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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
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
