a college student’s guide to
living zero waste
by the uvm eco-reps
credits liz mackin (‘21)....................................................................................editor & writer alysa kelly (‘20)................................................................................editor & writer isabel lisle(‘20)...................................................................................editor & writer ella halpine (‘19)................................................................................................designer
table of contents what is zero waste? .......................................................................................................... 1 daily essentials ...................................................................................................................... 2 eating on campus ............................................................................................................ 3 grocery shopping .............................................................................................................. 4 bathroom ........................................................................................................................................ 5 beauty .................................................................................................................................................. 6 cleaning ............................................................................................................................................. 7 online resources .................................................................................................................. 8 green brands ............................................................................................................................ 8
uvm eco-reps university of vermont burlington, vt ecoreps@uvm.edu uvm.edu/ecoreps/
copyright © 2018
what is zero waste? our mission
we noticed an increase in student interest in waste reduction on campus so we put together a set of tangible resources to guide you on your journey to a zero waste lifestyle.
zero waste
the goal is to produce no garbage; nothing is thrown in the trash and nothing is sent to landfill. there is a focus on reduction and reuse-compost and recycle the rest.
why?
• 99% of “stuff” americans buy is discarded within 6 months. • the average american produces 4.5 lbs of trash a day. • the great pacific garbage patch is an island made entirely out of trash and is the size of texas. it floats in the pacific ocean and is caused by litter swept offshore from north america and asia.
how?
the process of going completely zero waste seems overwhelming. it takes time and patience. our advice? adopt one habit at a time and make changes slowly. after all, every little bit helps.
get your 5 R’s right refuse
reduce reuse recycle rot
1. 2. 3. 4.
refuse what you do not need reduce what you do need reuse what you consume recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse 5. rot (compost) the rest
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daily essentials carry these every day
reusable utensils
ECOW ARE tupperware
reusable water bottle
ecoware tag
carry these when you can
reusable mug
reusable plate or bowl
reusable napkin
reusable straw
reusable bag
2
eating on campus ecoware
take your ecoware tag to any points place or dining hall on campus. hand the cow tag to the cashier and receive your meal in a clean ecoware container. 2. get a 25 ¢ discount every time you use your ecoware! 3. enjoy your meal, empty the container and return it to any points place or dining hall on campus. they will take your dirty container and give you another tag. 1.
spork 1.
purchase a spork at any points place or dining hall on campus for $1. 2. use with ecoware or alone and get a 5 ¢ discount.
mug
reusable mugs are available for purchase in all points places. 2. use your reusable mug & pay $1.19 for any size refill on-campus for coffee and fountain beverages 1.
freestyle bottles 1.
pick up your freestyle bottle at the marketplace, marche or redstone market 2. use reusable bottle at touch screen fountain beverage dispensers across campus
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ECOWARE
grocery shopping buy in bulk and fill up your own containers
in the burlington area you can do this at city market, healthy living, and some at hannafords, but check your grocery stores at home too; many have at least small bulk sections that allow you to shop zero-waste.
step-by-step
grab a container: weigh them using a digital scales, then write down the tare weight before filling. 2. select your item and fill up your container. 3. write down the bin number: write the bin number (PLU) on a twist tie or take a picture using your phone. take your tagged items to the register and the cashier will ring up the price. 1.
tips
• bring reusable bags. • farmer’s markets are great for eliminating packaging from produce. • look for recyclable or compostable packaging if reusable is not available.
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bathroom tips
• reuse glass jars to hold your d.i.y. products instead of purchasing new containers. • buy bar soap versus liquid soap in plastic containers. • choose bamboo toothbrushes that can easily be composted. • use diva cups for a sustainable alternative to tampons.
diy
easily combine these ingredients in your choice of container
we r e pep comme perm nd int
toothpaste
1-1/2 tbsp. baking soda
2 tbsp. coconut oil
we r e pe comm lave pperm end int, nde r, or le orange mon ,
shampoo
8 oz. water
3 oz. castile soap
1/4 tsp. jojoba or olive oil
body wash
1/3 cup castile soap
10-15 drops essential oil
20-50 drops essential oil
we recom mend vanilla, ora nge, or lemon
1/3 cup honey (preferably raw)
1/4 tsp. jojoba, almond, avocado or olive oil
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30-60 drops essential oil
beauty tips
• use reusable cotton rounds for removing makeup. • reuse old beauty containers for your own creations (mascara tubes, deodorant sticks). • find recipes with ingredients you already have in your kitchen cabinets.
diy
easily combine these ingredients in your choice of container
mascara/eyeliner
1/2 oz. coconut oil
1/2 oz. shea butter
we 10 fr recomm an e 10 la kincen nd s v 5 pe ender e, & ppe rmin t
lotion
1 tbsp. beeswax
1 tbsp. shea butter
3 tbsp. coconut oil
25 drops essential oil
we lave recom nde men r, d & sa lemon ge
deodorant
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 oz. activated charcoal powder
1/2 cup baking soda
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40-60 drops essential oil
end mmmary o c e r rose , also we ypress amot c rg e b &
cleaning tips
• use reusable cloths on swiffers and for cleaning up spills. • reuse what you can. repurpose your old toothbrush to scrub hard to reach places. use your old dish sponge as a floor sponge before tossing it. • compost dust bunnies, nail clippings, hair, lint.
diy
easily combine these ingredients in your choice of container
laundry detergent
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
glass cleaner
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 cups water
2 tsp. castile soap
30 drops essential oil (optional)
we r ec tea ommen tre d lem e & on
few drops essential oil
multipurpose cleaner
1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
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1/2 tsp. essential oil
online resources Explore the community of bloggers, YouTubers, and writers who strive to make zero waste living practical, easy, cheap, and fun.
• • • • •
goingzerowaste.com trash is for tossers (lauren singer) trash monster (rob greenfield) zero waste home (bea johnson) story of stuff (annie leonard)
green brands beauty
• rms beauty - rmsbeauty.com • lush cosmetics - lush.com • pacifica - pacificabeauty.com
cleaning
• seventh generation - seventhgeneration.com • dr. bronner’s - drbronner.com • mrs. meyer’s - mrsmeyers.com
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dr. suess’ the lorax 9
uvm eco-reps © 2018