Challenge Toolkit: Reduce Waste

Custom Pages   |   March 19, 2018

Reduce Waste at Home and in Your Community

Blog   |   September 5, 2018

Take New Dream’s Community in Action “Reduce Waste” challenge to reduce the amount of waste you generate and to make your home or community a greener place to be. 

Embrace the Risk: Shop With Recycled Containers

Blog   |   by Jake Giessman   |   October 15, 2012

Want to reduce your plastic packaging waste? Consider bringing your own recycled containers when you go to the food store.

GUIDE: Family Celebrations: A More Fun, Less Stuff Guide to Life's Joyful Events

Resources   |   by New Dream   |   November 1, 2017

Our newest guide provides inspiration and practical tips for you to plan special celebrations that reduce waste and expense, emphasize meaning over material goods, and strengthen relationships. With specific sections on: The Year-End Holidays, Birthday Parties, Baby Showers, and Community-Building Celebrations.

How a Group of Kids Bagged the Disposable Bag in Boulder, Colorado

Blog   |   by Kate Bailey and Kate Nelson   |   March 17, 2016

What decades of education and outreach couldn’t accomplish, a group of high school students could.

Living the Dream: Bea Johnson, Zero Waste Guru

Blog   |   by Edna Rienzi   |   February 22, 2016

Bea inspires a growing community to live simply and take a stance against needless waste.

Whatever Happened to Waste Reduction, or Preventing Waste in the First Place?

Blog   |   by Kelley Dennings   |   January 10, 2019

Advisory Council member Kelley Dennings considers why the recycling community may be abandoning the once-worthy goal of waste reduction, and offers thoughts for refocusing these efforts.

Making the Shift to Zero Waste Living

Blog   |   by Julie Fathy   |   February 23, 2017

A zero waste lifestyle might seem hard to implement and complicated to follow. But by taking small steps, you can make it a reality.

Lessons from a Waste-Obsessed Traveler

Blog   |   by Laura Calderon   |   September 19, 2012

What would it take to make people conscious of their wasteful practices? One world traveler ponders the question.

How to Create a Zero Waste Easter Basket

Blog   |   by New Dream   |   March 22, 2017

Challenge yourself to create an Easter basket that will produce no garbage that would be sent to landfill.

What to do if your office doesn't recycle

Blog   |   by Kim   |   June 9, 2009

Musicians at the Cutting Edge of Eco-Awareness

Blog   |   by Amy Curtis   |   August 8, 2011

Some bands are working hard to lighten the heavy environmental footprint of their performances.

Lessons Learned from a Low-Waste Party

Blog   |   by Shara Drew   |   September 12, 2018

When New Dream's Shara Drew moved her family to Maine, she took on the challenge of hosting a low-waste party for friends and family. Here are some lessons learned.

Northwest Earth Institute: How to Enjoy the Holidays with Less Stress and Less Stuff

Blog   |   by Deb McNamara   |   November 20, 2017

Our friends at New Dream have created a variety of resources designed to help people escape the shopping, spending, and frenzied preparations that have become synonymous with the winter holidays.

Governments Promote Planned Obsolescence, Too

Blog   |   by Addison Del Mastro   |   September 17, 2012

Government policies that push people to replace their “outdated” stuff can result in significant resource waste.