Easy Zero Waste: Kitchen Edition
There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere- Annie Leonard
Unfortunately, we as humans have become so accustomed to consuming, tossing, wasting, and repeating this wasteful cycle. Convenience and consumption are some of the two greatest factors in driving unsustainable practices within our lives. "Zero Waste" may sound a little intimidating, but we are here to change that little by little! By no means do we have to be perfect, but better about our actions. This is part one of our series on striving towards zero waste around the house!
Quick Tips In The Kitchen
For all my wine or bottled beverage drinkers...save some of those pretty bottles and use them to water your plants! Fill the bottle up and turn it upside down in the soil. Your plant will only drink when thirsty, how convenient!
Do you ever have trouble eating all your bananas before they go brown? If they do go brown, they are better for baking like in banana bread. Another way you can store them is freezing them for smoothies. And lastly, cut off the stems and store them in the fridge to have them last longer. Save your peels and soak them in water for a few days for plant fertilizer. You got options!
For veggies like carrots and celery, store those babies in one of your old pasta or peanut butter jars in water. The celery can last up to two weeks and carrots for a month! You can do the same for leafy veggies when they are wilted. Just place the stems in water in one of your old jars in the fridge for an hour and VOILA crisp is back.
When life hands you lemons...use the lemons and then soak them in water for over two weeks to be a base for a natural cleaner. Just add equal parts vinegar and water. Clean AND smells good.
For all those other jars that add up in our lives...use them! Fill em' up with fruits for them to last longer, leftovers, utensil holder, bulk foods, and even for drinking glasses. Get creative and get usin'!
This tip is for those coffee drinkers who never finish their pot or glass...yes I'm talking about YOU. Instead of dumping it down the drain, pour them into ice molds to use for next day's iced coffee.
This final tip is for cleanin' up messes. Please buy reusable towels and washcloths for spills, biodegradable sponges, and your new homemade lemon peel recipe for at home cleaning.
