Boy did we have a crappy, wasteful month. People say “shit happens”, but a whole truck load fell on us these past few weeks. Not a pretty picture, I realize ;).
It all started on a Thursday evening.
After a long day of work and dinner time fast approaching, I had been faced with a practically empty refrigerator (I grocery shop on Fridays), and challenged once again to make dinner with the few bits scattered in the refrigerator. I had managed to make the best of the one tomato, chunk of cheese, lonely egg and last cup of flour - and had proudly put together a tomato quiche. (These are my proudest moments in the kitchen: Making something out of “nothing”. I even surprise myself sometimes). But we never not got to savor the pretty quiche that night... My gas range would not turn on. I tried resetting its power, but in vain. I would have to wait until the next morning for further repair action (the service center being closed for the day of course). So there we were: Hungry, kids showered and in PJ's, Scott pacing, 7:30pm and nothing on the table.
Confronted with six hungry desperate eyes, asking “What's for dinner?”, I called in for my 1st takeout pizza ever (I am 36 years old by the way and have been avoiding takeouts, since I started home cooking 18 years ago). I felt all goofy on the phone, not knowing the protocols of ordering a pizza (if there are such things), but I did not forget to request “no Lilliputian table” (you know the white plastic piece in the middle of the pizza to keep the box top from sticking to your toppings). Within 20 minutes the extra large pizza and its extra large box crossed the Zero Waste Home's threshold. Gasp.
Wait! Don't leave the blog yet. While we were gone this summer, our town finally started City Compost (the best "sustainable" thing that has happen to our town since we moved here three years ago). We are now able to compost our meat, fish bones, butter wrappers... and the emergency pizza box. Not that I condone the compostable cardboard takeout container, which in our case only had a useful life of literally 5 minutes (ugh)...
The next morning, I called the service center for the range. After a few questions, they recommended that I call in a repairman. I did. But since labor day weekend was about to start, the repairman could only come on Tuesday.
A few BBQ, salads, and sandwiches later, came Tuesday with the repairman. Then, Wednesday with two repairmen, Thursday with a handyman, Friday with a new repairman, another stove-free weekend, and Monday with a plumber. And on top of all expensive and unexpected gas repair bills, a whole lot of trash: the repairman's takeout soda cup and straw, the repair parts packaging, the broken pieces... And the old gas pipes. Did those get recycled? I did not even ask, too frazzled and mad at our original contractor for screwing up the oven's installation in the first place.
It took a week and a half to get the oven up and running again. And when we thought we were done with repairs, more (completely un-related) problems came... It's as if we had been cursed by the unavoidable powers of Trash Evil.
- Our kitchen sink backed up and in spite of our unclogging efforts, all the original piping from the sink to the sewer had to be replaced. Repair: New copper piping outside, and new ABS piping under the house, glue, caulking, paint and parts... Landfill: Completely clogged metal piping (empty caulking tube is a #2 and went into the recycling)
- Our entertainment center fan stopped working, and without it our sound system is unusable (it gets too hot in its enclosed space under our stairs). Repair: New fan in a cardboard box and plastic packaging. Landfill: Fan parts (I hope to recycle the motor at an e-waste station).
- A corner of our marble counter broke off! Repair: Epoxy putty. Landfill: Double plastic packaging of epoxy putty (packaging within packaging).
- Our hair trimmer for our DYI haircuts broke. Repair: New hair trimmer in cardboard box. Landfill: Plastic parts of hair trimmer (will take the motor to the e-cycling also).
- Then the plastic casing of Scott's beard trimmer broke (No seriously, the hair trimmer just went out - and now the beard trimmer!). Repair: New beard trimmer. Landfill: Plastic part of trimmer and plastic packaging of trimmer (will take the trimmer motor to e-cycling also).
- We noticed our dining chairs scratching the hard wood floors, they needed new pads. Repair: Felt pads on chair bottoms. Landfill: Packaging of felt pads (FYI - The next day I found some in bulk. Bummer!)
- One light bulb went out, then another, and another: that's three light bulbs in one month (and I am trying not to be paranoid here). Repair: Three specialty light bulbs (two in plastic packaging, one in cardboard). Landfill: Three light bulbs and two plastic packages.
- We noticed that some paint had bubbled up on the side of the house. Repair: Sand and paint the siding before the rainy season. Landfill: Sand paper and paint roller.
- I dropped my all purpose shears, the plastic handle completely shattered. Repair: Get a new sturdier pair of shears. Landfill: The broken shears (I could not get the metal off the plastic to recycle the metal).
- We got a flat on a practically new tire, sometimes they are repairable, in this case (because of the location of the puncture on the side of the tire) it was not. Repair: New tire (the tire shop said that they would recycle our old tire...) Landfill: The greasy hand rag (a piece of retired tee-shirt) we used in changing the tire.
- Our remote control ran out of battery (the last disposable batteries we had). Repair: A new pack of AAA rechargeable batteries. Landfill: Plastic packaging of new batteries.
When people now ask me what the packaging the hardest to avoid in a Zero Waste Home is, my answer is: Hands down, home repairs. No doubt about it.
Hardware stores might have some good bulk items: Loose screws by the ounce, loose plumbing parts, irrigation parts, felt pads, cable by the foot, all scattered in different stores around town (oh, do I wish there were all in one place). But they also have some of the worse packaging. Come on Ace and Home Depot, can't you ask your suppliers for alternatives to the plastic packaging everywhere? Do felt pads, batteries, CFL's, and a single tiny junction box cap need to be displayed in this frustratingly-hard-to-open hard shell plastic?
Here's to a better month ahead!
Hope the next month is better!
ReplyDeleteWas wondering: Why couldn't you have recycled the shears? I saw a "How It Works" program profiling a waste facility that showed that practically anything of metal could be recycled because the non-metal parts would be burned off when it was all melted down together. Did I misunderstand?
ReplyDeleteSorry you had a bummer week. But with any luck that's it for the year!
OMG that really must have been a tough month for you! But geesh, the way you wrote it, it's kind of funny...I kept on scrolling down on the page thinking oh that sucks...and then I'd scroll down and there would be more! OMG! Thank you for writing about your adventures.
ReplyDeleteI like how nothing thrown away is missed by you. Makes me wonder what the world would look like if we were all conscious of each item we threw in the waste basket. Hope this month is better!! Thank you for your blog.
ReplyDeleteHello
ReplyDeleteWe're looking at buying this for repairs. Might be worthwhile.
http://sugru.com/
Thanks for the inspirational blog.
Hi! i've been missing your posts. frankly, after seeing that photo and blog of you digging out your basement to store you home canned goods, i began to think that you were living on some alternative super-human planet. ah, but, alas, you do live on the same planet as I do with endless ways to wonder what packaging god runs this place.
ReplyDeleteWow. The old when it rains, it pours adage, eh? What enormous challenges! When I was little a trip to the hardware store with my dad meant hours, so it seemed, playing in bins of all kinds of nails, screws, washers, nuts, bolts--every size and shape they came in. My hands turned black from digging deep as I could into the shiny metal bits, bringing them out and dropping them back into the bin. Usually got a "Stop that!" from my dad.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it was the noise factor that changed hardware stores. More likely, it was that they could make so much more selling pre-packaged bits so a person was forced to buy two packages of ten, when they only needed twelve screws.
Plus, we seem to be a thieving population. All that shrink-wrap is supposed to keep us from pocketing an extra nail or two unnoticed.
Then of course, there's the bar code. You just can't put a bar code on every 1/4 inch nut.
We need to return to neighborhood shops, where we know the owner and he knows us. Most folks wouldn't dare steal from their neighbor, so the bins could return. There would be fewer people in and out all day, and those who came would be interested in chatting a bit with each other and the owner, so not in so much of a hurry. We wouldn't need to be buzzed through the checkout line, zip, zip, zip, scanning every item. The checker would weigh our nails, input the price manually, and we'd be on our way.
We pay a price for our so-called modern conveniences, don't you think?
how often do you replace your car windshield wipers?
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: I did call my recycling center about the scissors, and they said that as long as plastic is attached to it, they cannot recycle it. Is that the same reason why beer caps cannot be recycled either? So much confusion out there. I am just as perplexed about it as you are.
Kathryn: the bolts and nuts are actually the easiest to find in bulk in small local shops (see links in article), the hardest is bulk in a large chain and specialty items unpackaged anywhere.
Anonymous: Thanks for your question! We have not had to replace windshield wipers in 2 years probably due to the fact that we live in a moderate weather zone (ice, snow and intense heat being worse for wipers). You can make them last longer by keeping them clean too (keep a small microfiber cloth in the car to wipe them clean while waiting at the pump).
Note taken from Planet Green: Keep in mind that when it comes time for wiper replacement, you should only need the rubber squeegee; not the entire metal rod. The only time you should need the rod is if it has become severely corroded or bent. However many wipers are designed to be replaced entirely, so you will have to consult with your local automotive specialist to see what options are available.
Really?!? Your whole month became crappy because your oven broke and you had to order a pizza?? Wow sounds like a happy household.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, although we had a tough month we still are a happy family!
ReplyDeleteHi Bea,
ReplyDeleteWith Halloween comeing up I was woudning what I could do, make my Halloween little greener.
Oh Bea, so sorry for the bad month. Ok, so you had more waste than you are comfortable with but! here on the wast coast we made up for it and only because of you! I asked my husband to stop taking plastic bags from stores, me+ 2 of my children watched the movie, Garbage: The Revolution Begins at Home; I am composting; I went to my local dump to check on the reliability of the garbageman's sorting (A+, btw), was applauded at the local health-food store for using my own bulk bags...need I go on. Thanks to your blog you have more people supporting you on down months.
ReplyDeleteI meant EAST coast!
ReplyDeleteHi Bea,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you had a bummer month. Things break. That's just a way of it. It is frustrating but we would have to go back to living in caves if we don't want to see anything break. It is frustrating when all replacement parts come in heavy packaging though. That, I can see us improving if we keep on campaigning. But please don't get too stressed out on these occasional misfortune! You are doing a remarkable job living with minimal waste. On a bright note, I would like to make a report. My husband had to replace a break light on his car recently, so went to a local Napa Auto Parts store where he found that they were sold in bulk! He just grabbed what he needed, said no to a bag, so came home with just a bulb in hand! Remarkable. If light bulbs can be sold like that, then why not everything? Very curious.
This subject is on your previous post of "What we can learn from foreign countries." I recently traveled to Japan. There, things like detergent and shampoo that normally come in heavy plastic dispensers are also sold in companion refill packages. Still plastic waste but much less waste. Collectively as a society this is a dramatic reduction in waste. A tiny step closer to bulk, sort to speak. They are sold cheaper which gives consumers incentive to go that route. It's still not as good as what you are doing, Bea, of "not buying these things to start with," but most people do buy them. Then why not offer them less packaging option if they are going to keep using the same thing? It gives consumers incentive to stick with the same brand too so it seems like a wiser marketing as well. Why don't US manufacturers do this? Should I write to them?
You're awesome. I love your blog. You inspire me to do a little more and try a little harder with my family of 4. Sorry you had a bad month, hope things get better. Keep up the great posts :)
ReplyDeleteIn light of all the things you had to buy and toss this month, this may be a small thing, but I wondered if you had thought of making your own felt pads for furniture feet? I make my own felt pads out of old felted sweaters and elmer's glue (though I'm sure there's a better glue to use, or one can maybe make it from flour).
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't I think of that? (frustration, perhaps?) Thanks so much for your comment Sarielle!
ReplyDeleteJust been catching up with your blog. Whew, you sure had a bad string of stuff, but now all that stuff should work well for a while! :) Thanks for sharing your experiences; it's very inspiring - and entertaining. When too many things are making you crazy, BREATHE!
ReplyDeletethe next time that you have light bulbs burn out you should try to reuse them. I have seem some very cool instructions on how to make them into terrariums. that would make you feel better
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the broken shears...
ReplyDeleteHave you considered purchasing a nice pair of sewing scissors? They are commonly available at any sewing store and are meant to be resharpened and used forever. They are all metal - but I don't know about the packaging. You will pay more for them, but they will literally last forever. My mother has had the same pair for 45 years!
I live in Portland, Oregon and have a great resource for buying used / salvaged home repair items-- The Rebuilding Center and the Habitat for Humanity Restore. They are basically both like Goodwill for construction items, the Rebuilding Center in particular has salvaged lumbar, fan blades, paint, probably would have taken your old fan blades! They sell items bulk and without packaging and keep A LOT of stuff out of landfills. You should check it out!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the details, I was just wondering "what about..." before I got to this post! You answered several of my questions!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping you will also answer where you found the bulk felt pads. The chairs scraping on the floor not only damages the floor but raises the hair on the back of my neck! I just had to toss one out today as it had completely disengaged from the chair and folded itself in such a way that I couldn't even attempt reattaching it. :(
You can click on the grey "felt pads" text which will take you to the store (in Mill Valley though), where I found them.
ReplyDeleteI know this is a late entry, but Home Depot will take any
ReplyDeletelight bulbs. We just bought a home and talk about waste when having to gut the entire thing. Actually Habitat for Humanity is selective on what they will take. Unfortunately, we had to throw away a lot of what was in the home because of how the prior tenants had lived. I love your blog and there is something about a domino effect. 2010 was like that for us the entire year. We actually began to find laughter in it all.
I like your ideas. They are very interesting. I try to fix nearly everything myself. I often order the parts. I think fixing issues connects you with the machines you purchase. It teaches a machine has a purpose to make life easier, not just to consume.
ReplyDeleteA great deal of life is about relationships, and once we get caught in the consumption relationship it defines us. Nearly all the products we consume, from textiles to computers are part of a life cycle, and the goal of company is to reduce this lifecyle.
I have a book called How Things Work from 1975. It seems there was an expectation in 1975 that you would repair the washing machine, replace pipes, etc, etc. The expectation in 2010 is to resolve every issue through a phone call.
The more we try to fix what we own, the more we learn. This learning process protects us from the desires of marketing.
I have a similar problem with buying makeup as you do with buying hardware store items. Everything in a makeup store is wrapped in plastic and cardboard. How do you find makeup that is not packaged?
ReplyDeleteBatteries can not be sold loose because if they happen to jostle in a bag and contact each other just right, they will discharge and can even start a fire.
ReplyDeleteWhy they can't package them in cardboard like a box of crayons I have NO idea.
Rayovac does sell its rechargeable batteries in a cardboard box!
ReplyDelete