Stories | No-Waste Mindset - We Hate To Waste

110 No-Waste Stories — and Counting

Scroll through the stories that have been submitted by members of our community. They are sorted according to the 7 facets of the No-Waste Mindset so you can find what’s most relevant to you. (You can also access the stories from the drop-down menu under “+NoWaste Mindset-Stories and Tips” on the main blue nav bar on the website. )

Then, consider submitting your own story of how you are reducing waste at home or professionally. Learn how HERE.

If Trash Could Talk: Poems, Stories and Musings by Jacquie Ottman

08 Aug 2018

Jacquie Ottman

Jacquie Ottman, New York City, Poems, Reduce Reuse Refill

If Trash Could Talk contains 60 poems, stories and musings about trash, waste and wastefulness. Written by Jacquie Ottman, a passionate, lifelong waste hater, author, and zero waste expert, it will amuse, delight, and ideally, provoke and inspire a new consumer culture.

What Comes After Shopping? Strategies for Creating a New Consumer Culture

05 Aug 2018

Jacquie Ottman

Jacquie Ottman, NYC Consumer Culture, NYC Zero Waste

Think there's too much waste and wastefulness in the world? Jacquie Ottman offers four strategies for creating a new consumer culture. It fights waste, climate change and addresses the significant trash woes in her hometown of New York City.

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How to Cut Down on NYC’s Trash by 70%

22 Jun 2019

Jacquie Ottman

NYC, NYC Consumer Culture, Reduce Reuse Refill

Tips on how to cut down waste in New York City

BOOK REVIEW Fixation: How To Have Stuff Without Breaking the Planet

22 Dec 2020

Jacquie Ottman

Repair

Sandra Goldmark, author of "Fixation: How to Have Stuff Without Breaking the Planet" provides well-researched solutions to systemic issues related to our throwaway society, with deep insights into why we want to keep — and fix — our stuff. It's a book well worth reading.

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Throw a Leftovers Pooling Party to reduce food waste and have fun!

Leftovers Pooling: The Most Fun Way Yet to Cut Down on Food Waste

03 Sep 2016

Jacquie Ottman

Influence Others, Leftovers Pooling Party, Respect Food

Learn from WeHateToWaste founder Jacquie Ottman how to throw a Leftovers Pooling Party. And discover the most fun way yet to cut down on food waste.

Community Fridge in Frome UK Reduces Food Waste, Feeds the Needy

09 Nov 2016

Esther Deeks

Respect Food, Share Rather Than Own

Esther Deeks shares resources for starting a Community Fridge to cut food waste, feed needy like the one she founded in Frome, UK

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Leftovers Pooling: The Most Fun Way Yet to Cut Down on Food Waste

03 Sep 2016

Jacquie Ottman

Influence Others, Leftovers Pooling Party, Respect Food

Learn from WeHateToWaste founder Jacquie Ottman how to throw a Leftovers Pooling Party. And discover the most fun way yet to cut down on food waste.

Eating Up All the Leftovers

15 Aug 2020

Jacquie Ottman

Leftovers, Respect Food

Leftovers represent a BIG part of all the food that goes to waste in America. Most of that food winds up in landfills, contributing to greenhouse gases when it degrades. WHY is this happening?

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How to Cut Down on NYC’s Trash by 70%

22 Jun 2019

Jacquie Ottman

NYC, NYC Consumer Culture, Reduce Reuse Refill

Tips on how to cut down waste in New York City

The Law of Jante Inspires Swedes, Ikea and Volvo to Live Simply

11 Jun 2013

Christina Andersson

Influence Others, Live Efficiently, Small Houseprint

Why the Law of Jante has helped Swedes live simply and inspired functional, minimalist brands like Ikea and Volvo.

#ThinkTwice Before You Shop

04 May 2016

Jacquie Ottman

Durable Not Disposable, Reduce Reuse Refill, Share Rather Than Own

Next time you go out shopping, #ThinkTwice before you buy. The products you buy have an impact that reaches deeper than your wallet.

Preventing Waste: It Just Feels Good

15 Jan 2015

Beth Henderson

Reduce Reuse Refill, Repair and Repurpose, Respect Food, Save Energy Water and Other Resources

The reasons why we prevent waste aren't just about saving money or the environment - it also makes us feel good, and a whole lot more!

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Composting On An Urban Terrace

22 Jul 2015

Marja Öberg

Recycle or Compost

A year and a half ago, my husband Carlos and I started to think about what we could do with all the organic waste we created in our apartment in Madrid, Spain. READ MORE...

Kids simultaneously dropping food items into compost

School Kids Teach NYC the Benefits of Composting

19 Aug 2014

Jennifer Prescott

Compost, Influence Others, Recycle or Compost, Respect Food

Did you know Green Moms inspired the 2014 NYC pilot composting program? Sustainability Coordinator, Jenny Prescott, started a composting program in her daughter's NYC public school. The waste-reducing results will inspire you - and an entire city.

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Our Stories

110 No-Waste Stories — and Counting

Reduce, Reuse, Refill

If Trash Could Talk: Poems, Stories and Musings by Jacquie Ottman

What Comes After Shopping? Strategies for Creating a New Consumer Culture

Repair and Repurpose

How to Cut Down on NYC’s Trash by 70%

BOOK REVIEW Fixation: How To Have Stuff Without Breaking the Planet

Share Rather Than Own

Leftovers Pooling: The Most Fun Way Yet to Cut Down on Food Waste

Community Fridge in Frome UK Reduces Food Waste, Feeds the Needy

Respect Food

Leftovers Pooling: The Most Fun Way Yet to Cut Down on Food Waste

Eating Up All the Leftovers

Live Efficiently

How to Cut Down on NYC’s Trash by 70%

The Law of Jante Inspires Swedes, Ikea and Volvo to Live Simply

Save Energy, Water & Other Resources

#ThinkTwice Before You Shop

Preventing Waste: It Just Feels Good

Recycle or Compost

Composting On An Urban Terrace

School Kids Teach NYC the Benefits of Composting