1. Zero Waste Family Day-to-Day
Amanda Waddle
5 Gyres Ambassador
No Waste Louisiana

2. What does zero waste mean to me?
It is a journey (& a lifestyle choice) to reduce waste and the journey is as important as the destination
Zero waste means living a simple life in line with nature
Avoiding single-use plastics and disposables
Placing value on waste
Reduce, reuse & recycle

3. History of Zero Waste 1970 – 1st Earth day – Reduce, reuse, recycle
1980’s – Recycling took off
1990’s – (Australia) Canbarra’s No Waste by 2010
Italy
California – state recycling goals (25% by 1995; 50% by 2000)
1999 – San Francisco – 75% diversion by 2010; zero waste by 2020 (currently divert over 80%)
GrassRoots Recycling Network formed
Zero Waste plans offered as alternative to landfill or incineration
2000’s - Zero Waste International Alliance

4. Zero Waste
Zero Waste International Alliance (zwia.org) defines zero waste* as:
“Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for other use.
Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, not burn or bury them.
Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”
90% or more diversion of material from landfill (no burn)
*peer review definition 2004, revised in 2009

5. Zero Waste State, City, Business University Farmers Market School K-12
Home
No Waste Louisiana - 2 chapters working on zero waste
No Waste NOLA
No Waste Lafayette

7. storyofstuff.org
20 minute YouTube video

8. Why work towards Zero Waste?
Climate change – organics in landfills emit methane which contributed to climate change
Alternative to landfills and incineration
Think of waste as resources that can be used again
Keep plastic out of our oceans
Live a compatible life with nature

9. Why I am working towards Zero Waste

11. How I work towards Zero Waste
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Source Separation

12. Reduce Resource management
Most effective way to reduce is to not make waste in the first place
Think reusable over disposable
Simplify your life by thinking critically about your purchases
Do I need this? Is it repairable?
Focus on quality not quantity

13. Reduce “no, thank you” Catalog Choice – reduce junk mail
Straws, bottled water
Parties and events
Gifts and favors
Toothbrush/floss from dentist
Free magazines
Catalog Choice – reduce junk mail
Less you have, the less you have to take care of

14. Reduce
Make/bake from scratch

15. Reuse Resource management Buy used items
Return items to store/famer for reuse
Honey jars, hanger, egg cartons
Use old socks/clothes as cleaning clothes
Glass jars

16. Reduce & Reuse when Shopping

17. Reduce & Reuse at the farmers market

19. Recycle Waste management Curbside Recycling Plastic #1 & #2 Paper
Metal

20. Recycle Hard to recycle items Buy items made from recycled material
Soft plastics
Glass
Terracycle brigade – Tom’s of Maine
Preserve products
Buy items made from recycled material

21. Recycle - Composting Waste management
Composting is a great way to reduce waste

22. What do I throw away?
Landfill
Compost
Recycling

23. Zero Waste Traveling SS spork, water bottles, pint cups/plates/napkins
Picnic/camping/day trips/road trips/eating out/festivals
SS spork, water bottles, pint cups/plates/napkins

24. Zero Waste school & work lunches
No Waste Louisiana did a waste free lunch
Facebook live event in April
Reusable items
Lunch box/bag, snack sacks, water bottles, containers for food

25. Zero Waste is not easy Time Planning Packaging
Abundance of choices in stores
Community

26. Zero Waste doesn’t have to be expensive

27. What can you do? Want to work towards zero waste?
Avoid single-use plastics, disposable items and items with caps
Straws, plastic bags, bottled water, polystyrene, to-go coffee cups
Take reusable items wherever you go – be prepared
Have your zero waste bag in your car & your zero waste items in your purse/pack ready
Get involved – No Waste Louisiana and No Waste NOLA are working on zero waste plan – join these or other organizations near you!
Contact your council woman/man and mayor and tell them you want your town to work towards zero waste
Reuse packaging, like glass as much as possible
Avoid what is NOT reusable/repairable/recyclable/compostable

28.
No Waste Louisiana & No Waste NOLA
5 Gyres Institute
Plastic Pollution Coalition
Surfrider Foundation
GreenYes
NOAA Marine Debris Program
USGBC Zero Waste
Zero Waste International Alliance
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn) – National Zero Waste legislation