Lauren Singer, recent recipient of the EcoJoes Eco-Hero award, has made it a goal to be as close to zero-waste as possible. After two years, she only had one jar’s worth of trash. Wowsers!

She says she got 80% of the way there just by composting and buying in bulk; she brings her own jars or tote bags when buying in bulk.

Lauren also has these three steps to help you become zero-waste:

Step 1: Know Your Trash

Paw through your garbage immediately (this very second) and see what you throw out. You might be surprised. I know I was!

Step 2: Use Reusable Items

Forget disposable stuff like plastic bags and styrofoam containers, and go with durable cloth tote bags and jars.

Step 3: Make Your Own Products

From toothpaste to deodorant, if you make your own, you can store it in a reusable container, thus eliminating waste, AND saving money at the same time. Hot diggity dang!

Speaking of making your own toothpaste, here’s a simple recipe for homemade toothpaste:

• 2 tbsp organic coconut oil
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• ~ 20 drops peppermint oil

Plop a drop of that on your compostable bamboo toothbrush, and start scrubbing. You’ll know you’re done when you taste blood.

Anyhoo, enough chit-chat! Here’s a moving picture featuring the zero-waste lady herself, Lauren Singer.

If you want a more in-depth look at this eco-hero, check out this here video:

The Natural Resources Defense Council, who knows a thing or two about natural resources, says that if every U.S. household replaced just one roll of paper towels with a roll of 100% recycled paper towels, it would save over half a million trees every year!

Such an easy way to save tons of trees! So next time you’re out and about and feel the need for some paper towels, look for 100% recycled ones.

Better yet, use good ol’ reusable cloth rags to clean up messes, and cut down on all that paper towel waste.

If you want to take it to the Eco Hero level, reuse old t-shirts as cleaning cloths. You’ll be saving money AND helping the environment. Now that’s what I’m talking ’bout.

If you’re like most hu-mon beings, you enjoy hydrating yourself with H20, AKA “the big wet”, “liquid ice”, “loosey goosey”, or “water”.

How should the eco-friendly individual obtain said water, though? Bottled water is expensive, causes a huge amount of waste from packaging and transportation (although you can do some cool stuff with the old water bottles), and, according to this Duke University webpage, might not be as safe as tap water.

I’m down with drinking str8 from tha tap, but lots o’ people prefer to filter it. If you’re one of these people, and you’re looking for a greener way to filter water than by using a plastic filter, might I be so bold as to suggest Kishu charcoal?

The founder, Judith Bershof, started this company in 2011 when she was looking for a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic water filters. From its minimal packaging (which cuts down on waste), and the fact that you can compost the filter when you’re done, I’d say they’ve done a good job keeping this product green.

Kishu charcoal claims to be made from sustainably harvested tree branches, and can be used for 4 months. You just have to boil it every month to keep its pores open.

Another great eco-friendly thing is that after 4 months have passed, you can reuse your old charcoal filter by using it in your fridge to absord odors, or by crushing it up and mixing it into your garden soil to improve water absorption. Pretty dang cool.

I chucked a piece of Kishu charcoal into a pitcher o’ water, and left it overnight. I’d been worried that the charcoal would cloud up the water, but it’s very smooth and not flaky, so the water stayed clear as glass.

A day later, my woman and I deigned to taste this water. Verily, it was crisp and cool as the waterfalls of Norway, with a very pleasing taste. A single tear running down my cheek, I hefted an approving thumbs up to Kishu charcoal, the green way to filter your water.

As you might already know if you’re an EcoHero, I’m all about keeping things out of the landfill, reusing, and getting things for free.

College move-out days are a perfect combo of those three things. Students moving out of dorms throw away TONS of perfectly good items, including laptops, clocks, futons, and even money!

Right around now is when many colleges have their move out day. So my humble recommendation to thee is to hop on The Ol’ Google and find out when your local college’s move out date is.

On that day, or the day after, head out to their dumpsters and you can find all kinds of great stuff that would otherwise be sent to the landfill. Trust me, you’ll be astounded.

Tomorrow is NC State’s move-out date; who knows what perfectly good things I might find?

Update: See bottom of post for stunning conclusion!

Are your current sandals falling apart, barely holding together, but your eco-conscience won’t let you throw them away and get some new sandals? Partner, you’re in luck, because Okabashi Brands just happens to make eco-friendly sandals from recycled shoes!

Who is Okabashi? Welp, they’re a small company in Buford, Georgia, that takes in old used sandals and shoes, and recycles/reuses them to make new sandals.

They found the kindness and pity in their hearts to send me a pair of brown Surf men’s sandals, and let me tell you, they seriously might be the most comfy pair of sandals I’ve ever wore. Not only are they soft and have some good arch support, but they’re anti-microbial and odor resistant (which I sadly need).

The best thing is, once your sandals have finally bit the big one, Okabashi will recycle them into, you guessed it, even more sandals. So if you have some old sandals or shoes, send them on in, and they can be reused to make some brand spankin’ new sandals.

We close with a short video explaining a bit more about this elusive company.

SPOILER ALERT: It turns out this guy’s favorite Okabashi sandals are the ones I got. What a coink-idink.

Update

After a few months of wearing my sandals around town, they suddenly broke (the little thong piece ripped in two). Devastated, I briefly considered ending it all, but instead remembered Okabashi’s two year guarantee.

Clinging to hope, I mailed in my ripped sandal, and about a week later I received, for FREE, a brand new pair of replacement sandals! Now that’s some high quality customer service, or my name ain’t EcoJoe.

We all know that feeling. You’re plum tuckered out from the sport of your choice, whether it be polo or croquet, but you just don’t didn’t have the space in your sport bag for a non-collapsible water bottle. What’s a thirsty athlete to do?

Luckily, there’s the collapsible Vapur water bottle. I was recently lucky enough to get me two o’ them, and was struck off the bat by how little packaging they used. Less packaging = less waste.

This nifty, reusable water bottle is made of strong, BPA-free plastic, and comes in a bunch o’ colors, or “colours”, for the Brits in da house. When you’re not using it, you can roll it up for easy transportation, and even lock it down with its included carabiner. Check it. READ MORE »

Hey, lasagna! Who doesn’t like that? But there’s a special ingredient in this lasagna: compost. ¡Delicioso!

Compost lasagna is not something you eat, believe it or not. It’s basically a really easy way to soup up your garden’s soil. It’s called “compost lasagna” because, like lasagna, it’s built up of layers.

Also called “sheet composting”, it’s a great way to reuse your kitchen waste instead of sending it to the landfill. It’s best prepared in fall or winter, so let’s get to making this compost lasagna, shall we?
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