This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclaimer here.
So either you live in a dorm with no kitchen appliances or you live in a small apartment and have little time to make meals, either way, you end up generating a lot of single use plastic waste from wrappers and packaging of your favorite go-to study snacks. Now, you shouldn’t feel pressured to go fully zero waste. Not only can it be expensive, but it can often be very difficult to maintain as a college or grad student. However, there are still a few kitchen items that can go a long way to help you keep your trash load to a minimum.
Number 1: French Press
For all you coffee-crazed college students out there, do I have a solution for you. Not only are French presses a stylish edition to any haphazardly arranged dorm or living room, but they will cut down your Starbucks visits and help you save money and the environment.
Number 2: Coffee Container
Keeping with coffee theme, a nice coffee container goes a long way. Even if you can’t resist the urge to stop at Starbucks or your local coffee shop, bringing along one of these babies is sure to prevent you from using a single use cup.
Number 3: A Reusable Water Bottle and Straw
You know the deal. You probably already have a few. If not, check out some of these that not only are easy to clean but are also easy on the environment. A fun update, bring a reusable cup to parties. That red solo cup may be fun for one night, but maybe not so fun for the next 150 years…
Number 4: Food Containers
If you have a kitchen, great, then you should be accustomed to storing meals in one of these. They’re a great option for meal prepping to help save you time and money. If you’re on a meal plan, then these are great for storing snacks from the dining hall. Need a little pick me up while studying, then just fill up one of these with your favorite cereal or fruit combinations.
Number 5: Cutlery Set
Gone are the days of grabbing a plastic fork and knife on your way out of a take out restaurant. Reusable cutlery are more environmentally friendly and easy to carry in a bag.
Number 6: Reusable Shopping Bags and Produce Bags
No one needs plastic bags taking up space in their dorm or the planet.
Number 7: Reusable Paper Towels
This is a must if your roommates and you actually clean your dorm/house. If you don’t, then you’re already on your way to reducing waste! Nice job.
Number 8: Compost Bin
Now, if you’re in the type of living situation where you have a responsible schedule for taking out the trash, 1) congratulations and 2) bring up the idea of composting. Check to see if your campus has a composting program, and if they don’t, try emailing your campus’ environmental club to see if they would be interested in launching a composting initiative. If your campus already has one, start collecting compost scraps from your dorm/apartment in a compost bin that naturally controls odor.
Number 9: Bar Soap
For this soap, I’m talking bar soap for your dishes. It lasts longer than any dish detergent in a plastic bottle and works just as well!
Number 10: A Plastic Free Scrub Brush
And last but not least, here’s no need to toss excess plastic when perfectly great alternatives exist. Switch to a plastic free scrub brush to help clean and reuse your eco-friendly kitchen tools!
So there you have it, 10 zero waste kitchen items for any kitchen but particularly suited for dorms. What are your favorite zero waste kitchen items?
