Thoughts on the Frugality of Zero Waste

[alliecat79]

I have increasingly desired to move towards zero waste living. Recent news coupled with an awareness of just how much packaging is on everything. It's really depressing. One piece to the zero waste puzzle is purchasing from vendors who don't use packaging and shopping at stores where buying in bulk is possible with your own containers. Apparently, buying using your own containers is a rarity and so those businesses are expensive. I went to our local food coop, where I know this is possible, to purchase a beverage and noticed the packaging for my treat was compostable. I thought about doing my grocery business with them exclusively to assist with moving zero waste, but it wouldn't be a frugal option. Also not a frugal option would be to purchase meats and vegetables through a farm share or at our local farmers market.

What are your thoughts on sustainability over frugality? I love Aldi, but everything there comes in a ton of packaging which in turn creates waste. I really want to work on not spending on waste this year.

[Singuy]

If your attempt is zero waste than it could be expensive. I probably would go with a compromise of reduced waste. One way to reduce waste is to make things last longer like learning how to sew, keeping a car until infinity, and rarely upgrading your electronics. All that goes hand and hand with sustainability and frugality. When you start paying more for food because they pride themselves on not using cardboard boxes to ship their food or whatever...then that's your call. I think these places are charging a hearty margin on goods due to these advertisement gimmicks (just like organic food...still showing zero advantages over regular food from various studies).

[disneysteve]

What are your thoughts on sustainability over frugality?

They are two completely unrelated topics. If you want to buy local and fresh and with minimal packaging, that's great, but it won't be cheap. If you want to reduce costs, then you'll need to buy more traditional products from mainstream retailers. You can't have it both ways.

[Singuy]

They are two completely unrelated topics. If you want to buy local and fresh and with minimal packaging, that's great, but it won't be cheap. If you want to reduce costs, then you'll need to buy more traditional products from mainstream retailers. You can't have it both ways.

I believe the op knows this because the question is, would you spend more on zero waste OVER frugality.

[HundredK]

I tried my best to go zero waste about 6 months ago. It's pretty much impossible, although there are some things I gained from it that are both less costly and less waste. Things like using cloth napkins, feels better and no need to throw away all that paper, and I can wash the napkins once a week with our dish towels. I got some glass tupperware containers which has helped us with eating leftovers and not needing to buy so many baggies. I buy beans and rice from the bulk bins which is so much cheaper. Although the cashier had a meltdown when I brought my own containers, so now I just re-use the produce plastic bags as dog waste bags. Cut down a lot of the bath products we use, and use bar soap, HUGE cost savings there. Then other things I tried were a total failure. Using bio-friendly laundry soap, sorry, it does not clean as well as Tide. Making my own all purpose cleaner, nope. Any type of bio friendly shampoo or conditioner, nuh uh, does horrible things to my hair. So I suppose I've found a happy medium where we throw a lot less away and also have seen a lot of cost savings. But yeah, if you went all in, it could be a very expensive endeavor, with half the cost just being finding new methods or products that actually work for you.

[disneysteve]

I buy beans and rice from the bulk bins which is so much cheaper.

Really? I've generally found that the bulk bins aren't cheaper. The advantage of the bulk bins is if they offer many items not otherwise sold in the store. They are also great if you need a smaller quantity than the prepackaged versions of the item. For example, they might only sell a 1 pound bag of something that I don't use that much of so I can just buy a few ounces in the bulk section.

[james.hendrickson]

So, thats correct.

In general the bulk bins aren't necessarily cheaper. That said, in some stores the bulk bins are a better - whole foods is one of those. Also, like Disneysteve said the bulk bins are good if you need a specific amount of something - like oatmeal or nuts.

[disneysteve]

bulk bins are good if you need a specific amount of something - like oatmeal or nuts.

Well I eat oatmeal every morning so I wouldn't buy that from the bulk bin. It's far cheaper to buy it at Aldi but at least the container is 100% recyclable.

I do buy most of our nuts from the bulk bins though. It may not be cheaper but I can buy smaller quantities so we use them before they spoil.

As for bringing your own containers, I can understand why that's a problem since those items are sold by weight. The store's register system is programmed for the containers they distribute. If you bring your own, they can't accurately assess the weight of the container.

[HundredK]

As for bringing your own containers, I can understand why that's a problem since those items are sold by weight. The store's register system is programmed for the containers they distribute. If you bring your own, they can't accurately assess the weight of the container.

True, but Whole Foods, where I shop, has a policy that you can bring your own containers, you just have to stop by on your way in and get them tared. Which I did. But then they also have it set up so that any tare over a certain amount requires a manager approval, so for my 5 or so containers, the manager had to stand there approving each one and the cashier had a complete meltdown about how they can't be trusted to enter tares. Really uncomfortable situation and I vowed to never again do that. Plus, now I do all my shopping online with them, so they deliver the bulk goods in their containers anyway.

Also, I just checked again, and yes, the items I buy from the bulk bins are significantly cheaper than buying them prepackaged. Some things are not cheaper in the bulk bins though. Like honey, for some reason, is way more expensive in bulk. You just have to be always checking the prices. That's one thing I love about shopping online with Whole Foods, you can easily compare those and choose the least expensive option.

[disneysteve]

Also, I just checked again, and yes, the items I buy from the bulk bins are significantly cheaper than buying them prepackaged.

Yep. You definitely need to compare. We were at Wegman's this morning. We bought two items in the bulk section, both candies we like to keep around.
Spearmint leaves were considerably cheaper to buy bulk. Chocolate nonpareils were cheaper to buy prepackaged, so we did. And they keep the packaged version on the shelves right below the bulk bins so it's simple to compare.

[alliecat79]

Sorry, it's been a LONG week so I haven't revisited the site. So yes, I was asking the question of stick to frugal or spend more on less waste. The news about recycling and other countries not accepting our garbage is grim. Some thoughts: we have two stores in the area that allow you to bring your own containers, but one is a co-op and is super expensive. Anything I purchase in a cardboard container can go into my city compost bin. So that zeroes out a lot of waste there. I already have my own bags and produce bags so I'm good there. It's meat and produce which really worry me and that's the bulk of what I purchase anyway.

Interesting news I saw in my Zero Waste group yesterday: Aldi is looking to ramp up it's reduction in packaging!!! So I may end up getting the best of both worlds after all

[disneysteve]

So yes, I was asking the question of stick to frugal or spend more on less waste. The news about recycling and other countries not accepting our garbage is grim.

Aldi is looking to ramp up it's reduction in packaging!!! So I may end up getting the best of both worlds after all

Since this is a site dedicated to savings, I'd guess the opinion will lean toward frugality. That said, I'm also concerned about all of the reports I've heard about our recyclables not often actually getting recycled because the market for that stuff has changed. The rules about totally cleaning and drying items is a big turn off too. If I have to use a bunch of water and soap to get the item clean, am I really saving the environment by recycling that glass bottle? We were also told to stop putting shredded paper out for recycling as it clogs the machinery or falls through and makes a mess, so that's going in the trash now.

As for Aldi, I don't see anything there that is packaged differently than any other supermarket so I wonder what it is they are planning on changing.

[alliecat79]

Disneysteve, paper can be composted! We are fortunate to have a city composting program. I have a gray bin in my alley and can compost any paper products. This helps me in my zero waste quest. I pay $5 per month for this service and in spring, the entire village can obtain free compost material from the city.

[alliecat79]

Aldi looking to decrease use of plastics: https://www.thekitchn.com/aldi-susta...eMQwPfccNVs10c

[bjl584]

Zero waste is hard. And can be expensive.
We have a garden, fruit trees, and berry bushes. It's enjoyable and saves some money at the grocery store.
We also have a compost pile which cuts back on some garbage.
I can't do much about plastic and cardboard containers though. Not without spending considerably more at the store anyway.