We recently celebrated the 45th annual Earth Day. For years, millions of people have participated in environmental activities on this one day, to give back to Mother Earth and show her how much we love her. As a result, many groundbreaking environmental laws have been put in place, businesses have become a little greener, there are more opportunities to recycle, and people the world over have learned just how amazing our planet is.

Why leave it to just one day? (Or even one week, as some communities do.) Why not celebrate and show our appreciation for our home planet every day?

On average, Americans generate close to 251 million tons of trash a year, with 164 million tons going to landfills. The good news is that 87 million tons of this material is recycled and composted. That is the equivalent to a 34.5 percent recycle rate.

But we can do better.

With so many activities that give back, and so many ways to live sustainably, there's no reason we all can't be involved in a zero- or next-to-zero-waste lifestyle.

The cost of living whether sustainable or not is always a concern, even with inflation rates dipping the past few years. Finding time to fit anything in our already busy schedules can be a chore. Sure, there are sustainable and organic consumer products out there that are pricey, thanks to fierce marketing efforts. And to get your whole family on board with a new lifestyle in the midst of corporate meetings, extracurricular activities and charity events is sometimes unthinkable.

Therein lies the key, however. With a little forethought, a little determination and a lot of love for a healthier planet and life, anyone can take that first step toward a zero-waste life. It may seem a bit daunting to get going on this journey, but don't worry. You won't be a green guru overnight, but will soon be living with less, on less.

Take Lauren Singer, for instance. The 23-year-old graduate from New York University has successfully generated enough trash in the past two years to fill ... a 16 oz. mason jar. That's it! Just a small jar full of materials that are unrecyclable or compostable. Now think of all the trash you've thrown away in the past two years. A little more than a mason jar full, huh?

So how did she start?

As an environmental studies student, Singer protested against oil companies, led a weekly environmental talk group on campus, and of course her friends and family all knew her as the "sustainability girl."

But after her professor, Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder and CEO of Seventh Generation, stressed that it is important for us to live our values, Lauren took a long look at how she was living. She realized she still consumed many items packaged in plastic. She then decided to eliminate it from her life for good.

In order to dispose of all plastic, you will need to learn (like Lauren did) to make some of the products you use each day — this may include everything from toothpaste to cleaning products. You can find plenty of resources online to teach you a few tricks in this endeavor, like Pinterest or YouTube. You can also follow Singer's blog, Trash is for Tossers, for a few ideas and inspiration.

You're probably thinking, "That's great for one person. What if I have a big family? This is going to get expensive!"

Actually, the opposite is true.

When buying packaged goods, a good portion of what you pay is for that packaging. By making your own toothpaste, body lotion or window cleaner, you could be saving up to 15 percent on these items. If it's possible to reuse the packaging from the products in your home, this will also cut down on buying new and throwing the old into landfills.

You can also do a bit of spring cleaning on your wardrobe. Donate items you don't use, have never used, still have tags on them, etc. Then when you need a few items, go to your local secondhand shop and grab some new finds there. With a larger family, you tend to consume more, and these habits will definitely benefit your wallet.

Still worried about time?

Just take a look into Bea Johnson's waste-free life. Johnson, along with her husband and two teenage boys, started their journey in 2006 and haven't looked back. After moving into an apartment big enough to just hold the family's basics, they realized they didn't miss all their belongings they stored.

"When we lived with just the necessities, we found it very freeing," Johnson says.

The Johnsons eventually got rid of about 80 percent of what they owned. But more importantly, they gained in so many ways, such as time. They now have more time to hang out with their children and go to various outdoor activities on the weekends.

"It puts an emphasis on human relations," Johnson said.

Positive human relations are important, especially in a digital world. Just think of the significance that those positive human relations could have on our home.

A zero-waste life is a money-saver and time-giver. It's completely doable for singles and families alike. Put a little forethought toward a waste-free life and enjoy the world a little more.