This week was spring break. And while I plan on posting an article on the Zero Waste Closet next week, I would gladly welcome your suggestions for future articles in the meantime... What aspect of the zero waste lifestyle would you like me to write about?
44 comments:
Comment Rules: This blog is about reducing waste. It is not a blog about achieving absolute zero waste, or achieving zero carbon -I would have suffocated otherwise;) Anyone can post a comment and it's ok to be critical, but be cool: rude comments, personal attacks, blog/site promotions, or comments/links unrelated to the article will be deleted. Thanks for participating in the conversation!
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i'm expecting my first baby at the end of may. right now i'm being bombarded with gifts, etc. which i love, but which are filling my small home right up. how can i simplify as a new mom? any ideas would be helpful.
ReplyDeletelove the blog.
I have really been loving this blog--we are nowhere near to Zero around here, but I do my best to eliminate waste more and more as I figure out new things we can change or live without. You have been so inspirational to me...it's phenomenal to have a look into the life of someone further down the road to Zero so I know what to aim for!
ReplyDeleteI know you've talked about the mail before, but I have taken many steps to reduce the junk and it just keeps coming. Do you have any more suggestions about how to get rid of the stacks of junk mail coming in every day?
Thank you for giving your time to inspire us!
I'd love a bathroom guide to zero waste! You already mentioned toilet paper and q-tips but what about all the shampoos, soaps, products, etc. What do you do about all the bottles? Are there refillable shampoo places like for olive oil?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work though! I have made so many small and wonderful changes since reading this blog. Thank you!
Martha: I did mention shampoos and conditioners in my Zero Waste Bathroom guide, you must have missed it somehow... I don't know where you live but some Whole Foods carry them. Usually a place that carries olive oil in bulk also has other liquids such as castile soap, shampoo and contioner. I hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteHi anonymous: a few things you can do.
ReplyDelete-most important thing is to let people know that you are striving to live a simpler life with less.
-have gift lists at different stores and different price points.
Then, please don't feel guilty to:
-return what you can to the store
-resale on craigslist or ebay
-pass it on if you do get something that you believe a friend would appreciate and need (you do not want to burden her either)
-donate to your local thrift store
all that you do not need or love.
People are giving you these things as a gesture to let you know that they are excited about your pregnancy, they do not mean to burden you, and you should not feel obligated to keep everything. Good luck!
Katy: I am so happy that you too are well on your way to zero waste (figuring out alternatives or elimination is a compelling part of the process).
ReplyDeleteI don't know when you took the steps included in the junk mail article, but it takes about 3 months to see a change in junk mail frequency.
And here are also more pointers on how to reduce specific pieces of junk mail:
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm#7name and postal address".
Calling each one as they come in and being careful not to freely give out your address is pretty much the best you can do after that. If you have to give out your address, write or say : "please do not rent, sell, or trade my name and postal address".
How about Zero Waste travel, or Zero Waste Camping? We camp every weekend in the summer and I'm remembering the paper towels, beer cans, and so many other things that will be different this year. We get into the habit of thinking we're making our life easier while traveling by using disposable diapers, plates, napkins, baggies for snacks etc. Just by reading your blog I have tons of new ideas for road trips to eliminate waste, but it'd be wonderful to hear your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYou could also blog about Zero Waste Summer, including ideas for sun block, beach snacks, clean up (instead of baby wipes) reusable cups for store bought smoothies (I've been using my coffee mug). Just some ideas:-)
Zero Waste crafts for small children would be really helpful around here.
ReplyDeleteClothes and Fashion! I've streamlined my closet to practically nothing (which hasn't changed how I dress at all, because I wear the same favorite pieces all the time anyway... why did I have so much!?)and I'm being very thoughtful about what I buy from here on in, but still, any advice will be welcome!
ReplyDeleteI've gotten myself and a few friends hooked on your blog - thank you Bea!
ReplyDeleteI wrote you an email recently and asked you about vitamins and supplements. Whether you use them and if you go bulk - tips for and such.
Took my "meat jar" into Whole Foods the other day - the guy was not excited to fill it for me, but did it! Felt good.
Thank you for your tips! Looking forward to reading more! Deirdre
Cleaning products. I know there are green products out there, you've mentioned the ones you make yourself. From my experience, (brooklyn, four roommates) they don't do squat (both the green products and the roommates).
ReplyDeleteI'll be living on my own soon, obviously many things will be much easier, but do you have to clean every single day to get those products to work? Maybe you have a bionic level of elbow grease…
Also, I don't have any pets but was always curious about products that are pet friendly (ex. wood cleaners).
and what's the deal with bleach? I love the Comet w bleach. I assume you will break my heart on this one.
MoBeta
Per shampoo/conditioner. I started using Lush's shampoo and conditioner bars. I purchase 4 annually (and if you buy 2, you get a reusable tin gratis to keep the them from getting melty in the shower) and since all they do is put them in a baggie at the shop - just say, "No baggie, please." It has completely removed my reliance on bottled things and they smell delicious. Bonus: they don't count as "liquids" at the airport.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input, Sarah. Lush Bars are great on the packaging aspect. Too bad they contain SLS and fragrance, which is probably why they score a 5 on skin deep (medium hazard). I hope they are working on removing those from their products, then we'll have the ideal natural and zero waste shampoo in one!
ReplyDeleteMo: you need to give me specific cleaning problems. I am really enjoying cleaning with just: the homemade cleaner (see recipes) for disinfecting, baking soda for scrubbing the tub, stainless scrubber for the stove, microfiber cloth and water for mirrors, castile soap on the floors. Regular products make my throat itch ;)
ReplyDeleteBea, I'd love to know how you prioritise your purchases.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to go zero-waste, minimal plastic, non-toxic, green, as organic and as animal-friendly as is possible for a meat-eater, and to buy mostly local products. And to do all that without spending a fortune. But often I can't get a product that ticks all those boxes. For example, I have just switched to non-toxic make-up, but the "greenest" makeup I found and bought is expensive and comes packaged in (recyclable) plastic. I use very little makeup, but still…
How do you deal with this problem? I know you start with Refuse/don't-buy, and prefer non-toxic and green products, but how do you decide from there?
Some locavores have a set of guidelines that say "If not local, then organic. If not organic, then family farm. If not family farm, then local business. If not a local business, then terroir." Do you have something similar?
I don't know if this makes sense...
Hi Bea,
ReplyDeleteI live in a tiny NYC apartment. Any tips you can offer on how i can compost without a yard or balcony would be great.
Thanks.
-Melissa
-Melissa
Hi Melissa:
ReplyDeletehere are a couple of links that should help:
http://www.journeytoforever.org/compost_indoor.html
http://naturemill.com/index.html (this requires electricity though)
Vanessa again, Bea. I've been musing about my priorities and wanted to bring up another possible topic for you to write about.
ReplyDeleteHave you read the "Cradle to Cradle" book? The authors advocate making all products of either "biological nutrients" (things that will decompose and enrich the soil) or "technical nutrients" (things that can be infinitely recycled with no loss of quality, like steel and glass). Apparently you can even make plastics that qualify as technical nutrients, which have no additives.
I found this list of "Cradle to Cradle certified" products (http://www.mbdc.com/c2c/list.php?order=type) and was surprised to see some Method and Aveda products on there! I'll have to investigate further I think.
So, what I wanted to know was, what do you think of the Cradle to Cradle approach, and how does it fit in with or relate to your zero-waste ethos?
Melissa: I've used Bokashi buckets for composting while living in an apartment, but you do need to have plants to put the "tea" on every day, and somewhere to bury the "pickle" once it's ready. I think worm farms also work, but I personally don't make enough scraps to keep the poor worms from starving. Bea?
Oh goodness, now I really want one of those NatureMills. Thanks Bea!
ReplyDeleteHi Bea-
ReplyDeleteI would love to see zero waste camping tips as well as summer tips.
There is so much to read in your blog, thanks again for putting this all out there. It really helps answer so many questions for me.
I also wanted to just chime in if I might about two of the questions above (hope that is OK!)
Regarding the shampoo, I have bought in bulk at numerous places in the bay area, but have also become hooked on this product (I have bought this in the past at Rainbow Grocery, but it is likely sold more widely...)
http://secure.jrliggett.com/products.php?cat=1
I love the tea tree and hemp, but the original is great as well. I have used this with an occasional vinegar rinse and love how it feels...
And I am almost positive that this is wrapped with a simple paper wrapping without a plastic lining.
Secondly, regarding the new mom with an abundance of gifts, another great place to donate items if you are local is the Homeless Prenatal Project in SF (or I am sure there are others in other towns similar).
http://www.homelessprenatal.org/donate.htm
They would truly appreciate the donations.
(Again, I hope you dont mind me nosing in!)
i should add too... bea, when i read your post about not finding a better waste solution to tooth brushes, take a look at the norwex site and their tooth brushes. you keep the tooth brush and only throw out the bristle portion once every 6 months!
ReplyDeleteA comment on shampoo bars-they are available from makers of handcrafted soaps.
ReplyDeleteTry searching Etsy if there is no one
doing this in your area.
I would love to hear suggestions for people living alone in small spaces! I live alone in a small Brooklyn apartment so face different challenges then a large family might. Two things that I am concerned about are picking up my dog's waste- do I accept occasional bags and use them? There are bio bags but I have heard then when going into a landfill they don't have any benefits. Also I want to stop using paper towels and go to rags but I don't have a washing machine. I won't generate enough to warrant their own trip to the laundromat but I am concerned about cleanliness if I just hand wash them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the info you've shared already, I'm trying to transition to a dramatically lower waste level!
Bea,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blog and don't let your critics get to you!! You have many fans!! I would be interested in how you take care of your dog - specifically what you do with the dog poop. I know there are special compost bins for pet waste but wonder if they really work. Also, I've heard the environmentally friendly poop bags aren't actually that great for mama earth.
Any advice for pet owners out there?
Thanks so much!!
I have an almost two year old and in the past 2.5 years (while pregnant too) I have hardly bought anything new for him. Sure, there's the stroller and car seat, but in hindsight, I'd have gotten them off Craigslist too. I scoured CL and freecycle while pregnant and while filling out my baby shower wish list. Now, I get most of his toys, gifts and clothes at local mom's group and neighborhood swaps, thrift stores, as well as friends. And I'm now passing those items along to my friends that are about to have babies. Loving your blog Bea and it's giving me a whole new area to start focusing my efforts on, vote with my choices, and simplify my life.
ReplyDeleteHi Bea,
ReplyDeleteI'm presently someone who values waste reduction in my home, and try whenever possible both to minimize possessions and to keep an attitude towards material and consumer goods that prioritizes thrift, practicality, and above all the value of human experience over ownership. I've enjoyed having your perspective on zero waste, and am glad to have this chance to ask you to address a particular issue.
I have a question about ethical donating. Lately, one of my concerns over personal and family waste reduction has been the growth of the secondhand/thrift industry alongside, which I suspect is a consequence of the rising consumption of durable goods.
On a bad day, I'm not so sure my obligation to waste reduction should ends at home: what good is it to donate things if these organizations are being used by others to avoid dealing with waste in a responsible way? Too often, thrift stores become a good excuse for people to just dump the stuff they no longer like so that they can proceed to purchase new things.
Donating, in short, doesn't always seem to me to be a solution to the problem of--and when I visit the secondhand stores in my neighbourhood, I'm further disturbed by how some secondhand stores have started to look like the landfills of the new millenium.
So, I was wondering if you could write a post about how you ensure that you're donating in the most responsible way possible. How do you choose which thrift stores and organizations to donate to, and how do you address their policy on the disposal of goods that they do not sell (for example, ensuring that unsold inventory is recycled, rather than simply thrown away)?
Any advice you have on donating--and the role of secondhand and thrift stores in waste reduction--would be much appreciated.
Best,
Mono
note to melissa from nyc: if you just want to get rid of your food scraps and don't want to actually create compost for your own use, you can drop off your scraps at the lower east side ecology center's compost collections - they're at the union square green market on saturdays and during the week, and i believe you can also drop it off at the actual center. there are also some community gardens that have their own composting programs.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lesecologycenter.org/
they also hold some workshops on composting.
Bea: It would be great to see future blogs on your (hopeful) next steps. Is it possible to see the deforestation for the trees? What I mean is that a much higher impact blog would be concerned with, for example, how you work with your community to improve recycling efforts in public institutions like schools. Another blog could discuss your success/tips for lobbying lawmakers for better mass transit. A third blog could be devoted to pushing for a carbon tax. Inspiring others to examine their wasteful ways is wonderful. But you have the potential to make a far more significant impact on your readers that goes beyond encouraging the use of glass jars and homemade vitamin balm.
ReplyDeleteSally - Thanks for your input. I agree that mass transit, carbon tax, deforestation are all important issues. The focus of my efforts is specifically around waste - and feel the most inspired and qualified on that topic. I believe that if a lot of people just take a few simple actions, then we can have an impact. And, that if you push yourself all the way, as I am striving to do, people will be able to reduce 90+% of the waste they generate, then that impact will be enormous. It is not really about jars and homemade balm...but how a simple change in mindset can generate the major changes that are required...
ReplyDeleteBea: Thank you for your response. The deforestation for the trees comment was just a metaphor for the point I was trying to make. The mindset change required for a major impact will require working closely with community members, local, state and national governments. In the area of waste, for example, a future blog could be on strategies to work with communities/schools on helping school lunch programs to generate less waste. Another blog could be on how some states have managed to pass bag tax laws where the funds generated are used to clean up the waste in local waterways. A third blog could be on how some communities have been successful in requiring recycling in their regional airports where tons and tons of waste is generated every year.
ReplyDeleteI am not underestimating the power of the zero waste lifestyle. Less household waste is generated and people get a feeling of control in this wasteful society. But if you really want to make an impact, you need to work with others for far greater, but absolutely attainable goals.
Sally: to me it sounds like the blogs you propose should be started by YOU. :) You're obviously passionate about reducing waste in the wider community – why not write about it yourself?
ReplyDeleteGiven she has two children and a career, I think it's terrific that Bea has taken the time to share what she knows in an area that can have a huge environmental impact. It's easy to spread yourself too thin.
Bea, I love your blog and think about it a lot: WWBD? "what would Bea do?" For the past three weeks I have managed to have two outdoor waste bins of recyclables to one bin of garbage. Prior to that, most of it was garbage. I didn't notice how much I was missing when it came time to clean up. Also, most of my junk mail and solicitations are gone but! the Post Office refuses to stop delivering the local Penny Saver 2-3 x per week. "Too much trouble" the postmaster said. I will keep you posted!
ReplyDeleteHow about zero waste sick days? Most medicines I've seen don't exactly come in zero waste packaging
ReplyDeleteVanessa: One way to include ideas that involve making an impact outside the home would be to have guests on the blog a la the 'Goop' blog. While I work and write about improving schools in developing countries and have lots of opportunities to address waste issues as part of my regular job(e.g. in school construction decisions, purchasing guidelines for school materials, recycled paper for new textbook orders etc), I am also active in my children's schools to reduce cafeteria waste and raise money for more bike racks and participate in a neighborhood ListServe that is packed with posts to exchange items etc. I would bet that other readers (hello NYC Moms who were successful in banning car idling during carpool-how did you do that? Hello DOE staff who tracked a recycling truck from their building only to find that the 'recycling' was dumped with the regular trash and the staff were able to fix the problem!) would also have similar ideas for what has worked to reduce waste in their communities/places of work.
ReplyDeleteI have given your request about future blog posts serious thought. I would love to hear your ideas about meal planning.
ReplyDeleteMy shopping is evolving to zero waste, but I still buy items in cans or glass containers that I can recycle. Even still, that plus bulk items, vegetables/fruits, meat, dairy and egg has meant that some old recipes need serious re-thinking and I need to search out new ones.
I should say I made a similar "big change" about 4 or 5 years ago when I participated in the first Locavore challenge, but hadn't realized how much food is sold in plastic until I started noticing and avoiding it (inspired in part by this blog).
You're so helpful and generous with your suggestions and information, thanks! It's nice to have a "blueprint" of a zero waste, simple lifestyle.
Bea, Sally and everyone with kids in school-cool idea about schools. Great idea for future blog post. What are your kid's schools doing in the zero waste space? There is so much that is possible! After Earth Day activities, which changes really "stick" and why? Do your kid's schools have "green squads or committees"? The biggest thing at our school is going "lunch trash-free". It took a lot of work but worth it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBea:
ReplyDelete1- What is your 'zero waste' take on transportation?
2- How do you pack lunches for the adults/children in your family?
3- What do you do about the issue of paper waste for the office/important papers/taxes...do you scan everything in and then shread the papers? Or do you hold onto them in a standing file?
4- What type of luggage do you use for travel? I cannot think of many that are really "green". How much do you pack when you fly?
5- In your online pics, your walls look pretty bare, where are your family photographs? What is the zero waste solution to family photos? Do you use digital photo frames?
6-If you only have a toaster and blender, how do you say grind coffee beans? Do you drink coffee?
Alex, Congrats on your progress...
ReplyDeleteI like your "WWBD" :)
Anonymous: Thanks for your quick questions.
Here are my quick answers.
-transportation: we walk or ride our bikes as much as possible. Kids ride their bike to school (or scooter when it rains). My husband rides over the golden gate bridge to work or shares a ride to client meetings. I try my hardest to only use the car once a week (on errands day)... the rest of the time, I hop on my bike too. It helps the environment and my rear-end at the same time;). We've rearranged our garage with easy to grab bikes for everyone.
-I mention lunches under zero waste kids. Furoshiki is our favorite lunch packing option.
-I do not scan papers, once they have made it into the house, the trees have already been cut ;) scanning would not simplify my life or reduce our waste. We keep tax related papers for 7 yrs in a rotation of labelled cardboard files.
-The greenest luggage, is one of quality that will last forever. We have majorly cut our travel... at this rate, I believe our suitcases, will last forever ;)
-I do not have family photographs showing in our house, because I find that photographs become outdated too fast, and people in them become static. I prefer to keep a vivid memory of my loved ones. That said, every christmas we take all our pictures and movies out and go down memory lane together. Last year, I decided not to print our pictures anymore (saving paper and ink), I store them in digital albums. I figure, if there is a fire, they'll be safer there too. To my taste, a digital picture album would have to be updated too often...
-my husband drinks coffee, and I grind the coffee at the store.
I hope all of this helps. I don't have the right answer to everything, but this is what we found out works best for us ;)
Bea: Happy Mothers Day!
ReplyDeleteLike Anonyomous, I too noticed how bare things are in your home. Where do you keep your books and the books and reading materials for your children? As an educator and fellow Mom of two, I know that the number of books in the home is the only thing that correlates with high reading scores. A print-rich environment seems so fundamental to a home full of children (and adults!).
How do you provide this with your system? Thanks!
Hi Margaret: we used to have bookshelves full of nothing to read. It's like having a closet full of nothing to wear. Past a certain age, our kids needed a constant rotation of new reading material (once a book was read, they would not touch it again). And with the amount that they read, I would be broke if I had bought all the books that come thru the house ;). Today, we get all our books from the city and their school libraries. We consider them our bookshelves. We take great advantage of library requests to get exactely what we want. For us, reading is not linked to how many books line our home bookshelves, but rather how much reading time we give ourselves. Not having TV, is the best thing we ever did to get the kids (and ourselves) reading...
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have a good public library system. It is something I really believe in as well. Sadly, ours are dirty, poorly stocked and rarely open due to the city's budget crunch. The public school libraries are equally sad. Something to keep working on with other parents!
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky though to have inherited so many wonderful books, new and classic from family and friends that are treasured at home and read and passed along. . .
I think to motivate people it might be cool to have a post showing some statistics about waste, and the co2 emmissions used creating disposables and such. I know for most people it is obvious that waste is a huge issue, but not everyone knows just how crazy it is. I looked up some statistics about how our waste production per person skyrocketed and how that correlates with pollution. Seeing statistics really helps people become more serious about action.
ReplyDeleteI'm really interested in your "no plastic" pledge that I have heard of somewhere (I don't know if it was on this blog or another article you were featured in). I am just now realizing how horrible even reusable plastic is. I used to think I was going green with my reusable plastic water bottle, but now I see how even these reusable plastic items will eventually be discarded and will last forever. I'd like to know how you find alternatives to commonly plastic items like tvs, computers, etc. Also, do you think it is ok to use tubberwares I already own, or should I donate them to promote sharing and less new production on the market.
ReplyDeleteI would love it if you would share your quiche recipe. I bet it is delicious. We are cutting back our meat consumption and this is one thing I would like to try to make from scratch. Thanks.
ReplyDelete