Environmental Action

• Shop local.

  1. Check out Eco and the Flamingo, Chicago’s first Zero Waste General Store for refills on herbs, spices, salt and pepper. Bonus—they are woman-owned.

  2. Put Fresh Thyme in your grocery store rotation for bulk nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, grains, beans, cereal, tea, coffee, soup, dried fruit, candy and more.

  3. Visit locally sourced grocery stores with produce

  4. Utilize farmer’s markets

  5. Subscribe to:

     1. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

     2. Delivery options like Misfits Market, Imperfect Foods

• Download the Too Good To Go app to purchase restaurant meals, foodservice items, and groceries at a discounted price so they don't end up in the garbage.

• Save money, and waste less by curbing impulse buys.

  1. Plan your menus

  2. Shop with a list

• Bring your reusable bags.

• Buy more fresh, less prepackaged and frozen.

• Look for loose or bulk options.

• Visit the deli counter for cheese and deli meats, ask for paper wrapping

• Choose non-perishable products packaged in paper, glass or metal containers over plastic.

• Avoid single-use options like K-cups and pre-packaged single serving snacks.

• Plan some meatless meals in your menu rotation. You will be reducing methane emissions caused by raising livestock and avoiding styrofoam meat trays and plastic wrap.

• Skip the Styrofoam®

  1. Buy eggs in paper cartons, which can be composted or recycled.

  2. Ask for meat to be wrapped in butcher paper or purchase on plastic trays.

• Ask your grocery store to:

  1. Carry fewer products in plastic and Styrofoam®.

  2. Add bulk options.

  3. Stop using single-use carryout plastic bags.

Shop local.

• Check out Eco and the Flamingo, Chicago’s first Zero Waste General Store. They not only carry package-free products, they have bulk refills for home cleaning, dish and laundry supplies. And they are woman-owned!

• New on the Zero Waste scene is The Refilleri and The Unwaste Shop for refills and household supplies. Also woman-owned!

• For virtual shopping, Volverde is a local, woman and Latinx-owned on line sustainable bath, body & home goods and refill source. 

Use reusable plates and utensils.

Skip the bottled water.

• Filter your home water with:

  • Refillable option like Brita

  • Refrigerator dispenser

  • Under-sink filter system

• For sparkling water, invest in a carbonizer like Sodastream®. All cartridges are returnable for refill.

Brew coffee or espresso

• Skip the single- use pods

• Use a reusable metal filter, preferably without added plastic

Food Storage

• Store leftovers, perishables and dry goods in reusable containers

• Trade your plastic zip bags for reusable silicone bags like Stashers

• Hot food and plastic do not mix as chemicals in plastic can leach into the food

  • Always allow food to fully cool before moving to a storage container

  • Never reheat food in plastic containers

Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

• Try recycled paper and bamboo options in plastic-free packaging like Who Gives a Crap?

Household Cleaning

• Try natural cleaning agents like diluted white vinegar and baking soda as an alternative to chemical based cleansers

• Look for cleaners in concentrated formulas or tablets. Simply add water!

• Skip the Swiffers® and single-use wipes

• Try Swedish cloths instead of sponges and paper towels, or use old t-shirts and towels for rags

• Use powdered dishwasher soap or tablets instead of liquid, never pods

• Consider ordering cleaning products from plastic-conscious companies like Ethique, Grove Collaborative, The Earthling Company, and Blueland.

Laundry

• To use less gas and electricity, lighten the load on your energy bill and have your clothes last longer:

  • Wash full loads

  • Wash on cold (or tap-cold)

  • Only use the amount of detergent needed for the load

  • Dry to damp on medium heat or, better yet, hang to dry

  • Clean your dryer lint screen with every load

  • Wear denim, sweaters, blouses, jackets multiple times before washing

• Use powder detergent or tablets instead of liquid.

  • Never use pods, sheets or strips as they contain a plasticizer which cannot be filtered out of wastewater.

• Skip synthetic softeners and single-use dryer sheets

  • Pro tip! Add distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle as a natural softener and deodorizer

  • Toss 2 or 3 wool dryer balls into the dryer to speed up drying time, fluff up your towels, fight wrinkles, prevent static and soften clothes. And when they need replacing, just toss them into your compost

• Sheets & Towels

  • Buy 100% cotton, NOT microfiber or polyester

• Invest in reusable cloth napkins in natural cotton or linen

• Dry-clean only when necessary

  • Ask for a reusable bag vs a plastic dust cover

  • Return wire hangers to your dry cleaner, they will thank you!

Waste

• Compost your food scraps, it’s easy to do!

• Have recycling receptacles in your home

• Fill your bags

• Use paper bags if possible

• Never bundle your recyclables in plastic bags, keep loose or use paper

• As you reduce your waste, rightsize your trash can to match your weekly waste

• Advocate with your building, board and alderman for the right to have community composting pickup

Shop Local

• Check out Eco and the Flamingo, Chicago’s first Zero Waste General Store. They not only carry package-free products, they have bulk refills for some health and beauty supplies. And they are woman-owned!

• New on the Zero Waste scene is The Refilleri and The Unwaste Shop for refills and other personal care items. Also woman-owned!

• For virtual shopping, Volverde is a local, woman and Latinx-owned on line sustainable bath, body & home goods and refill source. 

Deodorant Alternatives

• Try a refillable option from Bite or a compostable option from Ethique

• Try an aluminum free crystal natural deodorant stone like this one from BioRock…refills available!

Dental Care

• Try toothpaste and mouthwash tablets packaged in glass containers from Bite, while you are at it check out the floss and bamboo toothbrushes to round out your plastic free dental routine

Choose bars over liquids and lotions.

• Bars are not just for soap! Try shampoo, conditioner and skin moisturizers in bar form from Ethique and Peach Not Plastic (available through Amazon and Grove Collaborative)

Choose plastic-free options.

• Try plastic-free lip balms from Poppy and Pout. All containers are compostable!

• Switch to glass nail files and buffers from disposables

Clothing and Leather Goods

• Skip the fast fashion, buy better quality and timeless styles

• Buy clothing made from natural fibers (cotton, silk, wool & linen) and avoid synthetics (spandex, Lycra®, polyester, rayon, acrylic, nylon). You will avoid fabric made out of fossil fuel, and your clothes will last longer

• Get to know your local shoe repair shop to make your favorite shoes and bags look like new!

• Buy gently used from local resale shops, Goodwill, eBay, Poshmark, ThredUp, and The RealReal

• Special event coming up? Rent from Rent the Runway or borrow from a friend

• Recondition your Birkenstocks. We have the #1 US Birkenstock shoe repair right here in Chicagoland!

Easy:

• Change or clean your HVAC filters monthly. If the filter is stuffed, it’s not spending energy efficiently!

• If you have an electric bill…

  • Subscribe to Community Solar

  • Investigate money savings programs through your energy supplier

• Switch all lighting to LEDs

• Stop phantom electrical use! Unplug appliances when not in use, and install power strips to unplug everything at once.

Medium:

• Install ceiling fans to cool in summer and warm in winter

  • Skip the lighting package in favor of lamps

• Install Smart Thermometers

• Install/replace weather stripping

Commitment:

• Switch to Electric Mechanicals and Appliances

  • Check for rebates and appliances

• Investigate solar panels

• Investigate alternative energy suppliers

• Install new windows

• Switch to an electric vehicle

Gifts

• Think regift, it’s cool to do now

• Handmade and gifts of service add a personal touch

• Also explore digital, edible, or experiential options

Online Ordering

• Reuse shipping boxes and bags when possible

• Recycle your cardboard and paper shipping containers

• Fill your shopping cart on Amazon, then pick ‘Amazon Day’ to minimize packaging

• Check out Amazon Second Chance: pass it on, trade it in, give it a second life!

Unwanted snail mail/junk mail and catalogs? Unsubscribe!

• While you are at it, go digital with newspapers, magazines, catalogs and books

Eating Out and Ordering In

• Cook in rather than ordering in

• Bring your own reusable container for leftovers

  • Ask for foil or a recyclable option if you forget your container

• Opt for tap vs. bottled water

More Ideas

• Reduce your home energy consumption with easy ideas from our Waste Not Want Not blog entitled “Happy Energy Awareness Month!”

• Keep our water clean by remembering to only flush the 3 P’s: Pee, Poop, and (toilet) Paper!

• Plant native plants and pollinators to attract bees and butterflies

• Celebrate with bubbles instead of balloon releases

Meet your neighbors, make some cash…Have a garage sale!

Regift! (It’s cool to do now.)

Donate

• Goodwill
• Salvation Army
• Dress for Success
• Trashie

Sell (or buy!)

• Facebook Marketplace
• Craigslist
• eBay
• Poshmark
• thredUP

Consign

• The RealReal

Rent

• Rent the Runway

Reuse miscellaneous shipping materials:

• Boxes
• Bubble wrap/air pillows
• Soft packs

Or donate to Ecoship

Art supplies, bikes, tools (and much, much more)?

• Check out this amazing reuse guide from Chicago Environmentalists

Old towels?

• Donate to your local animal shelter

Check out Amazon Second Chance: pass it on, trade it in, give it a second life!

See Chicago Environmentalist’s list of Chicago’s pay-for-pickup service for your food scraps. No backyard necessary!

See the City of Chicago’s food scrap drop-off program. You don’t need a backyard!

See Chicago Environmentalist’s resources for do-it-yourself composting. You do need a backyard for this one!

Set up recycling bins in your home.

No recycling bins in your complex? Or place of employment? Call 311.

Know your Waste Management Contractor’s policies.
• Chicago Blue Cart
• If policies are unclear, call and ask your contractor
• Recycling must be loose or in paper bags, NO PLASTIC BAGS

Educate your apartment building, management company, HOA association, or landlord.

Proper recycling procedures
• Post instructions of what can and cannot be recycled at the recycling station
• Keep recycling loose, not bundled in plastic waste bags

Composting options in your area

Recycle plastic bags and film at your local grocery, Target, Kohls, or other store.
• RecycleByCity
• PlasticFilmRecycling

Dispose of unused and out-of-date medications at Walgreens® and CVS®.

The City of Chicago also recycles large items, electronics, household chemicals, paint, medication, and yard waste.

Look to TerraCycle for other hard to recycle items, such as:

• Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack will take back ALL brands of beauty and cosmetic packaging, empty or not. Just bring in your items to the cosmetics department and ask for the drop off box.

• Are you a contact lens wearer? Bausch + Lomb has teamed up with eyecare locations to take back your used lenses and packaging. Use the search function to find a participating location and drop off at your convenience!

Participate in Chicago Waste Management events!
• Pumpkin Smash
• Seasonal tree recycling program