Ann Arbor Zero Waste Guide

Find out how you can reduce waste in Ann Arbor and participate in the reuse and sharing economy

The land the City of Ann Arbor occupies is the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg - including Odawa, Ojibwe and Boodewadomi - and Wyandot peoples.


Your Zero Waste Survival Kit

Carrying these items opens up countless zero waste opportunities. Most can be found at home or secondhand shops - some you can even make yourself!

1.

Tupperware or Food Container

Essential for to-go food, leftovers, or getting things from a deli counter

2

Bag

3.

Cloth Napkin

4.

Cutlery

5.

Bottle or Mug

Buy Used

New Isn't Necessary

Purchasing secondhand items - especially big-ticket items like furniture and cars - eliminates demand for new production while saving money and supporting your neighbors.

Shop Second Hand

Before buying anything new, ask yourself: "Can I get this secondhand?"

Best places to look:

  • Local thrift stores

  • Estate Sales

  • Facebook Marketplace

  • Craigslist Ann Arbor

  • Garage Sales

Join the Gift Economy

Participate in sharing and gifting networks to reduce consumption. Any time you are able to give or take from a network you've successfully avoided a purchase!

Choose Refurbished Tech

Electronics are incredibly easy to buy used or refurbished with massive environmental benefits.

Try Back Market, eBay, or local computer stores.

Groceries

Food shopping presents the most packaging challenges, but with the right approach, you can dramatically reduce waste, often while saving money.

Start at your normal store

Try to do a completely zero waste shopping trip at your usual grocery store first. This shows you what you can get without changing your routine.

Look for: Loose produce, bulk bins, items in glass containers, products with minimal packaging.

Start at your normal store

Try to do a completely zero waste shopping trip at your usual grocery store first. This shows you what you can get without changing your routine.

Look for: Loose produce, bulk bins, items in glass containers, products with minimal packaging.

Start at your normal store

Try to do a completely zero waste shopping trip at your usual grocery store first. This shows you what you can get without changing your routine.

Look for: Loose produce, bulk bins, items in glass containers, products with minimal packaging.

Find a great bulk store

For items you can't get package-free at regular stores, specialty bulk stores fill the gaps.

Find a great bulk store

For items you can't get package-free at regular stores, specialty bulk stores fill the gaps.

Find a great bulk store

For items you can't get package-free at regular stores, specialty bulk stores fill the gaps.

Embrace farmers markets

Find fresh, local produce with minimal packaging! Many vendors use paper bags or let you bring your own containers.

Pro tip: Visit markets near work or on your regular route to make it sustainable long-term.

Embrace farmers markets

Find fresh, local produce with minimal packaging! Many vendors use paper bags or let you bring your own containers.

Pro tip: Visit markets near work or on your regular route to make it sustainable long-term.

Embrace farmers markets

Find fresh, local produce with minimal packaging! Many vendors use paper bags or let you bring your own containers.

Pro tip: Visit markets near work or on your regular route to make it sustainable long-term.

Save Food from Landfill

Olio allows you to pick up excess food from neighbors, and TooGoodToGo lets you save food that restaurants are throwing away.

Save Food from Landfill

Olio allows you to pick up excess food from neighbors, and TooGoodToGo lets you save food that restaurants are throwing away.

Save Food from Landfill

Olio allows you to pick up excess food from neighbors, and TooGoodToGo lets you save food that restaurants are throwing away.

Ann Arbor's Best Grocery Stores for Zero Waste

Ann Arbor's Best Grocery Stores for Zero Waste

Ann Arbor's Best Grocery Stores for Zero Waste

Composting

Composting

Composting

38% of Michigan's municipal waste is biodegradable. Composting your food scraps is the best way to curb the landfill emissions that cause climate change

38% of Michigan's municipal waste is biodegradable. Composting your food scraps is the best way to curb the landfill emissions that cause climate change

38% of Michigan's municipal waste is biodegradable. Composting your food scraps is the best way to curb the landfill emissions that cause climate change

Backyard Composting

If you have an outdoor space you can start your own compost pile or bin. It's the best way to divert your food waste, make rich soil.


Easy to use components and styles that are designed for consistency, customizability and speed


Connect with a Neighbor

If you don't have access to a compost cart, use the new MakeSoil app to find a place to compost.

Curbside

Single family residences can get 1 free 64 gallon compost cart! Check if you can get a brown compost cart for curbside collection.

Repair

Help Your Stuff Live Longer

Repairing items - especially electronics and large appliances - prevents the need to extract new resources and often saves you a lot of money.

Learn to Repair

Join community repair events and learn hands-on skills.

Fix Your Electronics

Electronics have massive environmental impacts. Manufacturing a new laptop creates around 250X its weight in CO2. Repair before replacing!

Tool Sharing

Save money by not buying tools you'll rarely use. Share with neighbors instead! Here are some resources for borrowing stuff:

Get Parts

Repair Clinic has guides and parts available for all kinds of appliances.

Electronics Recycling

When electronics are truly beyond repair, it's important to recycle them properly.

Local Resources

A few more places to find great information about zero waste

County Trash To Treasures Guide

Complete resource for renting, repairing, donating, or recycling your items throughout Washtenaw County.

A to Z Recycling Guide

Recycle Ann Arbor's comprehensive guide to what can be recycled and where.

UMich Campus Sustainability

University of Michigan waste reduction programs and campus composting initiatives.

Library Stuff Collection

Discover what you can borrow from the library instead of buying - from tools to musical instruments.

The most environmentally friendly product is the one that never gets made.

© 2025 Live Zero Waste Inc.

The most environmentally friendly product is the one that never gets made.

© 2025 Live Zero Waste Inc.

The most environmentally friendly product is the one that never gets made.

© 2025 Live Zero Waste Inc.