Zero Waste Challenge Conclusion
Curiously Green is an exclusive Earth 911 series showcasing the adventures of individuals attempting to go green. This month Nyree from Peterborough, England, continues her New Year’s Resolution of a zero waste lifestyle.
My three month zero waste challenge is now over. And I am ecstatic!!! This has been one long, hard challenge!
At first I thought it was going to be quite easy. But after three months I am thoroughly fed up with the whole thing. Here’s a quick recap:
Nearly Zero Waste . . .
I am really pleased with myself for lasting three months and I feel I’ve achieved something really special. However at the end I did have a half bag full of trash—I didn’t live completely zero waste.
I have greatly reduced the waste I produce. I would usually have created at least one bag of waste a month. I also learned about living more efficiently, thinking about my impact on the environment, and inspiring others to think about their impact.
Now that the challenge has finished, there is no way I could buy something with lots of packaging; I would feel too guilty. The change is so marked that my shopping habits can be clearly split pre and post challenge!
Almost everything about our lifestyles is set up to produce waste. Non-recyclable packaging is used so widely that it is difficult to avoid. I changed what brands and products I bought, as well as where I shopped.
I battled through because I knew it was a temporary experiment, but I certainly couldn’t keep it up full time. It’s just too difficult! And I imagine it would be a million times harder for people with children.
What’s in the Waste?
My three month’s worth of waste was overwhelmingly food packaging. I shopped at farmer’s markets and independent shops and still couldn’t avoid it.
For fruit, vegetables, meat and bread it was easy: I just took my own containers with me. But for staples like pasta, rice, juices, cereals, chocolate and biscuits it was so much harder because independent shops/farmers don’t sell them.
There are also annoying things like the plastic wrappers from toilet rolls, tampon applicators, some plastic bottles (because my council isn’t set up to recycle them).
Another common item in my waste was plastic wrappers/useless freebies sent to me through the mail. At least with the other items I chose to buy them; with unsolicited mail I have no choice.
Final Thoughts
- I have met some amazing people who I admire for their low carbon lifestyles and understand how hard it is now; thanks for your support
- I seem to have started a mini-revolution amongst my family and friends who are now all trying the challenge
- The weight loss was a pleasant surprise, from cutting out the packaging-heavy fatty and sugary foods I used to indulge on!
- Last week I met someone who suggested that as a grand finale, I should take my bag of waste and hand it back to the supermarket. Well, she actually suggested that for some real drama I should turn up at the store naked and empty the waste on the floor before marching out. I’m afraid there is no way I am doing that, but if enough people want me to hand back the rubbish (fully clothed) then I will! Let me know your thoughts!
Nyree Ambarchian is the Marketing & Communications Officer for the Peterborough Environment City Trust in England.
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posted on April 9th, 2008 at 2:56 am
[...] Zero Waste Challenge Conclusion …challenge has finished, there is no way I could buy something with lots … Let me know your thoughts! [...]
bravenewleaf
posted on April 12th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Way to go! This is an enormous challenge, and its lovely to see someone embarking on it. I assume you didn’t count things you composted and recycled?
One of my favorite low-waste blogs is Fake Plastic Fish (http://www.fakeplasticfish.com) where Beth reports in weekly on her progress in reducing her plastic consumption to zero. Might be worth a similar experiment sometime…
Congrats on your success!
–Brave New Leaf: Everyman Environmentalism
http://www.bravenewleaf.com
theuselessconsumer
posted on May 1st, 2008 at 10:25 am
Wow, congrats for making it through 3 months! I’m trying my own little experiment, and really bumbling along. I have had troubles doing just one month of reducing spending.
On the trash reduction when buying things, I’m always in a bind. Do I buy organic? Do I buy local? Do I buy the one with the least amount of packaging? This was my problem last night buying tea. I bought local organic, but then have the stupid plastic wrap. It seems so hard to do everything right!!!
-The Useless Consumer
http://www.theuselessconsumer.com
nyree
posted on May 5th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I have just been having a look at fake plastic fish – excellent graphs to show reductions in plastic consumption – good idea!
I kept a diary recording what I managed to recycle and compost but nothing as detailed as Beth’s – my records were certainly much more enthusiastic in month one and got less detailed as time wore on!
Thankyou for the congratulations!! I am still wallowing in the virtuous feeling of having completed the challenge!
Useless consumer I totally agree – wading through all the options in terms of shopping is a nightmare. Whatever you do make sure you are reusing the tea bags twice (this may sound gross but is completely normal to me now!) So once you’ve made your first cuppa save the bag adn reuse. You can reuse 3 times but only if you like weak tea!!
Nyree
aluhCheaptada
posted on December 19th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
good resourse Anyway by sight very much it is pleasant to me