May 1 - May 31, 2021

At Home

Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle at home.

Becoming a zero-waste household requires you to take a look at what you're throwing away and get everything possible out of your trash can. This section has goals about recycling, composting, and organics recycling, as well as selling or giving away usable items. But don't stop there - take steps to prevent waste and reduce what you have to get rid of in the first place.

No More Wish-cycling

I will recycle the right materials by educating myself on what goes in the bin and keep other things out.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Recycling 101

Recycling or wish-cycling? Materials to stop tossing in the big blue bins
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DAILY ACTION
Recycle Everywhere

I will add recycling bins to other areas of the house to make recycling easy for my household of (___) people.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Hennepin Recycling

Hennepin Zero Waste Guide Intro
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Start Organics Recycling

My household will sign up for organics recycling service or start using a drop-off site to compost food waste and food-soiled paper.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Organics Recycling for Residents

Setting up organics recycling at home

Zero Waste Guide: Composting and Organics Recycling 101

Minneapolis At-home Setup Tips
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Start Backyard Composting

My household will set up a backyard bin to compost our fruit and vegetable scraps.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Backyard Composting

How to Compost In Your Backyard

Zero Waste Guide: Composting and Organics Recycling 101
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compostables - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Waste audit: what's in my trash?

Conduct a Trash Audit (Going Zero Waste)
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ONE-TIME ACTION
De-Clutter My Home

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Reducing waste by decluttering: a room-by-room tutorial

9 Ways Your Life Will Improve When You Declutter
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DAILY ACTION
Find Local Recycling Drop-Off Centers

I will find out where to take the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Hennepin County Green Disposal Guide
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DAILY ACTION
Recycle Plastic Bags

Instead of trashing them, I will recycle (___) plastic bags by bringing them to a drop-off.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Green Disposal Guide: Plastic bags and wrap

Plastic Film Recycling: Learn What's Recyclable
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DAILY ACTION
Recycle Scrap Metal

Instead of trashing it, I will recycle scrap metal by bringing it to a drop-off.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Green Disposal Guide: Scrap metal

The Basics of Recycling Scrap Metal for Money (Earth911)
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Hold the Mail

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Hold the mail- simple steps to reduce the amount and hassle of junk mail

Catalog Choice - Stop Junk Mail for Good
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Skip the Paper Plates

My household of (___) will use reusable dishes instead of disposable dishes.

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ONE-TIME ACTION
Switch to Reusable Napkins and Towels

My household of (___) will use reusable napkins and towels instead of disposable options.

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ONE-TIME ACTION
Make Green Cleaners

I will make (___) of my own cleaning products (cleaners, detergents, soaps) instead of buying them.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Green Cleaner Recipes
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Skip the Dryer Sheets

I will replace dryer sheets with a reusable alternative or use nothing at all.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Substitutes for dryer sheets (The Daily Wash)

Zero Waste Guide: Laundry Room
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Reuse Building Materials

I will donate the building materials salvaged from my remodeling project so they can be reused.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Building Material Salvage, Reuse, and Recycling

Reducing waste during home remodeling
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Have a Garage Sale

I will have a garage sale at my home or with friends, family, and/or neighbors.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale
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ONE-TIME ACTION
CREATE A CUSTOM ACTION

Ideally, you’ll choose at least one measurable goal so that you can measure your success but there are no limits on what you can choose—so exercise your creativity!

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