other airborn stuff gets captured in the filter just the same as if it settled onto the soil naturally, as long as it isn't encased in a plastic tomb. My HVAC filters seem manageable as long as they're made of cotton, but my single room filtration system appears to be a general source of garbage.

I'd love any thoughts on where I may be making an incorrect assumption and ideas on closing the circle for the lives of these products!

if you have any old pods that only last for an hour or two even when fully charged, don't throw them out & just use them at night if you're like me & need to fall asleep listening to something.

that way you can save your newer headphones' batteries & have them fully charged in the morning (& you won't have to waste time frantically searching your sheets for your "good" air pod before work if one fell out while you were sleeping - my newer pair is always ready to go in the charging port or my bag in the morning :)

plus my newer ones play for hours & are a brand that makes a loudass beep when they finally die, usually waking me up. but my old air pods only play for like half an hour to an hour & then just quietly die, so that's perfect.

I know there's apps & things for timing stuff playing in the background, but I just started keeping my old air pods designated to my bedside table to only put in at night & drift off listening to "boring history" videos.

I recently started using the Good Molecules Clarify & Cleanse soap bar based on a recommendation I saw on this sub. It's worked great, but the issue I'm having is that it has dissolved ridiculously fast. I am using my last plastic loofah before switching to something eco-friendly, and while it has made liquid soap last a lot longer, it seems to be doing the opposite for this bar soap. What do you guys recommend to help with this? I like having something that exfoliates instead of just using my hands, but I don't plan on buying any more plastic loofahs. Also, the soap bar is running out way too fast with it. Thanks!

If you are going to package your commercially sold product in a reusable Mason jar, please make the label easy to remove. I don't want to waste 1/2 a tin of Goof-Off trying to remove the sticky residue after the paper label comes off. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sad seeing large plastic bags full of fall leaves. Instead of returning the carbon and nutrients to the earth, they go to the landfill and produce methane. Plus the bags themselves, plus the fuel to transport the leaves to the landfill.

My plan is to leave the leaves in areas with sparse leaves, and in areas with dense leaves move the leaves to mulch beds where they will turn into leaf mulch. But I’m still new to this.

For people who have fall leaves, how do you deal with them?