fairdare
  • blog
  • Fairdare
  • ethical brands
  • zero-waste
  • zero-waste meals
  • about

less recycling, please

7/23/2018

3 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Zero-waste of course is a misnomer. There is (probably) no such thing as living on this planet today + creating no waste at all. The movement regardless of its name is focused on creating less waste....and that includes recycling.

Recycling takes energy to clean, grind, melt, + remold. New plastic almost always has to be added to recycled plastic in order to form plastic capable of use. Plastic can only be recycled so many times. And all plastic will be on the planet for centuries, at least. Recycled paper + glass go through the same sort of energy consuming process with new materials added into the mix.

Less recycling can feel like just another hurdle to jump through on the way to getting some nourishment into our bodies. Remember though...there is no such thing as "zero"-waste. We're doing our best...and just maybe tomorrow we will do even better. We gather skills + we build on that.

A few of the ways we've tackled making less recycling:
-buying milk from a dairy that reuses their glass jugs :: no plastic jugs
-eating fruit instead of fruit juice :: no plastic jugs
-making our own yogurt weekly :: no plastic tubs
-not buying cottage cheese, cream cheese, or other tubbed items :: no plastic tubs
-buying from the bulk bins :: no boxes or cans or plastic bags or paper 
-buying dried beans, chickpeas, etc. + cooking them in bulk + freezing for later :: no cans
-not buying soft drinks :: no plastic bottles or cans
-buying toilet paper wrapped in paper :: no plastic film
-bringing our own bags everywhere :: no plastic grocery bags or paper shopping bags
-putting produce together in reusable bags :: no plastic produce bags
-putting bakery bread into a cloth bag :: no plastic bread bags
-buying rolls or buns or tortillas only very occasionally :: much fewer plastic bags
-buying grocery store berries only very occasionally :: much fewer plastic boxes
-purchasing frozen food only very occasionally :: much less plastic
-getting off of mailing lists :: much less paper 
-buying second hand clothing locally :: no shipping materials
-getting food from the farmers market or CSA :: no packaging + they reuse jars + cartons
-not buying dry clean only clothes :: no dry cleaner bags
-using paper with writing on one side for grocery lists, etc. :: less paper 
-reusing shipping materials :: no paper + plastic mailers or boxes
-listing large packing materials on craigslist for free :: no packing materials

None of this is meant to induce guilt...but it is to inspire action.  :) A little personal sacrifice can move us a little closer to our vision of the world we'd like to live in. If we aren't feeling a pinch, maybe we can do a little bit more?  ;)

Much more articulate words on this topic:
Bea Johnson's TEDx Talk

Love,
Jane
3 Comments
Celia link
7/23/2018 10:26:19 am

Love.

Reply
Kari
7/23/2018 03:36:25 pm

Great list.

Reply
jo
7/28/2018 10:17:10 am

i love this post and needed the reminder. thank you x

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
    Picture
    Picture


    categories

    All
    Fair Brands
    Fairdare
    Garden
    Made
    Reads
    Simple Budget
    Simple Holidays
    Simple Home
    Simple Wardrobe
    Simply Said
    Sustainable Self
    Wanderings
    Yum
    Zero Waste

    archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    all images by jane unless otherwise noted. copyright 2023.
    subscribe via email

    RSS Feed

    Follow