On My Zero Waste Journey Off, I Go (Part 1)

However, I never understood the scale of waste I’ve been producing. So, when the hard facts hit me, I committed to pivoting my life towards a less wasteful path. At the end of 2020, I made a promise to myself that 2021 would be not only the year of saying “YES” to myself but also the year of shifting my lifestyle toward more conscious, sustainable daily habits.

I won’t go entirely to zero waste because, honestly, I don’t think I can. However, I’m aspiring to make significant changes to my daily routine that will set a positive pattern, which, in the long run, will produce much less waste.

I’m happy to report that thinking about waste has begun to pay off.

1. When I go shopping, I try to buy fewer products wrapped in plastic packaging. The UK loves plastic; they even put cucumbers in plastic, which I find ridiculous. Luckily, plastic-free cucumbers do exist in smaller shops and at farmers’ markets.
2. I consciously choose fruits and veggies that aren’t pre-packed in plastic. Before my awakening, I didn’t really pay much attention; I would toss everything and anything in the trolley.
3. If I buy takeaway food, I try to bring my own containers (I usually buy street food at the markets). If I don’t have the container, the guilt often stops me from shopping. (I know it might be silly, but seeing a non-recyclable container and knowing how long it will take to decompose gives me shivers.)
4. Of course, I carry my bottle of water and a coffee cup in my backpack.
5. I got metal straws recently, so if a place offers me a straw, I can refuse and reach out for mine. I recently refused to buy takeaway ice cream when the woman behind the counter told me that my takeaway ice cream container wasn’t new and by definition, unhygienic (Bullshit!!!), and she wanted to give me another one. I felt pretty confident saying “no”. On the other hand, she couldn’t really understand my reasoning (arguing with people over single-use plastic is something I may need to get used to). I said, “Because I can have something, it doesn’t mean I must, and I want to.” There was no ice cream for the teenage M. and no business for the ice cream place. I’m pretty sure I’m not going back there. I don’t want to support this company if they don’t think about the long-term environmental impact.
6. Recently, I started making two shopping lists—one for a zero-waste shop and another for a regular shop.

My goal for the next few weeks is to make sure that, when buying meat, my hubby uses containers instead of single-use plastics, and I would also like to replace wrapping cheese in plastic and paper with beeswax food wrap. I will see how that goes. I guess it all depends on the shopkeepers’ goodwill.

I’ve replaced a lot of my waste in the bathroom, you can read about that here, but I’m in constant search for replacing more of my bathroom products. So, the plan for the next few weeks (my deadline for this project is the end of June) is to replace:

• Sanitary pads – I’ve been using organic/biodegradable ones, but they still create waste and take ages to degrade. I have ordered the Mooncup, so I will have to see if I’m actually happy using it. If not, I have other alternatives to choose from.
• Shampoo – I bought a new shampoo from the zero-waste shop. The sales assistant said it was the most popular, so I guess it might work. The verdict is still out on that. My local zero-waste shop has a few options, so I’ll keep trying until I settle on one I’m satisfied with. I genuinely hope this works and the shampoo bottle problem is solved.
• Cotton Buds – we have been using the paper ones, but they usually come in a plastic box, which bothers me immensely. So, I’m looking at the options at the moment and planning to try out the reusable cotton buds
• Try out the toothpaste in jars and see if we can use it. (comfort, price, and taste all need to be considered) For the moment, we are using the only toothpaste that comes in recycled packaging, but as we all know, recycling isn’t the best solution.

Recap

My plan for the next 5-6 weeks is to implement the changes above, see what is possible, and do what is doable. Replacing the bathroom products shouldn’t be an issue as long as I can find the right shampoo.

Not using packaging when buying products, or using my own packaging, might cause issues, especially now during the pandemic. Still, maybe by educating the shop owners (I know them both, we shop locally in a Polish and Italian shop), I would make progress.

Aim

I aim to create as little non-recyclable waste as possible. I know recycling isn’t the ideal answer to our waste problems, but it is better to recycle something than put it in a landfill and leave it to decompose for 500 years.

Research

I’m also planning to research the following:

• Find a new bank that aligns with my sustainability values.
• Find the best composting solution for our current living conditions.
• Find a filter for our washing machine.

On My Zero Waste Journey Off, I Go Part 2

On My Zero Waste Journey Off, I Go Part 3