Sustainable Steps
Start Your Journey toward Zero-Waste with a Single Step!
When it comes to a sustainable lifestyle, you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference! Every small action to reduce waste or care for our environment adds up over time.
No matter where you’re at in your journey, here are some ideas to help you get started or continue expanding your routine. The best part is, once you start with one small action, it becomes easier to add others over time, contributing to a greater, collective impact.
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Simply take a walk through your neighborhood, or check out KOB’s "Love Your Block Litter Walk" scavenger-hunt activity to explore the urban nature right outside your front door!
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Before heading out to sporting events, shopping trips, or other outings, gather your reusable items like water bottles, snack containers, and reusable bags as a reminder to bring them with you.
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Break the “wish-cycling” habit and learn why it’s important to recycle right. Visit the Omaha Recycling Guide to look up common household items, find answers to your recycling questions, and more.
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Volunteer with Keep Omaha Beautiful to help clean up our community’s natural spaces and protect local waterways.
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Plan an outdoor adventure! Visit Omaha’s “Find A Park” page to discover a new park, trail, or recreation area you haven’t been to before.
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Stop bagging your yardwaste when mowing and raking, and leave mulched clippings right on the lawn. It’s a win for you, and the environment!
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A rain barrel captures rainwater from a roof, slowing runoff and conserving water for use in lawns and gardens.
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Include native trees and pollinator-friendly plants in your landscape to attract and support birds, beneficial insects, and wildlife.
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Help prevent pollution by learning about the types of chemicals and items that should be disposed of at the City's household hazardous waste facility, UnderTheSink.org.
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Reusing as much as you can is great for the environment, and should be exciting for you too! For example: invest in a set of beautiful cloth napkins and decorative water bottles that you’ll enjoy using, or splurge on thrifted clothing versus buying new.
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Become aware of how, and what, you and your household consume. Choose items that are sustainably made and durable, focusing on quality over quantity. Making a few, simple swaps will help reduce waste over time.
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Vote with your dollars! Choose sustainable options over conventional ones by taking actions such as supporting farmers markets and locally made products, and prioritizing companies with a focus on sustainability.
Consider the 7 R's
Rethink:
Ask yourself, ‘Do I need this item in the first place? What other alternatives may exist? How can I change my lifestyle to no longer need this?’
Refuse:
Turn down the plastic straw, receipt, or bag offered to you with purchases. What other single-use items can you go without?
Reduce:
Use less and consume less. Determine what your necessities are, and what you could change or live without. For example: buy snack foods in bulk instead of single-serve packaging, and stock up on dry goods like beans, nuts, and more using your own refillable containers.
Repair:
Fix items whenever possible instead of replacing things that are broken. For example: search for local appliance repair shops, or tailors for clothing.
Reuse:
Consider if there is another potential use for an item before you throw it away. What items could you repurpose? Find or purchase reused items rather than buying new.
Recycle:
Recycling helps ensure that useful resources won’t end up in the landfill. Recycle only the items accepted by your community’s recycling program to avoid contamination. (Omaha recycling accepts: empty and clean soup and milk cartons, metal cans, plastic bottles, plastic food tubs and jugs, flattened cardboard, and paper).
Replace:
When an item you need or love is no longer able to be used, seek out the most environmentally friendly replacement possible.
