Low Waste Living: Simple Swaps for South Shore Families

Low Waste Living: Simple Swaps for South Shore Families

How can you reduce your waste on the South Shore? Oh I got tips. Don't worry we are firmly 'low waste,' and won't be sharing our year of trash in a mason jar anytime soon. 

  1. Do you even live on the South Shore if you hadn’t had a Hornstra ice cream? Well you can also get your milk delivered (easy!) in glass bottles. Zero waste. Win win. AND not just milk delivery, lots of great options like local bread and eggs.

  2. Shop local. Like anywhere. Farmers markets are obviously a big YES, but shopping locally cuts down on emissions and packaging across the board. Plus less cardboard to recycle.

  3. Art or school supplies? Check out the Spare Studio in Rockland

  4. Clothing? I mean there are options! Shopping locally, shopping second hand, shopping your friend’s closet

  1. Recycle even more. People are going to get sick of me saying ‘recycling isn’t the best solution, but it's a great one.’ Sure you recycle your cardboard and cans, but you can recycle even more items- no longer functional electronic cords, spent markers and pens, styrofoam, beer can tops, textiles aka old clothing even if its ripped (technically legally you HAVE to in Mass), old makeup bottles. I have a damn good list if I don’t say so myself. (I like to recycle my beer can tops at Stellwagen Brewery in Marshfield or Untold Brewery in Scituate/Plymouth, and then since I ‘did a good deed,’ I sit down and have a beer. 10/10).

  2. REFILL AT FOUR CORNERS SUPPLY CO. Obviously. Seriously, it’s easy. Swap one thing. Hand Soap, Dish Soap. We saved nearly 7,000 bottles from the “recycling” in 2025, even small changes have a big impact.

  3. BYOB. Do you seriously still buy bottles of water? Why are you wasting your money? Okay, I get it…the tap water leaves much to be desired, and yes I've occasionally been caught empty handed, but YOU DO realize that plastic water bottles are literally just bottled tap water with a side of microplastics, right? Need a water bottle? There’s like 5000 Stanleys at Savers soon to come with a free Labubu. Need a filter? Grab a brita (we recycle the filters here), or one of our go pure pods. 

     

    Usually Dunkin’ is a no go, but all my favorite local coffee shops like Slacktide and Lady Sunshine will happily refill your cup (and serve you a better more sustainable brew)

     

  1. Shop used first (or 'preloved' or 'secondhand' if that makes you feel fancier) Free Cycle Sites/Your friend’s houses. Looking for….a yellow shirt your kid has to wear once? A tool you need once (please, ask me!….yes this is a marriage pain point)...before you snag new, check with your real or virtual communities, high probability someone has one they want to get rid of. Last year for Christmas ALL my son wanted from Santa was a poop emoji stuffy- no way in heck I was spending money on that- and low and behold I had plenty of offers after a ISO post on a buy nothing group. (also don’t be an idiot and show up a random persons house that has no social media footprint/mutual friends/etc etc)

    • Free in Hanover (Facebook)

    • Buy Nothing Hanover/Norwell (Facebook)

    • Marshfield Gifting (Facebook)

    • Facebook Marketplace

    • Duxbury Yard Sale (Facebook)

    • Your phone contact list

    • Buy Nothing App (there is a buy nothing app but not sure its incredibly active)

 

  1. Black Earth Composting. Literally one of the BEST things you can do. Black Earth makes it SUPER easy if you are intimidated by backyard composting. On the South Shore they service Norwell and Pembroke...and??, but they get enough interest in other towns, they will add.

 

  1. Last…Go OUTSIDE. You live on the South Shore, we have an abundance of beautiful natural places to explore. Check out Wildlands Trust, North South Rivers Watershed Association (NSWRA) and your local Open Space Committee site for tips. The more you stop scrolling and take a walk at the beach, the less stuff you’ll be tempted to buy impulsively. 

 

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