Zero waste plateau: tips and challenges for non-urban households

[GeorgeJ]

I've been trying to reduce my household waste for the past year, but I've hit a plateau and feel overwhelmed by the remaining areas, especially food packaging and personal care products that seem to have plastic in everything. I can manage the basics like bringing my own bags and jars to the bulk store, but things like finding truly compostable dental floss or affordable, unpackaged alternatives for cleaning supplies are proving much harder. For those further along in their zero waste living journey, what were the most challenging swaps you faced and how did you overcome them? Are there any specific resources or local networks you found invaluable for sourcing items or sharing ideas, and how do you balance the ideal of zero waste with the practical realities of budget, time, and availability in a non-urban area?