The ultimate eco-warrior? Woman, 41, cuts her trash down to just one small MASON JAR each week - after she and her son vowed to eliminate household waste to help the environment

  • Tippi Thole from Montreal, Canada, reduced her trash can to a Mason jar 
  • The 41-year-old mom, who works as a graphic designer, realized how much waste her family used after packing her son's lunch one day
  • She and her son, Eames, made the commitment on Jan. 1 to have zero waste
  • Her blog, entitled the Tiny Trash Can, follows Tippi and details how she eliminates waste within her life  

A woman has eliminated so much waste from her day-to-day life that she has managed to reduce her trash can to just a tiny Mason jar.

Tippi Thole  - a graphic designer who lives near Montreal, Canada - thought she was environmentally friendly with how she recycled and composted a majority of her daily trash. But the 41-year-old mom realized she could do better after she noticed the amount of plastic waste when packing her son's lunch.

Since then, Tippi and her son have worked hard to reduce their trash can and focus on living a more sustainable life to help the environment.

Environmentally conscious: Tippi Thole - from Montreal, Canada - decided to eliminate waste in her household after realizing how much plastic packaging was used for her son's lunch 

Environmentally conscious: Tippi Thole - from Montreal, Canada - decided to eliminate waste in her household after realizing how much plastic packaging was used for her son's lunch 

Innovative: The mother-of-one works as a graphic designer. But she spends a majority of her time now thinking about ways to eliminate waste in her home, like shopping with glass jars 

Innovative: The mother-of-one works as a graphic designer. But she spends a majority of her time now thinking about ways to eliminate waste in her home, like shopping with glass jars 

Smart thinking: Tippi has added a compost to her household. She also has reduced her need to recycle because her family no longer buys items with plastic packaging 

Smart thinking: Tippi has added a compost to her household. She also has reduced her need to recycle because her family no longer buys items with plastic packaging 

Tippi replaced her 10-gallon trash can with a small five-inch Mason jar. But when people assume that means the mom-of-one recycles more than she used to, she said it was the opposite.

'I'm actually recycling less, a LOT less,' Tippi wrote in an Instagram post. 'That's because I avoid purchasing anything with packaging, especially plastic packaging.' 

She and her son, Eames, officially started their commitment to eliminating their trash and waste on January 1, 2018. 

The pair joined the Zero Waste movement, a global group who is committed to diminishing the amount of trash left behind on the planet. 

Members of the group typically avoid items that are plastic or disposable, bring their own containers when shopping, and re-purpose items for other uses. 

To chart her journey, Tippi started a blog entitled the Tiny Trash Can and an Instagram page to inspire others on how they, too, can eliminate waste within their own lives.

Each week, Tippi unveils what is left in her trash can so she and her son can think of other ways to avoid that waste. 

Items left in her trash can as of late included band-aids, a few receipts, tape and unwanted junk mail. 

Happy: In her blog entitled Tiny Trash Can, Tippi said that not only has she eliminated her waste footprint, but she is also eating healthier than ever 

Happy: In her blog entitled Tiny Trash Can, Tippi said that not only has she eliminated her waste footprint, but she is also eating healthier than ever 

Losing the waste: Tippi got rid of her 10-gallon trash can for a tiny Mason jar. Each week, she shows her followers what she had to throw away

Losing the waste: Tippi got rid of her 10-gallon trash can for a tiny Mason jar. Each week, she shows her followers what she had to throw away

Thoughtful: Most recently some of the trash left behind in Tippi's household was some band-aids, a few receipts and unwanted junk mail 

Thoughtful: Most recently some of the trash left behind in Tippi's household was some band-aids, a few receipts and unwanted junk mail 

In order to eliminate a majority of the waste from her life, Tippi admitted the need to be well-prepared whenever she leaves the house.

The woman created a 'zero waste kit' with items in her household to always have with her. The kit includes canvas bags for groceries, a water bottle, travel mug, reusable cutlery and a Tupperware container.   

Tippi buys a majority of her produce from farmers markets because each item is not wrapped in plastic wrap like in the grocery stores. She also brings Mason jars to stores so she can fill them up with other food products such as pasta, granola and rice. 

Since starting the zero waste pledge, Tippi said she and her son have begun to eat healthier because the project eliminates most processed foods due to their packaging.

Health-conscious: Tippi buys a majority of her food at farmers markets because the items do not come in plastic packaging like in grocery stores 

Health-conscious: Tippi buys a majority of her food at farmers markets because the items do not come in plastic packaging like in grocery stores 

Mindful: Tippi said she hopes her posts will help others become more conscious of the waste they are leaving behind and how it can be damaging to the planet 

Mindful: Tippi said she hopes her posts will help others become more conscious of the waste they are leaving behind and how it can be damaging to the planet 

Their bathroom has also been transformed into a zero waste area where the toilet has a bidet attachment so toilet paper is no longer necessary. 

'Not only do I feel cleaner, but we’ve eliminated the last disposable in our house—toilet paper!' Tippi shared in an Instagram post with her followers.

But she assured everyone that the family keeps spare rolls of toilet paper for any guests who do not want to use the bidet.

The mom also makes her own toothpaste and uses bar soap to eliminate the plastic bottles that most products come in from the store. 

Eliminating waste in the environment has taken off in recent years as more reports have come out about the impact products, plastic specifically, have on the environment.

Most recently, plastic straws have become the focus of those who are environmentally conscious. 

Seattle became the first US city to declare it would eliminate plastic straws from all of its establishments. Starbucks also announced it would eliminate the plastic straw by the year 2020. 

On her blog page, Tippi said she hoped her posts would inspire other people to adopt a tiny trash can and be more conscious of the footprint they leave on the environment.  

Tippi's tips for eliminating waste in YOUR home  

1. Refine your caffeine kick

Coffee can become a much needed (and necessary) start to anyone's day. But the disposable cups from the office and coffee shops add to the amount of waste deposited globally. Tippi recommends bringing your own mug to work and having a travel cup on hand when visiting a shop. 

2. Bring your own water bottle

Using disposable cups for water (similar to that of coffee) also adds a lot of waste to the environment. Having your own water bottle on hand is an easy way to eliminate that waste. 

3. Say no to plastic straws and cutlery 

Plastic straws and cutlery have become a focus recently because of the damage they cause to marine life. Tippi recommends saying no to them at establishments or bringing your own reusable versions. 

4. Make your own cleaning products

Cleaning products often come in plastic containers. By making your own supplies from household products - such as vinegar and lemon juice - it helps eliminate toxins and plastic waste. 

5. Use bar soap

Opting for an unwrapped bar soap can help eliminate the amount of plastic bottles you bring home. These soaps can be used for hands, hair and body. Some companies even make them to cleanse your face or work as shaving cream. 

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