Free & Affordable Zero Waste Swaps
It’s said a lot in the Zero Waste and Plastic Free worlds that it’s very expensive to live this way. But, as someone who is inherently very “cheap” or frugal, I can tell you that to really live this way is so much better on your bank account! I’ve been practicing zero waste life for a long time now and it’s saved me so much money on things I didn’t have to buy over and over again. Here are some tips for low-cost swaps!
Paper products: (paper plates, paper towels, paper napkins, etc.) I haven’t bought any of these things in a decade or more. I use no paper plates (this one is so easy! Why is anyone using paper plates in their home?). Instead of paper towels and napkins I use cotton towels or cloth napkins. Most of these I’ve bought at yard sales or gotten free off my local Buy Nothing Page. I have enough that I only do a load of these in the laundry every two weeks or so.
Tupperware or glassware: For this I use a lot of carry out containers (Larosa’s has the best reusable containers). I also use glass jars from food I’ve bought (Bonne Maman jelly has awesome jars!). Finally I’ve found a ton of great still functional Tupperware from the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub.
Dryer sheets: These are bad for so many reasons - they are filled with chemicals; they leave a residue in your dryer that’s bad for it; they are single use. Replace with Wool Dryer Balls. I bought 6 of these a long time ago and use them on every load. Sometimes I’ll put a couple drops of essential oil on them just to give them a light scent.
Hair ties: This one is strange, I already know. But I pick these up off the ground! I find them all the time outside of my gym. I put them in the pocket of a pair of pants and wash them then I just wait a while to use them. I haven’t bought a pack of hair rubber bands in 20 years or more.
Buy Nothing Page: This is my absolute favorite way to do zero waste on a budget! Buy Nothing pages are hyper local Facebook groups that have the mission to connect people with a gifting economy. Everything is free there! You can do “In Search Of” posts (this is where I got my waffle maker and a fabric tape measure) and you can also give things away and take things from your neighbors. There is no cost, no packaging and most things are getting another life. It’s the best thing on Facebook!
Zero waste doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Slow down, take your time and make more deliberate consumption choices. Ask yourself if there is a better way… Can you borrow something you’ll only use once? Can you find it secondhand? Do you really need it? We’ve only got one Earth!
Tell us what zero waste swaps you’ve made below, or what changes you’re planning to adopt soon!
