Zero‑Waste Kitchen: 7 Habits that Shrink Your Bin & Save You $900 a Year
From freezer‑friendly herb cubes to nose‑to‑tail broccoli, learn how to turn scraps into meals—and keep 120 kg of food out of landfill.
Hook
**One‑third of all food produced is wasted—worth $1 trillion annually (FAO 2024).**
TL;DR
- Plan meals → cut waste 30 %
- Store correctly: fridge 4 °C, produce drawers 90 % RH
- “Eat‑me‑first” box halves spoilage
- Compost or regrow veg ends to close the loop
Why go zero‑waste?
- Reduce **methane emissions** from landfills
- Save money (avg. household throws away $900 / year)
- Respect resources: water, energy, labour embedded in food
1Â Plan & shop smart
• **Inventory check** before shopping.
• Use the 5‑day meal grid: Mon‑Wed fresh, Thu‑Fri freezer.
• Buy loose produce to avoid packaging.
2Â Store like a pro
- Leafy greens: wrap in damp tea‑towel.
- Berries: rinse with 1 : 3 vinegar‑water, dry, keep top‑shelf.
- FIFO rule: newest items at the back.
3 Up‑cycle scraps
- Broccoli stalk pesto (blend stalks + olive oil + lemon).
- Carrot‑top chimichurri.
- Parmesan rinds → umami stock.
4Â Compost & regrow
- Bok choy base in water → new leaves in 10 d.
- Vermicompost bin turns 3 kg scraps ↦ 1 kg nutrient‑rich castings/month.
5Â Pro tips & tools
- **Eat‑me‑first box** at eye‑level.
- Freeze herbs in oil cubes.
- Use clear containers; what you see, you eat.
Myth vs fact
| Myth | Fact |
|------|------|
| “Zero‑waste is expensive.” | It saves money by using what you already bought.
| “Composting smells bad.” | Proper aeration prevents odours.
Take‑home message
Adopt these 7 habits gradually—your bin, wallet and planet will all get lighter.
References
1. FAO. *Global Food Waste* Report, 2024.
2. WRAP. *Household Food Waste* Study, 2023.
3. EPA. *Composting at Home* Guidelines, 2024.