I did some research and work with adopting a minimal waste lifestyle. Before it became mandatory in my state, I’ve brought my own shopping bags. I have my reusable bottles, but if I have to buy a drink from outside, make sure I can recycle it in one of those recycle centers at the supermarkets. I recycle bottles and cans from my household. My partner protests doing it, it’s time consuming, big and bulky, just leave it out for the recycles, but I tell him it’s the principle, recycling the cans/bottles at those centers in the supermarket puts it to better use, it’s much better, or we are not getting these drinks anymore if we can’t recycle them.
If I have something a possession in fairly good shape, but I don’t need it anymore, instead of throwing it out (used to do that), I post the item for free, pick up in the Facebook marketplace or one of the groups in my area. Clothes, if in fairly good condition, take it to a drop off center.
I’m crossing my fingers for a market close by (don’t think it’s going to happen though) where I can bring my own Mason jars, use them as containers, and fill up with food: like dry beans, cereal, liquids, etc close by. These no waste type markets are more out West. There’s a natural market a bit further away from me, for the beans and dry goods in the back, they allow us to bring in our own jar, but they provide containers also.
There are items I passed on buying because the packaging is excessive. I keep away from styrofoam. Shops that offer only styrofoam for coffee, I don’t go to. If I need to grab a paper cup for a drink and am sitting down, I don’t put a lid on it. I’ve done a good amount of environmental conservation volunteer work years ago, it was super fantastic. Learned a lot and I’d like to resume some of that work again.
Shipping boxes, yes I do reuse them, and I do need some table coverings for projects, was going to buy one, but @Sarafeena_Sage gave me a great idea to use the shipping boxes instead. That I will do!
For my spell work, early into it, I bought a bunch of candles from Michaels and Homegoods, then I realized two things, need them shorter and it would be better/more appropriate to buy and use from a spiritual store instead of a Homegoods or Michaels. I thought about throwing them out, it was bothering me using them, but then that’s very wasteful, feel would be even more of an offense to throw them out. So I stated my intent, my intent in using these candles for spellwork because now I have them, but moving forward getting them from a spiritual store, I shaved them down to the size needed, and my candle purchase moving forward comes from a spiritual shop, this goes for most stuff I get for my practice. To support my local spiritual, yes, but also the intent too. The candles from the spiritual store have a very different feel and look than the ones from other sources for me.
One thing I like to do is take my leftover wax from burnt tealights and other miscellaneous candles and create new ones!
Awesome replies! Thanks for the participation 
