single-serving packages, 9
straws, x, 2–5, 37
takeout and delivery meals, 6–7
to-go containers, 6, 7
Food Marketing Institute, 23
Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA), 23
Foodkeeper app, 23
fragrances, 76
FreeCycle.com, 52
fried potato peels, 15
fruit, cooking with scraps, 14–15
“frustration-free” packaging, 46
fuel efficiency, 88–90
furniture, secondhand, viii, 59–60
G
Gallup poll, 57
gardens community, 124–26
using rainwater on, 35–36
glass jars, 8–10
glass straws, 4
global warming, 115
glow mask, 75
Goodwell Company, 70
Goodwill, 106
Green Earth, 115
green mold, 24
greenhouse-gas emissions, ix, 17, 18, 19, 76, 85, 87, 88, 90, 91, 129
groundcover plants, 56
H
Habitat for Humanity ReStores, 42, 52
hair color, 67–68
hardwood, 42
heating and cooling, 49–50
henna, 68
home gyms, 78–79
home improvements, 41–42
home repair, 39
home waste, 29–60 (see also food and cooking, recycling) appliances, 48–49
building construction and demolition, 40
cleaning solutions, 30–31
cotton cloths, 31–32
home improvements, 41–42
kitty litter, 53–54
lawns, 54–56
light bulbs, 47
mobile devices, 57
napkins, 6, 37–38
online shopping, 45–46
painting, 50–53
rainwater collection, viii, 34–36
repurposing, 39–41
sponges, 32–33
weed killer, 33
zip-top bags, xiv, 9, 37
Hoover, Darby, xi, xiii, xvi, xvii, 97
household appliances, 48, 49
Humane Society, 130
hybrid vehicles, 88
hydrocarbons, 115
hydrogen chloride, 102
I
idling, 89
Ilia Beauty, 76
incandescent light bulbs, 47
incinerators, viii
International Solid Waste Association, 114
Internet shopping, 45–46
J
Japanese sweet flag, 56
jeans, washing, 114
K
kitty litter, 53–54
Kjaer Weis, 76
L
landfills, vii–x, xii–xiv, 2, 19, 73, 117, 126
latex paint, 52
laundry detergent, 57
lawns, 54–56
lead, 35
leaf blowers, 55
LED light bulbs, 47
leftovers, 16, 136
Levi’s, 114
libraries, 128–31
Life Cycle Assessment Study of Grocery Carrier Bags, 11
light bulbs, 47
lily of the valley, 56
linseed oil paint, 50
Litterati.org, 127
littering, 126–27
Little Free Library, 130
livestock, 17–18
LOLA, 77
Loma Linda University, Arizona, 12
loofahs, 73
loose-leaf teas, 7–8
Lush, 68, 76
lye, 102
lyocell washcloths, 73
M
makeup, 75–76
marine animals, viii, 3, 69
masks, 73–75
meat consumption, 9, 17–18
Meatless Monday, 17–18
medications, 72–73
menstrual cups, 77
menstrual pads and tampons, 76–77
menu planning, 16
methane gas, viii, xii, 5, 19, 129
microbeads, 68–69
microfiber towels, 31
Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, 11
Minnesota Pollution Control, 55
mobile devices, 57
moisture mask, 74
mold, 24
Monday Campaigns, 17
mowing, 54–55
multiple shipments, 46
MyClimate.org, 85
N
napkins cloth, 38
paper, 6, 37–38
National Institutes of Health, 95
natural light, 48
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), xi, xvi, 2, 44, 55, 97, 116
natural toothpaste, 70
new-construction homes, 40
Nike, 113
Nike Grind, 113
nitrogen, 7, 20
nylon (PA), 69
O
o.b. organic, 77
oil paint, 52
Old Farmer’s Almanac, 13
“one less” rule, 94
online shopping, 45–46
oregano, 56
organic cloth diapers, 117–18
organic cotton, 109
organic trash pickup, 129
ornamental grass, 56
over-the-counter drugs, 73
P
packaging, 46, 66, 72–73, 136
packing, 92–95
paint trays, 51
PaintCare, 52
painting, 50–53
paper napkins, 6, 37–38
paper straws, 5
paper towels, 31, 38
particulate matter, 102
Patagonia, 78, 110
peels, xiv, 40
People Tree, 109
perchloroethylene (“perc”), 115
period panties, 77
periods, 76–77
personal care, 65–81 flossing teeth, 70–71
hair color, 67–68
home gyms, 78–79
makeup and skin care, 75–76
masks, 73–75
medications, 72–73
mini toiletries, 92
periods, 76–77
razors, 66–67
scents, 76
scrubs, 68–69
shampoo, 68
toothbrushes, 69–70
workout clothes, 78
yoga mats, 79–81
pesticides, 20, 38, 55, 77, 109
pet waste, 20
petrochemicals, 76
petroleum, 88, 89, 115, 118
p-phenylenediamine, 68
“pick up at local store” option, 45–46
pickled watermelon rind, 14–15
PlanetReuse.com, 42
plastics, viii–x, xiv, xv, 6, 9, 11, 37, 43, 53, 65–66
pollution, xi
polyacrylate absorbents, 118
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 35
polyethylene (PE), 69, 118
polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), 69
polypropylene (PP), 69, 118
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 79–80, 105
post-sun mask, 75
prescription drugs, 72–73
public transportation, 86, 87
Pyrex glassware, 4
R
Rael, 77
rail systems, 87
rain gardens, 56
rainwater barrels, 34 treating with bleach, 36
rainwater collection, viii, 34–36
razors, 66–67
receipts, 95
recycling, xiii–xv, xvii–xviii, 43–44 alternatives to plastic containers, 43
electronics, 57
list of household items, 44
paint, 50
rules, 127
search guide, 59
shoes, 112–13
toothbrushes and toothpaste, 70
“reduce, reuse, recycle,” xi–xii
Reformation, 109
repurposing, 39–41
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 102
restaurant meals, 5–6
reusable bags, 10–11 cleaning, 12–13
Reuse-a-Shoe program, 113
ReuseWood.org, 42
ride-share option, 87
RMS Beauty, 76
rock lawns, 55–56
running shoes, 110–11
Rutgers University, New Jersey, 35
Ryerson University, Ontario, Canada, 72
S
safety razors, 67
Salvation Army, 106
Sappho New Paradigm, 76
Satva, 78
scents, 76
scrubs, 68–69
seafood, 31
seafood stock, 9
secondhand items, 45 furniture, viii, 59–60
home materials, 41–42
wardrobe, 104, 105–6, 131
sell-by date, 2, 22–23
seltzer makers, 22
senior centers, secondhand furniture and, 60
sewing, 106–7
SF Environment, 115
shampoo, xiv–xv, 68
sheet masks, 73–75
shoes care of, 110–12
redistributing and recycling, 112–13, 136
walking, 86–87
silicone bags, 37
silicone straws, 5
Sinclair, Ryan, 12
single-serving packages, 9
single-use plastics, xiv
skin care, 75–76
sneakers, 110–11, 113
soaps, 57, 68
social media, secondhand furniture and, 60
sodium polyacrylate, 118
Soles4Souls, 112
soothing mask, 75
soups, 14–15
spoiled food, 21–22
sponges, 32–33
stain removers, 57
stainless steel straws, 3–4
stir-fried broccoli stalk “coins,” 15
stock, 9
stonecrop succulents, 56
straws, x, 2–5, 37
super absorbent polymer (SAP), 118
sustainable brands, 109–10
synthetic fabrics, 102
synthetic sponges, 32
T
tailoring, 106–7
takeout meals, 6–7
Tata Harper, 76
teas, loose-leaf, 7–8
Technical Textile Markets, 102
telecommuting, 96–97
TerraCycle, 70
thermostats, programmable, 49–50
throwing things away, myth of, xii–xiv
thyme, 56
tire pressure, 89–90
to-go containers, 6, 7
toilet paper, 44
toothbrushes, 69–70
total coliform bacteria, 35
travel, 85–97 airplane, 90–92
biking, 86, 88
carpooling, 87
fuel efficiency, 88–90
hybrid or electric vehicles, 88
packing for, 92–95
public transportation, 86, 87
toiletries, 92
walking, 86
turf grass lawns, 55
turning off lights, 47
U
utility bills, 47
V
vanilla sugar, 15
Vapour Beauty, 76
Veeda, 77
vegan leather, 104–5
vegetables broth, 14–15
cooking with scraps, 14–15
growing, 13
peels, xiv, 40
reusing cooking water, 18
Vietnam Veterans of America, 106
vinyl plank flooring, 42
VOCs (volatile organic compounds), 42, 102
W
walking, 86
wardrobe, 101–18 (see also shoes) capsule, 103–4
clotheslines, 116–17
clothing swaps, 107–9, 125
donation of, 105–6, 128
dry cleaning, 115
gender-neutral, 113
hand-washing, 115–16
jeans, washing, 114
secondhand, 104, 105–6, 131
sewing or tailoring, 106–7
sustainable brands, 109–10
synthetic fabrics, 102
vegan leather, 104–5
washcloths, 73
washing dishes, 49
“Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry” (Claudio), 101–2
waste separation, 43
water scarcity, ix–x
weather reports, travel and, 93
weed killer, 33
wildflower lawns, 55
window replacement, 48
wood pulp, xvii, 33, 118
woodruff, 56
working from home, 96
workout clothes, 78
World Bank, 91
Y
yard waste, 19, 20
yoga mats, 79–81
Z
zinc, 35
zip-top bags, xiv, 9, 37
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Interior design by Jennifer Chung
Cover design by Patrick Sullivan
Cover illustrations by Sokolfly / Shutterstock; tape by Picsfive / Shutterstock
Author photograph by John Herr
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Mannarino, Melanie, author.
Title: The (almost) zero waste guide : 100+ tips for reducing your waste without changing your life / Melanie Mannarino.
Description: New York : Tiller Press, 2020. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019056186 (print) | LCCN 2019056187 (ebook) | ISBN 9781982142230 (paperback) | ISBN 9781982142247 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Sustainable living. | Waste minimization. | Recycling (Waste, etc.) | Household supplies. | Green products. | Environmental responsibility.
Classification: LCC GF196 .M36 2020 (print) | LCC GF196 (ebook) | DDC 640.28/6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056186
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056187
ISBN 978-1-9821-4223-0
ISBN 978-1-9821-4224-7 (ebook)