Zero Waste isn’t practical and blocks a desire to reimagine waste. Fear of not doing enough sabotages all effort. Strive to go minimal waste instead, so that you’ll see changes and feel like you’ve made a difference. It also keeps us motivated to create regenerative solutions.
Humans can’t live “ zero waste,” like nature does. We can strive for it
Every second of every day, we generate waste. A paper or plastic cup of coffee or tea, to-go containers, plastic bottles, and film bags for groceries and produce are examples.
Most of us start our day in the bathroom. Take a peek into those bathroom waste cans and we see a whole word: plastic diapers & wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, Q-tips, bottles from lotion, soaps and gels. All end up as waste.
Peak into your closets. You’ll see clothes you never liked or are worn-out, broken zippers, buttons, or old torn towels. These too will become waste.
Move into the kitchen. No one eats banana peels or egg shells. Then there’s packaging: plastic film or wax paper, containers for yogurt, butter, or leftovers.
What if you work from home? Your trash consists of staples, paperclips, markers, pens that break, tape dispensers, and hole punchers. We can’t forget e-waste: wires, outdated obsolete computers, or the tiny iPhone plug insert that breaks or stops sending juice through your android. And the countless batteries. I swear those little buggers lasted sooo much longer in the eighties than they do now.
If you eat fast-food, think of the wasted oil. Fries? Yum! They’re delicious for a reason. Straws? Even if they’re, paper, they may still be wrapped in plastic and contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a toxic class of fluorine compounds known as “forever chemicals.” They only break down in actual soil, not a plastic catch-all trash bag. Some of those forever chemicals may remain in the soil too. The verdict is still out on that one.
Even outings create so much trash. Worn out and weathered backpacks. Lanyards from the conference you attended, so everyone knew your name.
Then there are household supplies like paint, wood, nails, cleaning chemicals, old tools, like rusted hammers, electric wires and analog pipes, and caulk.
Whew! I could go on, but WOW, my head hurts now.
Zero waste isn’t possible.
Minimal waste is.
But getting there seems so hard. I recognize your pain. Obviously, I carry it too. We live in a wasteful throw-away world by design. It’s all so convenient, but the good news is, we can change, if we’re willing.
It will take every single one of us willing to do our part with forgiveness, gratitude, and love. Love for the planet, and for all living beings who dwell here. Gratitude for the gift it is to relearn how to live in harmony with the earth. Forgiveness for all those who pollute or harm the earth, including ourselves, even if we don’t intend to.
We’ve got some bad habits to break. We can do better. Think about where that product or food ends up before you buy it or consume it.
What if we could mimic what nature does? What would that look like? Please follow this four-blog earth day flow of what minimal waste can look like and learn what you can do. Perhaps begin to think of it as working waste. And follow Gaia’s Blog for more about partnering with the earth. You can live minimal waste.
Thank you for reading musings from The Earth Coach. If you like the topic, please share on your social media.