Stewards of the Earth: How Adopting a Zero-Waste Lifestyle Can Help the Environment

Sharing Is Caring! ♥ Thank You!

As believers in Jesus, my husband and I believe that we are called to be good stewards of the Earth. When we look out with awe and wonder at all that God has created just for our pleasure – it is truly breathtaking. Every tree, every plant, every mountain or body of water, every creature – they were all designed to bring us joy. What a beautiful daily reminder of His love, kindness, and goodness toward us!

Taking care of the gift we’ve been given is both a privilege and a responsibility. If you are interested in living a low or zero-waste lifestyle, this guest post is for you!

stewards of the earth: simple changes for adopting a zero-waste lifestyle

While so much is outside of our control, there is much that we can change in our own lifestyles. Who knows, the changes you make may inspire others to make their own positive changes!

The ripple effect can create generations who seek to be good stewards of the Earth to preserve all that we’ve been given. Never underestimate the power of your example today.

Even if you change one life – that one life could go on to change hundreds, thousands, or even more!

This beautifully written guest post by Hazel Bennett is a sobering look at the effects of our wasteful mentality across the globe.

Thank you, Hazel, for reminding us to be better stewards of the Earth and for giving us simple to implement tips for how to live a zero-waste lifestyle.

Hazel Bennett is a freelance writer and blogger. She has a degree in communications and lives in Northeastern Ohio. Hazel loves writing about numerous topics and showcasing her expertise with words.

Hazel Bennett Contently

If you are interested in submitting a guest post here at Wholeness Haven, I’d love to hear from you! Please see the bottom of this post for more information.

Stewards of the Earth: How Adopting a Zero-Waste Lifestyle Can Help

zero-waste lifestyle tips so you can continue to enjoy nature
Photo by Simon Migaj from Pexels

If you’re anything like me, you love to spend time in nature. Few things can compare to taking in the beauty of God’s green earth as you hike through the wilderness or relax at the beach.

Unfortunately, pollution and greenhouse effects have taken their toll. However, there are still many things we can do to help keep our planet healthy and thriving.

Living a zero-waste lifestyle is an excellent way to cut down on the pollution in the soil, air, and oceans. Changing only a few of our daily habits can reduce our carbon footprints and minimize damage to the ecosystem.

If you’re ready to make some positive changes, read on for tips on how you and your family can make the shift toward a zero-waste home.

Where Does Trash Go?

Our beautiful earth is being destroyed by trash – Photo by Tom Fisk from Pexels

Our garbage can end up in a few different places. The EPA found that the US generated 292.4 million tons of solid waste in 2018, and only 89 million tons of that trash went to recycling centers or composting.

That means over 200 million tons of refuse went into landfills that year alone.

While recycling rates increase annually, the vast majority of rubbish still sits in dumps. As waste decomposes at these sites, it creates harmful gasses and contaminants that pollute our soil and water.

Moreover, non-biodegradable materials like plastics may end up in oceans, lakes, and rivers, potentially destroying the habitats of sea life.

Does a Zero-Waste Lifestyle Make a Difference?

Embracing a zero-waste lifestyle is a great way to help the environment and honor your beliefs by being faithful stewards of the Earth.

Small changes, like switching to a reusable water bottle and shopping secondhand, can reduce pollution and improve ecosystem health for humans and animals.

Looking for a great reusable water bottle? We LOVE Super Sparrow bottles.

Ultimately, practicing a zero-waste lifestyle can result in fewer toxins going into our bodies and the planet.

On top of being environmentally friendly, zero-waste living can be beneficial to your home life. Investing in high-quality, reusable materials means you won’t need to replace items constantly, saving you money and time.

By adopting greener habits, you can even address common household problems like getting rid of fruit flies naturally.

How to Create a Zero-Waste Home

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

While making these changes may seem challenging, you don’t have to do it all at once. Try out some of the following techniques and consider opting for zero-waste products to begin your journey toward this eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle.

Learning to become good stewards of the Earth is a process. Don’t beat yourself up if you think you’re not ‘doing enough.’ That only creates frustration. Just take it one day, one simple change at a time if you need to. That’s perfectly okay!

Our bad habits weren’t learned overnight. Un-learning them may not happen overnight, either!

  • Cut Back on Single-Use Items: Though they may be convenient, bottled water, paper plates, and plastic forks end up in the garbage after one use. Something as simple as choosing metal straws, silicone food savers, and real silverware can drastically reduce your trash output.
  • Opt for Reusable Shopping Bags: Rather than bringing plastic bags home with every purchase, try reusable shopping and produce bags to transport your groceries.
  • Choose Fresh Foods Over Packaged: Fresh foods are cheaper than pre-packaged items and help keep extra wrappers and containers out of the bin. Skip the frozen, canned, and pre-cut produce in favor of whole fruits and veggies.
  • Adopt a Zero-Waste Cleaning Routine: Store-bought disinfectant wipes, household cleaner bottles, and paper towels can fill up your trash cans after a day of housekeeping. Try swapping to chemical-free cleaning agents, and decrease waste with sustainable mops, brooms, brushes, and dishcloths.
  • Try Composting: Separating food waste into compost bags or bins reduces waste, plus it’s a natural way to keep your home smelling good. Instead of leaving leftovers and scraps to decompose in a landfill, you can donate them to a nearby farm or use them to fertilize the plants in your garden.

Related Reading: Here are two plant-based, chemical free cleaners we have been using for many months and we absolutely LOVE them. I’ve not seen a cleaning job they couldn’t tackle yet!

What Does It Mean to Live Zero Waste?

Wind Energy – Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash

While pollution and climate change may be huge problems in our world, we can all do our part to help. Trying out a low or zero-waste lifestyle is a great step toward a green lifestyle and a healthier environment.

Tiny changes like declining a paper receipt or bringing your own bags to the store can positively impact our homes and the Earth.

It is my genuine belief that the more we understand, the better we do. Being good stewards of the Earth doesn’t have to be overwhelming or an impossible task.

Yet the rewards, in our generation, and the generations to come depend on us doing the right thing!

What changes can you make today to improve your life, your Earth, and the lives of those around you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Let’s all decide that even small changes are worth making because over time, they add up to big impacts. What do you say? 🙂

Guest posting invitation

As many of you know, I have been absent from the online world for a couple of months now. I sure do miss y’all!

Just like for many of you, these recent months have left a trail of chaos, challenging situations, and troubling personal matters to navigate through in my life.

Just when I would think that the ‘storms of life’ had calmed down, a new one would blow through. In all of this, I put my trust in the Lord. He is our Redeemer, our Hope, and our Salvation.

So, what does this have to do with guest posting? In dealing with all that has happened, it has been difficult for me to have a regular posting schedule or spend much time online.

That’s why I welcome your guest posts now more than ever! If you are interested in writing about any of the topics here on Wholeness Haven, I’d love to hear from you! You are welcome to include a link back to your own blog or website, as well as a short author biography.

It would be my great pleasure to add your voice to this blog. Each of you matter to me and I love hearing from you!

Please contact me here and let me know your guest post idea! I look forward to your thoughts.

All My Love To You & Yours,

Sharing Is Caring! ♥ Thank You!

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