By Katherine Martinko / Source: TreeHugger

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We are happy that our readers love zero waste so much. It’s an important topic that continues to inspire.

There was a time when nobody knew what “zero waste” meant, but ever since Bea Johnson published her seminal book, The Zero Waste Home, in 2013, the phrase has become mainstream. That’s a very good thing, as our planet desperately needs to shift away from single-use plastics and disposable packaging toward reusability.

Since reading Johnson’s book and becoming inspired, we at TreeHugger have been writing about zero waste living ever since. We are happy to see that the stories continue to be relevant, as zero waste grows in popularity worldwide. The following roundup features the site’s most-read zero waste stories of 2016.

10. How to establish a Zero Waste cleaning routine

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A house is not truly clean if the process of cleaning it has resulted in all kinds of unnecessary waste. Conventional cleaning relies on chemical products, plastic bottles, paper towels, plastic bags, sponges, and disposable wipes, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Learn how to clean the zero waste way. Full story here.

9. On creating a Zero Waste beauty routine

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Cosmetics and skin care products are one of the toughest areas in which to eliminate waste. If you’re not willing to give them up altogether, it can be really challenging to figure out how to go zero waste. Fortunately there are some good options available, if you know where to look. Full story here.

8. Is Zero Waste just for the young and affluent?

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All too often, Zero Waste living is brushed off as a privilege – something that wealthy Millennials with extra time on their hands are able to do. This article challenges that notion, pointing that there are many ways in which going zero waste can benefit people from all demographics. Full story here.

7. How two West Coast families each filled 1 jar with a year’s
trash

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Real-life stories about families implementing Zero Waste practices are always inspiring to read and show how such a radical lifestyle can be done, even if you’ve got little kids. Full story here.

6. How to pack a litter-free school lunch

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School lunches generate shocking amounts of trash, which is why it’s important to teach kids from an early age that eating does not have to equal garbage. If you pack properly, a child’s lunch doesn’t need to produce anything except calories! Full story here.

5. 7 plastic-free boxes and bags

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Zero-waste living is easy when you’ve got great reusable containers in which to package food at home. Go one step further by eliminating plastic from those containers. Full story here.

4. How to banish plastic straws from your life forever

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The war on straws is on! Straws are an insidious polluter that many people don’t think about. Learn why straws are so terrible, how to avoid them, and what alternatives exist. Full story here.

3. 16 more tips for living without plastic

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Our ‘living without plastic’ posts always do well, as they provide practical solutions for waste reduction in everyday life. In this post we expand the list to include more ways in which to embrace reusables. Full story here.

2. How to store leftovers without plastic

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Maybe you have a drawer overflowing with Tupperware that you dig through every night after dinner. Well, after learning about the way in which plastic degrades and leaches (particularly in the dishwasher), you will want to look into these simple alternatives. Full story here.

Read more @ TreeHugger