Starting Your Zero Waste Journey, Imperfectly
Written by Jahasia K. Cooper
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” - Chinese Proverb
If there was a quote that was a perfect metaphor for the significance of reducing plastic waste starting now, this would be it. There is literally no better time to start your zero waste journey than today. You don’t need to have a perfectly arranged pantry full of mason jars or a complete set of bamboo takeout utensils to start reducing your plastic waste! You can start small with what you have and the resources available to you and still make an impact.
There are still so many of us who do not have zero waste shops and refill stores near us, but until they pop up, here are simple plastic-free swaps that you can start today:
Say no to plastic-utensils when ordering takeout and bring your own
Bring your own tupperware when eating out to bring home leftovers. If you struggle with remembering your containers when you go out, try leaving a set in the car similar to leaving your reusable grocery bags in the car. That way you have a set with you at all times!
Sign up for a compost program
Many cities offer a variety of options for residents to drop off their food scraps at local farmer’s markets. Another great option is to sign up with a collection service that will pick up your full bucket of compost from your doorstep and swap it with a clean one!
Go back to bar soap.
This is a swap that literally anyone can implement. Most of the time, plastic bottles go straight to landfills and if you recycle them, you can’t be sure that they are actually getting a second life since our national recycling only recycles 9% of items. The best way to make sure you’re making a positive impact is to simply swap to bar soaps!
Here is a tutorial on how to make bar soap into liquid soap for those who prefer liquid! When you finish up your current soap, save the bottles to refill it.
Bonus zero waste tip: Be a local advocate! Ask your local coffee shop about compostable to-go cups or encourage your favorite restaurant to compost leftover food waste. The best local businesses love hearing feedback from loyal customers, take advantage of this and advocate for sustainable steps that they can make to reduce their environmental impact.
I first started my zero waste journey as a junior in college when I decided to stop purchasing single-use plastic water bottles and swapped with a reusable water bottle. It was a simple step that made me feel like I was taking a step in the right direction! Since then, my zero waste journey has definitely taken off and now I can confidently say I have my go-to zero waste essentials and I cannot imagine going back to wasteful plastic options. These include:
Reusable and Compostable Coffee Filters
I created a helpful video in the next blog where I go in-depth about each product and why it’s a perfect zero waste swap to help me reduce my waste.
However, I am NOT perfect and truly, I don’t know if any of us will be perfect zero wasters because we’re all human. Some days, I forget my reusable straw at home or forget to bring my reusable bags with me when I go grocery shopping, but that’s just the reality of my imperfect zero waste journey!
Give yourself a bit of grace as you embark on your zero waste journey and if you need morale boost, I will leave you with another favorite quote of mine:
“We don’t need a handful of people going zero waste perfectly, we need millions doing it imperfectly.” - Anne-Marie Bonneau
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