EAST LANSING, Mich. — It's pretty safe to say that most people probably take their trash out to the curb for pickup once a week. FOX 47 News's Carla Bayron met a family in East Lansing that only has to do it once a year.
Allie Siarto's family is just like any other, except that they live a zero-waste lifestyle.
"We shop at bulk sections at stores so we're buying things unpackaged as much as we can so that we're not even bringing that stuff into our home in the first place. We're trying to reduce as much as we can," she said.
That includes eliminating plastic, paper and food waste. She uses her own bags called and containers for groceries and take-out. She also replaces everyday items with eco-friendly options that are reusable.
Siarto has a bamboo toothbrush and lip balm in a cardboard wrapper that can be composted, as well as toilet paper made from bamboo. The family also repairs their own clothes and buys second-hand.
"We're using too many resources and we're throwing too much away and only 10% of plastic gets recycled. I thought if we can just cut this back from the beginning so we're not even bringing this into our homes, we can help do our part.
Siarto had nine weeks of trash in her kitchen trash bin, which means her family is on track to only have to take her trash to the curb once a year.
Now, if this lifestyle change seems too overwhelming or daunting, Siarto suggests tip-toeing into it.
"Do small things like starting a compost bin so that you can put your food waste in a compost bin instead of putting it in the trash. As one person, we don't feel like we're doing a lot, but if every single person did a little, it would make a big difference," she said.
If making the switch sounds expensive, Siarto said it can cost a lot at first if you're buying a lot of new items all at once, but it's actually cheaper if you ease your way into it.
You can search for stores that sell in bulk like Whole Foods, Horrocks and Fresh Thyme.
