"There is no 'away', it's just a larger scale version of throwing my rubbish over my back fence: poisoning my neighbours land and lives, and soon to be poisoning mine."
Zero Waste is an aspiration – even the most influential and committed Zero Waste advocates often have their waste jars of little non-recyclables.
Zero Waste is not something that you achieve – but something that you strive for.
I do not have Zero Waste.
I don’t think I will ever get there, but I am all about making changes that are sustainable for the environment and for me.
I do not have Zero Waste.
I don’t think I will ever get there, but I am all about making changes that are sustainable for the environment and for me.
I want my choices to become how I live.
If people can go hard and stick to it – that’s awesome! I love it!
If people can go hard and stick to it – that’s awesome! I love it!
But I know that I have experienced a rebound from that approach – just like when people try strict diets.
Do what you can and always be looking for ways that you can improve, AND be kind to yourself.
I have been making changes to reduce my waste since June 2016. I first heard about the idea of Zero-Waste when I saw an article about the Carter family who lives in Tasmania – the article was about how they only put their rubbish bin out once a year.
That article made me realise that waste was not only an issue but that I could have a direct impact on it. As a result, I joined the Zero Waste Tasmania Facebook group that was linked in the article. It was so exciting to learn about ways to reduce my waste!
Not just buying food unpackaged or in bulk – but using rags and old towels instead of paper towels, using a menstrual cup, skipping wrapping paper on Christmas presents (furoshiki), and more.
I learned so much in that group and I was so excited that it entered into my conversations helping me to realise that a few of my friends were already involved in waste-reducing actions.
I learned so much in that group and I was so excited that it entered into my conversations helping me to realise that a few of my friends were already involved in waste-reducing actions.
I have, since childhood, been taught the idea of stewardship – the responsible planning and management of resources – but I wasn’t sure what that looked like as an adult.
When I first had to manage my own resources, I thought buying cheap things was a good idea, because it kept my financial situation safe.
I soon found out that it was counterproductive and buying the more expensive, higher quality items were a better use of resources.
I soon found out that it was counterproductive and buying the more expensive, higher quality items were a better use of resources.
I was taught that humans are to be stewards of the Earth yet, I looked at my own actions, and the actions of those around me, and I saw the same behaviour.
As a culture, we were making quick and cheap decisions which would end up having a long-term greater cost. Only this time it wasn’t only a financial cost, or even an environmental cost, but a human cost.
As a culture, we were making quick and cheap decisions which would end up having a long-term greater cost. Only this time it wasn’t only a financial cost, or even an environmental cost, but a human cost.
We are so distanced from those that are currently bearing the human cost – but I believe that it will be evident here, in Australia, so soon.
In the article about the Carter family, one of the points was the idea of throwing ‘away’ our rubbish.
The phrase makes it sound like our waste disappears – but it doesn’t.
The phrase makes it sound like our waste disappears – but it doesn’t.
There is no ‘away’, it’s just a larger scale version of throwing my rubbish over my back fence: poisoning my neighbours land and lives, and soon to be poisoning mine.
I realised that I was so short-sighted.
Something had to change. I couldn’t unsee the problem.
Something had to change. I couldn’t unsee the problem.
I am so proud of the energy and hope that people bring to Zero Waste.
I love the community: the support that people offer each other, the way that people share their resources and knowledge, the way that people are welcoming and come together to create solutions to dilemmas people face.
I love the community: the support that people offer each other, the way that people share their resources and knowledge, the way that people are welcoming and come together to create solutions to dilemmas people face.
My hope for the future...
I would love for the Zero Waste community to continue to be uplifting – without being ablest.
Thank you to the Zero Waste communities: Zero Waste Tasmania; Zero Waste Adelaide; and Refuse Reduce Reuse Recycle in Adelaide.
Thank you to the Zero Waste communities: Zero Waste Tasmania; Zero Waste Adelaide; and Refuse Reduce Reuse Recycle in Adelaide.
My biggest challenge to overcome was when I began to experience Zero Waste rebound – I had been trying so hard, I was exhausted and struggling and many of the changes I had made started to fall away.
I felt despondent and I became overwhelmed by the volume of waste we produced as a society – how could I have an impact on that? I really felt like I couldn’t.
I felt despondent and I became overwhelmed by the volume of waste we produced as a society – how could I have an impact on that? I really felt like I couldn’t.
It was about this time that a close friend of mine, who is also a Zero Waster told me that she refers to herself as an imperfect Zero Waster.
She encouraged me that many imperfect Zero-Wasters will have a greater impact than a few perfect Zero Wasters.
She encouraged me that many imperfect Zero-Wasters will have a greater impact than a few perfect Zero Wasters.
She also encouraged me to look at those things that I had already done and was able to continue:
composting, refusing to buy bottled water, dining and drinking in, starting Zero Waste Adelaide to provide a forum for people to discuss and explore this journey.
This encouragement helped me to regain my hope and make more changes again.
composting, refusing to buy bottled water, dining and drinking in, starting Zero Waste Adelaide to provide a forum for people to discuss and explore this journey.
This encouragement helped me to regain my hope and make more changes again.
My final thought...
If you are curious to learn more – ask the questions as silly as they may seem, read blogs and books (Zero Waste Home, Sleeping Naked is Green, Simple Matters and How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time have been my favourites).
Take it slow, do it well, and make your changes last.
Take it slow, do it well, and make your changes last.
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