r/ZeroWaste • • 8d ago

Weekly Thread Random Thoughts, Small Questions, and Newbie Help — October 11 – October 24

3 Upvotes

This is the place to comment with any zerowaste-related random thoughts, small questions, or anything else that you don't think warrants a post of its own!


Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have and we'll do our best to help you out. Please include your approximate location to help us better help you! If your question doesn't get a response after a while, feel free to submit your question as its own post.


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r/ZeroWaste • • Mar 13 '26

📣 Announcement ATTN: Marketers and sellers - this community is not here to provide you with free advertising, market research, or promotion for your latest AI invention

306 Upvotes

This community is for those working to reduce their environmental impact on the planet by reducing personal consumption and generation of waste. To seek support, share advice, and connect with each other.

We are now getting daily posts and comments from both stealth and overt marketers, including AI app developers who have invented some life-changing tech that will save us all. WE DON'T NEED YOUR FOOD WASTE APP.

Let us state this clearly:

This community is not here to provide you or your company with free market advertising/research or to sell us your product or app.

If you are only here to promote or research your product/blog/etc. and offer nothing of value to the community, it will be removed and you will be banned.

Zero Wasters, please report these types of posts.

For those arguing in the mod inbox about why your self-promotion post was not self-promotion:

This type of spammy self-promotional content is frowned upon across all of Reddit. It feels particularly egregious to have such blatant pro-consumption content and manipulation in the Zero Waste sub, and it will NOT be tolerated here.

Thank you!


r/ZeroWaste • • 12h ago

Question / Support Received some brand new menstrual cloth pads, but i can't figure out which side is up. Help?!

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71 Upvotes

r/ZeroWaste • • 13h ago

Question / Support Less wasteful disposable plates for wedding?

6 Upvotes

Getting married next year and trying to limit our waste! Are there any recommendations on disposable plates/dishes that are actually less wasteful compared to regular disposables and look nice?

Ideally we would like to spring for real china but the rentals can be costly and we haven’t found a good quantity secondhand yet.

Disposable is our last option if we can’t make real china work, so trying to find a solid alternative option if we have to go the single use route.


r/ZeroWaste • • 18h ago

Question / Support Ripped jeans on a very weird spot

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12 Upvotes

Can someone tell me what to look up to sew them? Like tutorials on a specific stitch or however it's called... There is a sewing machine at my home but I don't know how to use it, I would need to ask my mother for help as it's her machine, but I want to at least try and do something myself.

If the image is hard to understand, the rip is right next to the front zipper.


r/ZeroWaste • • 12h ago

Question / Support Dishwashing Detergent

2 Upvotes

What is your favorite dishwashing detergent?

We moved into a condo with a stainless steel dishwasher and the first time we did dishes, we used one of those little pods that came in a sample pack that we had, since we hadn’t finished moving all of our stuff over and didn’t have our normal Blueland dishwasher tablets with us.

The dishes came out so spotless!! Since then, I’ve been trying to replicate it by using Blueland tablets but the dishes still come out with lots of water spots and white powder on them. I’ve tried adding some white vinegar to cups on the top and bottom racks to add as a rinse aide, but I still can’t replicate how spotless the dishes were that first time we washed them with that pod.

I had also tried Seventh Generation before (meant to buy the cardboard box filled with powder but accidentally bought the cardboard box filled with pods) and that one didn’t seem to work that well either. Plus I found out it’s owned by Unilever so definitely won’t be buying more Seventh Generation products.

I’m now running low on Blueland tablets and considering replacing them with a store-brand dishwashing powder in a cardboard box I saw at the grocery store, I think it’s supposed to be a dupe of a powder by Cascade.

How harmful for the environment are the ingredients in the dishwasher powders that aren’t trying to be eco-friendly? Is the only reason that pod got my dishes so clear that it used ingredients that I shouldn’t be putting into the water?

Wondering what you guys find the most helpful. I will keep using the Blueland tablets if they’re the best eco-friendly option out there. I can deal with streaky dishes and I still have a few of those sample pods left that I can use if we’re about to have guests over or something. But if I could find a zero-waste and environmentally friendly option that makes my dishes spotless, I’d much rather switch to that!

Or if you have other environmentally friendly tips for dishwashing, I’d love to hear them!


r/ZeroWaste • • 16h ago

Question / Support Are SeekBamboo shampoo bars good?

3 Upvotes

I'm running out of liquid shampoo and am wanting to try out a shampoo bar.

I've looked at brands like kitsch and ethique and seekbamboo seems to have more interesting/fun scents compared to them.

Also, does anyone have recs for shampoo bars other than seek bamboo that have good scents? Like apple, blueberry, or rose? (Those are my fav scents)

Tysm!!!


r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Question / Support Best way to downcycle or dispose of a hiking bag that is beyond repair?

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123 Upvotes

I have a hiking bag that has been with me for over 10 years at this point. I have duct taped and repaired it, but now it feels like it is beyond the point of repair (massive ripping along all of the seams).

Given the state it’s in, I don’t think I can post it on buy nothing or donate it, I suspect it would go straight to landfill.

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best option for downcycling or disposing a hiking bag?

Thanks in advance!


r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Tips & Tricks Lip balm / chapstick

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1 Upvotes

r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Question / Support Is this still safe to use?

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1 Upvotes

Someone else was using my on the go plastic tumbler to blend (came as an accessory with the glass pitcher). They literally forgot the spoon INSIDE the tumbler while blending. Somehow the only damage came out of is just the inner part of tumbler is now damaged and appear chipped. I checked and it looks stable, no moving part or anything. But I want to ask if this is still safe to use as finding a replacement is difficult where Im from. Personally, I would test it out tmr and continue using it if no problem comes out of the test. But it is properly wise to ask for 2nd opinion beside AI


r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Discussion Buy Now Documentary

10 Upvotes

Trying again with not-all-caps in my title.

Highly recommend the documentary Buy Now on Netflix, about how much waste we products through rampant, never-enough consumerism, arms how the corporations feed this.

Both of my sisters love Ridwell, but I'm on the fence. Any thoughts on this? I've done a bit of Googling and see that they really do work with Trex and some plastic recyclers...


r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Question / Support Can you use leftover orange peel to make orangeade, similar to lemonade?

3 Upvotes

This might be a dumb question, and I'm sure it's absolutely possible, I just want a sanity check! Ha ha.

I often make lemonade by juicing lemons and then covering the peels in sugar and leaving them overnight to extract the oils, then I mix the resultant lemon syrup with the lemon juice to form a cordial that I then dilute with water to make lemonade.

I'm assuming it would be fine to do the same with oranges? Though I'm guessing a squeeze of fresh lemon would be needed else it'd be far too sweet.

Also, after going through the process of making the lemon/orange syrup, is it possible to turn the leftover peels into candies?

Thanks all in advance for any guidance or suggestions! =)


r/ZeroWaste • • 2d ago

Tips & Tricks Repurpose picture shelves!

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166 Upvotes

my partner wanted to buy a table to go behind the couch... I came up with this myself!

Just flip upside down and that's it. Our couch is thick enough that they dont move AT ALL.

Idk if anyone has ever posted this but I was so proud we didn't buy something AND made use of 5+ year old shelves we stored away.

Hope this helps reuse old ledges or shelves!


r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Discussion Broken pottery?

1 Upvotes

Hi, is any way to recycle broken pottery, besides mosaics?


r/ZeroWaste • • 2d ago

Show and Tell NYC free art supplies

53 Upvotes

160th and Riverside Dr the used bookstore Re-circulation has a free art supply area and today I dropped off some large canvas's, pencils, pastels, markers,paints, and various types of posterboard, bristol paper for pastel and charcoal, tracing paper and calligraphy pen tips. Their art supplies closet is bursting!! if you want some supplies theyre a great place to start and support


r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Question / Support Gloves for sorting trash/recycling?

1 Upvotes

I sort out the recycling at my school and I collect the tabs from soda cans to reuse. Problem is, they tear through the disposable gloves we have like crazy and I’ve even gotten cut before

Are there any reusable, waterproof and cut resistant gloves out there made for this sort of thing? I’m aware of nitrile, but I can’t find any that are full on waterproof


r/ZeroWaste • • 2d ago

Question / Support How can I start a zero waste journey as a beginner?

12 Upvotes

I mean in general. Not just with plastic but food waste, clothes waste, overconsumption, etc. a way we’ve started as a family of four to reduce waste is to pickle old vegetables, and donate food. I don’t buy from fast fashion companies but rather higher quality stores. I want to recycle plastic better. I know that the majority of plastic in America ends up in a landfill even if you are “recycling”it so what are some ways I can properly recycle things so they don’t end up in landfills?

Note right now we don’t have the most money so it’s not really possible for us to do any expensive types of recycling.


r/ZeroWaste • • 2d ago

Discussion getting into meal prep, need options for long term storage

4 Upvotes

Been doing the souper cubes for a few months and currently using ziploc bags that I clean and rinse once empty. Hot soppy water and a drying rack. While this has been great for lunches I am looking for some long term storage options that many use vacuum sealers and plastic bags.

With this meal prep working, in the new year I am looking at a larger meal options that a slow cooker or instant pot will handle. all of these recipes use large ziploc bags and I am also looking for an option.

I did try some reusable bags in the past and while they worked, cleaning was a PITA


r/ZeroWaste • • 2d ago

🚯 Zero Waste Win I swear I hate throwing anything away

18 Upvotes

It's gotten quite ridiculous not this point my neighbors think I'm a hoarder but I have a habit of collecting broken items and fixing them to use I have a numerous amount of projects that I got dumpster diving with my friends drunk and I flipped those items I fixed for money or reselling on eBay so call me crazy but it's still saving stuff from the landfills


r/ZeroWaste • • 2d ago

Tips & Tricks Any recommendations for repairing these headphones?

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17 Upvotes

Wish I knew why only one side is deteriorating lmao


r/ZeroWaste • • 2d ago

Tips & Tricks Halloween Costume

23 Upvotes

i’ve always made my sons Halloween costume because it‘s just such a waste to purchase a pile of synthetic material for one evening. I also hate how commercial American holidays are and on principle I refuse to buy a costume and we’re only making homemade decorations. So this year we’re going to be ghostbusters and he wants to be the Stay Puft marshmallow man. Found a DIY costume tutorial and asked on Buy Nothing for the materials I don’t have Including a GIF of the character. Someone messages me privately saying they have the costume in his size that I can borrow. Done and done! The ultimate zero / low waste tip is to rely on community and ask for what you need.


r/ZeroWaste • • 3d ago

Discussion Just tried a rice straw for the first time. Why aren't more cafes using these over paper?

215 Upvotes

A local shop handed me a rice-based straw today. Honestly, it was a huge relief compared to paper straws dissolving halfway through my iced coffee.

It held its shape perfectly, though it did get a little gummy at the very bottom after sitting for 4 or so hour.

Have any baristas or cafe owners or restaurants here looked into sourcing these? Are they just way too expensive compared to paper, or do customers complain about them?


r/ZeroWaste • • 1d ago

Question / Support Second life suggestions?

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0 Upvotes

Any ideas what else these little clips/prongs can be used for? They came off of socks I bought in a multipack to hold the pairs together in the packaging.


r/ZeroWaste • • 3d ago

Question / Support What is this on my water bottle and how do I clean it?

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34 Upvotes

So to preface, I have not had the chance to wash my water bottle in a couple of weeks do to a chronic condition, and due to being swapped with schoolwork as a full-time student. (No I have not been drinking out of it.

I was finally feeling well enough to clean it, so I opened it up and found this stuff. I worry that it's mold, and that since silicone is porous, I worry that I can't clean it and would have to chunk it in the trash. I really want to avoid that though, as this is the only water bottle I own and it's my favorite (and I've covered it in some of my favorite stickers to boot). Not to mention, it's an EcoVessel Boulder, and I just found out the other day that they stopped making them. Even more reason I don't want to throw it out.

Does anyone know what this is and how to clean it?


r/ZeroWaste • • 4d ago

Discussion Shake shack waste

335 Upvotes

Trained for an opening shake shack.

The food waste was insane, we did mock orders and threw away over 100 different burgers/ shakes and drinks. on the menu, mind you for our training to try the menu they gave us pieces of sandwiches, instead of full size ones. Next time I am gonna video definitely posting when I quit. They could’ve donated this food or offered it to the team. Shoot they could have even made us make the burgers and try the menu at the end of the shift with the shakes and drinks we made.

So sad considering how since the first day they’ve been talking about their emphasis on giving back to the community, the location is also in east meadow, New York. So many places in the area the food could have gone to.

I will be quitting, and I will be recording the waste to post on tik tok, for a second I thought they were a good company. But I should’ve known from the general manager talking about how he wants to crush the small burger joint sitting directly across it in its plaza.

And no I am not exaggerating it was over 100 burgers
And around 50 shakes/ and bacon and cheese fries.
I saw them take out 2 XL garbage bags filled with food.