Summary of the book "Waste Not" - By Erin Rhoads

Key Concepts in this book:

1. The less waste you produce, the less rubbish the planet must absorb.
2. Examine your consumption patterns to determine if you can make any changes.
3. Make some preparations ahead of time to cut down on kitchen waste.
4. Take care of what you have to produce less trash.
5. Being conscious of your clothing is a fashionable way of life.
6. Love yourself by naturally taking care of yourself.

Who can benefit the most from this book:

• People who want to reduce their waste output.
• Parents looking to educate their kids about recycling.
• All those concerned with climate change.

What am I getting out of it? Learn how adopting a low-waste lifestyle can improve your quality of life.

Have you ever noticed how much of the modern world is made out of plastic? It's even used to line to-go coffee mugs. Worse, all of the plastic generated in the previous century is still in circulation, cluttering landfills and contaminating our oceans. While the term "environmentalist" was often associated with hippies, most of us are now ecologically concerned, diligently transporting our glass, paper, and plastic to the recycling bin.

Unfortunately, we also have a lot of misconceptions, such as the notion that recycling is the most we can do. But have you ever considered reducing the amount of waste you produce? This isn't simply a trip to save the environment; it's also an opportunity to change your life. You'll be eating healthier foods, acquiring new skills, avoiding hazardous chemicals, and learning to value the now over material possessions.

So, if you care about how you live your life, keep reading to find out how tiny changes can help you match your actions with your ideals.

In this summary, 

• You'll learn how recycling actually works.
• How to avoid relying on plastic.
• And how virtually every aspect of your life can be great with less waste.

1. The less waste you produce, the less rubbish the planet must absorb.

The concept of "zero waste" may appear absurd at first, however, consider the following: When a leaf falls from a tree, microbes break it down, which in turn supports bugs, which in turn supports birds, which supports... well, you get the picture. Nature is a zero-waste system in and of itself.

At least, that was the case until the arrival of humans. And, while we coexisted with nature for millennia, new technology introduced mass production during the Industrial Revolution. As a result of extracting fossil fuels and raw materials from the ground to create new things, waste — frequently toxic waste – is a significant byproduct. In fact, human actions are to blame for every environmental problem.

And, while actions such as employing solar panels and recycling carefully can assist, they still use resources. That is why it is critical to cut back on consumption.

The main point is that the less you consume, the less waste the planet has to absorb.

Everything you buy uses energy, not just when it's made, but also when it's discarded. Consider the impact of plastics, which can take up to 500 years to decompose. Plastics block up the earth rather than nourishing it, and they've also found their way into our food and water.

Worse, plastics are now caught in the noses of sea turtles and in the bellies of hungry Laysan albatrosses, who mistake trash for food. Plastic does not degrade quickly, but it does degrade into microplastics. All of these, as well as the microbeads commonly found in face wash, wind up in the ocean. In fact, scientists predicted that Europeans swallowed 11,000 particles of microplastic per year in their seafood in 2016.

What about recycling, though? Isn't that a waste-prevention strategy?

Certainly not. A recycling symbol on an object does not imply that it may be recycled indefinitely. Before reaching the end of their useful life, most plastics can only be recycled once. Even though paper can be recycled 10 times, recycling is a market-driven industry, thus material might sit for a long period before being used.

Meanwhile, we continue to stock up on goods. We're even encouraged to do it. That's because items are made with planned obsolescence in mind: they're supposed to break down so we can buy new ones.

This, however, does not have to be the case. We'll talk about how you can start making tiny adjustments in your life to have a significant positive impact on the world we live in in the next concept.

2. Examine your consumption patterns to determine if you can make any changes.

The best way to think of the zero-waste lifestyle is as a circular system, as opposed to the linear approach of "purchase, use, discard, and rebuy" that most people follow. Dr Paul Palmer, a California chemist whose company found uses for Silicon Valley's chemical waste, invented the term "zero waste" in the 1970s. Palmer was led by the conviction that any waste was a defect in the design and that all byproducts should have a known application.

Bea Johnson, like Palmer, believes that recycling is insufficient to solve the trash problem. Johnson urges her readers to look at their waste through the lens of the five Rs – reject, reduce, reuse, rot, and recycle – and assess if an object was essential in the first place – that is, whether they might have refused it – on her blog Zero Waste Home. She only encourages recycling if there is nothing else that can be done with it.

The main point here is to examine your intake and see if there are any changes that can be made.

A single-use plastic challenge is a simple approach to begin transitioning to a more circular way of life. Begin by substituting reusable products such as cloth bags and to-go mugs for plastic shopping bags, water bottles, straws, to-go containers, coffee cups, cutlery, and so on.

Buying unpackaged things is another simple method to use less plastic. Bulk stores and co-ops are becoming increasingly common, so grab your tote bags and a few empty jars and head out. You'll save money because you won't have to pay for extra packaging.

The next stage in reducing trash production is to examine the waste itself. Keep track of the food scraps, plastic, cardboard, and metal you're throwing away as you throw items away. In two weeks, you'll know exactly what kind of waste you generate the most. Then pick one area to concentrate on — for example, learning how to compost all those food wastes.

Finally, keep in mind that you do not need to purchase new items on a regular basis. When her blender broke, the author borrowed one from a friend and then had it repaired. She not only became a part of the sharing economy, but she also aided a local small business. If you can't borrow or fix anything, try buying it secondhand - you'll not only be giving an object a new lease on life, but you'll also be avoiding the emissions that come with manufacturing new products.

3. Make some preparations ahead of time to cut down on kitchen waste.

The kitchen is typically the hub of family life, where members cook, gather, and drink their morning coffee as they prepare for the day ahead. The kitchen is usually supplied on a weekly basis, and it's also where the majority of garbage is generated.

You probably have a good idea of how much unnecessary packaging you have in your kitchen if you've looked at your plastic usage. So now is a fantastic time to remind yourself that humans have survived for thousands of years without all that packing – and you can, too. It only takes a little forethought.

To begin, learn how to create specific foods from scratches, such as pasta or mayonnaise. You can even try your hand at growing vegetables with the help of your new compost. But, most importantly, think about how and where you can get what you need without all that useless packaging before you go grocery shopping.

The main point here is to plan ahead of time to reduce waste in the kitchen.

Consider choosing fruits and vegetables that are in season – and preferably local – when arranging your shopping trip to minimize the packing and transportation costs of out-of-season produce. Consider how you can reuse the packaging if you need to buy something packed. For example, you can line your cake tins with the foil wrapper used to package butter.

Next, realize that growing your own food does not require you to be an expert or have a large amount of area. You can grow cherry tomatoes and herbs even if all you have is a windowsill. You'll not only be rewarded with more tasty food, but you'll also have the peace of mind of knowing exactly where your food comes from. You can even involve your children. If you're worried about the time it takes to set up a garden, consider how easy it would be to grab some kale and cucumbers right outside your door.

When it comes to dealing with food waste, there's no better place to start than composting. When food wastes end up in a landfill, they typically lack the oxygen they require to decompose properly, resulting in the formation of dangerous methane. Your compost pile will help to purify the air while also providing excellent fuel for your new garden.

4. Take care of what you have to produce less trash.

Now it's time to go under your kitchen sink, where you're likely to find an armoury of plastic bottles filled with toxic chemicals, each aimed at a different form of dirt in your house. Unfortunately, the majority of these chemicals contain hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, and carcinogens, which accumulate in homes and are also discharged into the groundwater. But, just as humans didn't need plastic bags in the past, they didn't need all of these toxins. To keep their homes and things clean, they relied on a few simple products like soap and vinegar.

Learning how to care for your belongings, whether they're hardwood floors, vintage carpets, or even clothes, is an important part of the zero-waste lifestyle. And by being conscious of how you care for your belongings, you begin to value them more. As a result, they survive longer, reducing the need for replacement.

The main idea is to produce less trash by taking care of what you already have.

Nothing makes cleaning your house easier than soap and vinegar. These may be used to clean everything from mirrors and tiles to stainless steel, the inside of the fridge, and windows when mixed with hot water. Simply avoid mixing the two because the vinegar will dissolve the soap, rendering the concoction ineffective. Vinegar and baking soda can also be used to produce floor, oven, and toilet cleaners, and recipes can be found online. You can also make liquid soap by melting down your old soap ends, which is fantastic for hand-washing sweaters.

The majority of cleaning tools are synthetic and will take a long time to decompose in a landfill. Instead, use loofahs as scrubbers and old towels or t-shirts as cleaning cloths. Get some scrubbing pads made from coconut husks if you need some. Use old newspapers to clean the windows when it's time to clean them. Finally, don't toss out those plastic toothbrushes; they're perfect for cleaning grout.

You may begin to feel that you have too much worthless stuff when you reorganize your home's care. But don't just toss it at the thrift store; instead, think about why you're not using it and whether you know anyone who would. Is it possible to sell or repurpose it? You'll become more conscious of how you use things as a result, and you'll contribute to the growth of the sharing economy.

5. Being conscious of your clothing is a fashionable way of life.

Clothing, believe it or not, is one of the most significant forms of trash. It's no surprise that clothing is cluttering landfills, given the rise of "fast fashion," which encourages us to buy a new outfit every season. For example, Australia imports 90% of its apparel and discards 6000 kilograms of it every 10 minutes. Consider how much waste there is — not just in terms of tangible goods, but also in terms of the resources used to create them.

But don't be concerned. A zero-waste lifestyle doesn't necessitate reducing your wardrobe to a monk's uniform; it only necessitates rethinking how you buy and keep things. Rather than chasing down the latest trends, look for timeless classics. If you have clothing in your closet that you haven't worn in months, consider giving them to someone who would appreciate them.

The main point here is that being conscious of your clothing is a trendy way of life.

Consider visiting a used or antique store the next time you need new apparel. This isn't simply a more ethical choice; you'll also be more likely to uncover something unique. Look for pieces that are made of natural fabrics, have sturdy buttons, and are timeless in style when purchasing secondhand. And don't buy something just because you're bored; save your money until you've found the perfect item for you.

It's time to contemplate how you'll wash these clothing after you get them home. Because laundry consumes around 80% of the energy used by a garment, it is a needless environmental burden. The truth is that not all clothes need to be washed on a regular basis. Jeans and coats do not require as much washing as socks and underwear. Often, merely spot-cleaning or drying out an item is all that is required to get extra wear out of it, reducing the laundry load dramatically.

Finally, learn how to patch your garments to preserve them in good condition. If your seams aren't perfect, don't fret; you can always redo them once you've improved your skills. Rather, take pride in refusing rapid fashion. And if you've worn your clothes down to rags, that's exactly what you can do with them. Repurpose the scraps for household cleaning.

6. Love yourself by naturally taking care of yourself.

You probably have an overstock of chemicals above your sink, just as you do beneath it. All of those face and hand washes, beauty masks and hair gels, and even toilet paper and sanitary pads come with a lot of unnecessary packaging.

Don't worry, you don't have to give up makeup or face masks to live a zero-waste lifestyle. You don't want your activities to add to the environmental effect produced by scented toilet paper and cosmetics you don't need because you're living a zero-waste lifestyle.

Instead, you can learn how to get clean and look attractive using more natural techniques while actively reducing waste and packing.

The main idea here is to love oneself by naturally taking care of yourself.

Most cosmetic items come in wasteful plastic packaging, which leaches the industrial chemical BPA into the products, which can harm your thyroid and reproductive system. So look for things that are packaged in glass, metal, or cardboard. Consider replacing your face scrub, body wash, and shampoo with a beautiful bar of olive oil soap packed in paper.

You can replace your plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush when it comes to your teeth. Did you know that toothpaste can be made with just baking soda, clove oil, and coconut oil? If you're still not convinced, consult your dentist; he or she will most likely remind you that tooth decay is caused by improper brushing.

Natural oils are a terrific alternative to chemicals when it comes to face care. Do your homework because some of them block pores, while others, such as rosehip, raspberry, hemp, and shea butter, are safe to use on the face. So why not swap out your current moisturizer, which contains a slew of components, for one that only has one?

Last but not least, if you menstruate, consider using menstruation cups or cotton pads. Every year, billions of feminine hygiene items wind up in landfills, with an average pad containing the same amount of plastic as five plastic bags. Menstrual cups, on the other hand, are constructed of silicone and can last up to ten years when properly cared for. Cloth pads, on the other hand, are constructed of permeable material and are simple to wash and reuse.

Remember that even if you only make a couple of these changes, the impact on the environment will be considerable.

The main point of this summary is that it's probably unavoidable that the thought of living a zero-waste lifestyle conjures up ideas of hippies or monks – or, even worse, the anxiety of having to restrict yourself. It is, however, not only totally acceptable but also rather simple to live more simply while producing less waste. Instead of conjuring up images of hippies or monks, consider how striving for zero waste allows you to actively live the way you want the world to be. As a result, you ensure that change begins with you.

Here's some additional advice that you can put into practice:

Food wastes can be used to start new plants.

Growing veggies like spring onions, fennel, or leeks from the odd parts you have leftover from cooking is a breeze. Simply place the chunks in any container or bowl and fill it with water. Transfer your new seedling to some soil after around seven days, when you observe new stalks emerging. It's that simple!