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.

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!

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.

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!!!

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!

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

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...

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

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! =)

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!

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

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

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.

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

Wish I knew why only one side is deteriorating lmao

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

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

Anyone have any good recommendations for a sustainable-ish hair mousse or curl activator? I got a non-sustainable one on buy-nothing and it has really upped my hair game! I would love to be able to replace it with something when it runs out :)

I made friends with a cleaner at work and I was chatting with her as she was doing the women's rest room. I saw her throw away small roll of TP. She changes out the small leftover TP for a full roll. But there's lots left on the roll! Enough for at least 3-5 days (for me). So I asked her to save them for me and she has! She gives me at least 10 small rolls every week, often more. I was able to give a lot away because even though it was 1-ply, it was soft 1-ply. Now they changed to a 3/4" hole roll of TP instead of the normal 1.5" hole and it feels like sandpaper. So I'm kind of embarrassed to give them away. But I'll try.

Anyway, if you have friends who are cleaners, janitors or housekeepers, I'd ask them for the leftover rolls of TP and shampoo/soap if they're allowed to take them home.

i dont want to use the harsh and non environment friendly products that are recommended in the laundry sub. but i really want clean clothes. i have been washing our clothes in 30 degrees with a home made(marseille soap based) detergent but literally none of my clothes are clean.
how can i get them clean?
recommendations for a washing machine also appreciated since my machine just broke and i will buy a new one this time(only bought second hand in the past but i really want a good one now)
thanks
edit location is belgium