Simply put, zero waste means producing little or no waste. Communities can work toward zero waste by refusing, reducing, reusing, repairing, repurposing, recycling and composting. It is time to rethink our waste habits and be more mindful.

Refusing and reducing is the No. 1 way to cut back on waste in our landfills. Refuse an item if you don’t need it, such as skipping the straw or plastic utensils. Before you purchase an item, consider if you really need it. When you do purchase, select items with minimal packaging and be sure they are compostable or recyclable.

Reuse items whenever possible. Get in the habit of opting for reusable water bottles, travel mugs, utensils, metal straws and reusable grocery totes. Investing in reusable and durable products will decrease the need for new ones. Use these products to their full extent by fixing broken or malfunctioning items. Not only is repairing broken items good for the environment, in many instances it can also save you money.

Repurpose items before you toss them. Check the internet for creative ideas. If repurposing is not viable, then donate unwanted items that are still in workable condition to local organizations or post the item on your neighborhood’s FaceBook free swap page.

Recycling is the last step in the zero-waste hierarchy. Recycling saves natural resources, reduces the amount of waste in landfills, saves energy, prevents pollution and creates jobs. However, it is very important to recycle correctly. Never put plastic bags of any kind in your recycling cart as they get stuck in the sorting machines at the recycling center. The recycling can’s lid is embossed with allowed items. Currently, this includes the following (clean and rinsed) in Virginia Beach:

• Paper: newspaper; magazines; junk mail; paperback books; flattened, unwaxed, clean and dry cardboard and chipboard (no greasy pizza boxes)
• Plastics No. 1-7: plastic bottles and jugs (“check for the neck”); water bottles; soap bottles; detergent bottles; milk jugs
• Food and juice cartons: milk; juice; protein drinks; wine cartons; soup cartons
• Glass bottles and jars: all colors of glass beverage and food containers
• Cans: aluminum cans, tin cans and steel cans

The average household produces 650 pounds of organic trash a year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more food reaches landfills than any other single material, constituting 24% of municipal solid waste. Composting at home using food scraps from your kitchen and dry leaves can reduce your trash by at least 50%. And buying foods with little or no packaging reduces it even more. Reduce organic material in your trash more by mulch mowing or composting your yard clippings.

Learn more about composting from Virginia Beach Master Gardeners at their Fall Garden Festival on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the AREC at 1444 Diamond Springs Rd.

Want to help beautify your city? Join us at the International Coastal Cleanup event on Sept. 21 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Beach Garden Park. Information at parkeventsvb.com.

Spread the word about Zero Waste Awareness Week. Encourage your friends and family to stop and think before they throw something in the trash. Check the City of Virginia Beach Waste Management Division website and social media page for more ideas toward zero waste at virginiabeach.gov/wastemgt and share them.

Maury Hill serves as chair of the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission. Terry Ann Stevens serves as vice chair. 

Simply stated, zero waste is producing little or no waste. Less waste means less trash in landfills which will ultimately cut costs and benefit our environment.

There are many ways Virginia Beach residents and the surrounding communities can work toward zero waste by reducing, reusing, recycling correctly and repurposing.

Reducing is the No. 1 way to cut back on your household trash. Consider if you need the item that you are about to buy and pass on making that purchase if you don’t really need it. Buy items with minimal packaging that is compostable or recyclable and skip the bag altogether or bring your own.

Reusing is another tool to cut back on waste. Skip single-use plastics by getting into the habit of keeping reusable tote bags with you when you shop. Use a reusable mesh bag instead of the plastic bag for your produce. A reusable water bottle not only cuts back on waste but helps to keep discarded plastic bottles from ending up in our waterways or from clogging a storm drain. Travel with a reusable cup and pack your own reusable utensils. There are many ways to reuse items, so start getting creative with ways to cut back.

Recycling correctly is a strategy to keep waste from the landfill, but it is not the answer as only certain items are recyclable and almost 40% of Virginia Beach residents recycle incorrectly. Many of us are “wishful recyclers” and put everything with a recycle logo in the blue bin. However, that leads to contamination and reduces the effectiveness of our recycling program. Many of the city’s recycling carts display what can be recycled embossed on their lids. Currently, this includes the following (clean and rinsed):

• Paper: newspaper; magazines; junk mail; paperback books; phone books; flattened, unwaxed, clean and dry cardboard and chipboard;
• Plastics No. 1-7: plastic bottles and jugs (“check for the neck”); water bottles; soap bottles; detergent bottles; milk jugs; no plastic bags;
• Food and juice cartons: milk; juice; protein drinks; wine cartons; soup and broth cartons;
• Glass bottles and jars: all colors of glass food containers and beverage containers.
• Cans: aluminum cans, tin cans and steel cans.

Repurposing items is another excellent way to keep your discards out of the landfill. Gently used clothing and household items may be donated at your local thrift or consignment shop. Join a local “Facebook free” site and give your stuff away instead of sending them to the landfill. Check the internet for creative ideas to repurpose.

Spread the word about Zero Waste Awareness Week. Encourage your friends and family to stop and think before they throw something in the trash. Challenge household members to reduce, reuse, recycle correctly and repurpose to see who the “Zero Waste Winner” can be. Then, share ideas and implement them year-round.

Zero Waste Awareness Week will kick off on Saturday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. with the VBCCC giving away free reusable bags outside the Goodwill store at 1949 Lynnhaven Pkwy. The week concludes on Sept. 9 with LRNow’s International Coastal Cleanup event. Learn more at lynnhavenrivernow.org.

The VBCCC will host its International Coastal Cleanup event on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at 17th Street Oceanfront Park. Learn more at parkeventsvb.com.

Finally, check the city of Virginia Beach Waste Management Division website and social media page for more ideas on tactics toward zero waste at virginiabeach.gov/wastemgt.

Maury Hill serves as chair of the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission. Terry Stevens serves as vice chair.