How to Have a Low-Waste Day in West Seattle

Ever thought about trying a zero-waste or low-waste lifestyle but figured it may be too difficult? We’ll be the first to admit that it isn’t easy to start but living in West Seattle has proven to be the perfect place to create a more environmentally-conscious lifestyle. We also learned so many ways to be environmentally friendly in our daily lives, from simple acts like bringing a tote bag to the grocery store to participating in beach and city clean-ups. Having a low-waste lifestyle doesn’t have to be daunting, here are some ways you can have a low-waste day in West Seattle:

Morning: 

If you’re anything like us, starting your day with coffee is a must. If you enjoy brewing your coffee at home, avoid using a pod coffee maker. Instead, go to a local coffee shop and purchase freshly ground beans for your coffee (in your reusable bag, of course). If you’re frequenting your favorite local coffee shop, bring your own thermos to avoid using plastic or paper cups. Using a thermos will not only help the environment but will also keep your coffee nice and warm. 

If you want to get your morning workout in after, head down to Alki Beach. If possible, walk or ride your bike instead of driving. Don’t forget to bring your water in a reusable bottle too. Not only does that help reduce the amount of plastic waste, but it’s also better for your health as reusable water bottles are often made of steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic. That means you won’t have to worry about any toxic chemicals getting into your water if it gets warm. Also, 1,500 plastic bottles are thrown away every second of every day - don’t be a part of it!

Afternoon: 

If you’re planning to go out to lunch (or any meal for that matter) try to avoid places that serve food with disposable dishes and cutlery and takeout containers. Find a restaurant that serves food made from locally-sourced ingredients using washable plates and cutlery. Choosing to support local businesses that serve fresh ingredients limits your carbon footprint (since it travels a shorter distance) and it is healthier for you too. If you know that you may find yourself with leftovers at the end of the meal, bring your own reusable container.

When ordering a beverage, don’t ask for a straw. In 2017, there were 200 businesses in Seattle that banned plastic straws due to the overwhelming amount of waste they produce. This initiative has been named “Strawless in Seattle.” According to the Lonely Whale Foundation, Americans use 500 million single-use, plastic straws daily. If you want to use a straw, purchase metal or plastic ones to carry with you wherever you go.

Also, you can even bring your own reusable cloth napkins when you go to your favorite restaurants. Just because it’s not made out of plastic doesn’t mean it isn’t wasteful. Most of the time those napkins will end up in the trash can with everything else instead of being recycled. It’s also very convenient to carry around a reusable napkin when eating on the go or at the beach. 

After lunch, you can begin getting rid of things that may be cluttering your home. Instead of throwing away your old clothes or household items, first, make sure to offer them to your neighbors through the Buy Nothing Facebook Group. This is a great resource for your items to be repurposed and find a new home instead of going to a landfill. Alternatively, you can collect your items all year to be collected by RidWell or sold at the Annual West Seattle Garage sale, or donate them to a West Seattle charity or a family in need (we love Westside Baby, Mary’s Place, and The Senior Center). 

If you use your afternoons to run errands, you can get many of your essentials at PUBLIC, a great West Seattle eco-store. This is a low-waste living shop where you buy sustainable goods and refill the products you love in their bulk section. We buy most of our housekeeping items, dish soap, lotion, even compostable toothbrush heads for our electric toothbrushes, and more from here. Don’t forget to buy locally-sourced groceries in bulk when possible, and without packing to help reduce waste. 

Night: 

After cooking your favorite dinner for your family, get out a few reusable containers to store the leftover food avoiding plastic wrap or foil. If you need a product like that, we prefer reusable bees wax wraps. And who doesn’t love leftovers the next day without any food waste? Starting a compost bin is a great way to make use of the leftover food scraps instead of throwing them away. You can use your compost as a great fertilizer for your backyard garden. Having a garden will help make your cooking process less wasteful. It’s also a fun activity to share with the whole family.

In efforts to remain eco-conscious all year and keep our West Seattle streets beautiful, we have adopted a street along Admiral Way. We will announce community clean-ups that you can be a part of in our monthly newsletters. Subscribe here to help keep West Seattle clean and beautiful!

Making small daily changes can really have an impact on our planet. Transitioning to a low-waste or zero-waste lifestyle is a great way to help reduce the amount of waste you produce while being sustainable. Take these tips and apply them to your day-to-day life to give our planet some love!