Here I am, almost a year after starting this journey of reducing our household waste and finding the amazing shop: The O Zone. This time last year so many things were different. We were not in a pandemic, my partner and I produced a full 30 gal trash bag of waste a week, and we lived in a different space. Now we produce one 12 gal trash bag every other week! It is so rewarding to be here a year later, composting, recycling, and reusing literally as much as we can. So this post is about the steps we took to get here!
The first thing was to investigate recycling and create a system and practice to buy as much in recyclable containers as possible. So, our current waste management does single stream (not as efficient but still getting recycled) which means flattened cardboard as well as plastic containers 1,2,5,6,7. So when we do groceries I buy things in plastic containers if it is recyclable. Things in bags, like bread, cereal, etc. can be recycled by rinsing and drying the bag and then balling them in bulk and dropping off at Hannaford. Finally, things in boxes, like pasta, crackers, and snacks can be flattened and recycled. If there is a plastic insert just rip it out and put it with bulk plastic bags or in landfill. Make sure all food waste is washed off of any can, container, or plastic thing you recycle!
The next step was composting. I don’t have the expertise to go into depth on this topic, but I can offer what we do in our home. We have a big bowl in the freezer where food waste goes. Once the bowl is full it is take to our turning composter in the back yard. One half is the initial compost, the other half is the 3+ months old compost, and finally once it is pretty much soil it is taken and piled out in the back yard. Using a tumbler prevents food from blowing in the wind. We only compost egg shells and veggie scraps. I personally do not compost carbs (like bread) and absolutely not eggs, dairy, or meat. You need a lot of bio diversity in the compost to break down just veggies so keep that in mind.
Finally the process of converting your useable items to refillable or reusable items. My biggest tip is to wait till you need something, then do the research to figure out the more sustainable option and buy that. We started with our dish brushes when we ran out of sponges and dish soap. When I used the last of my shampoo bar I investigated Amelia’s refillable options. When we ran out a TP mid March we got a bidet. Trying to switch everything to their susty counter part at once is expensive and will lead to you having more than you need at once. Waiting till you run out of something to get the new more eco option will ensure your expenses are distributed more evenly throughout the year and will help you practice using those refillable options and creating a new habit with them before introducing another new item into your life.
Finally, a lot of these switches are daily items, but a time will come when you need more long term replacements for things like your bed sheets, your mop, your jacket. A good practice I have made is when I have a few minutes and need something to do I will do a little research on where to buy more consciously sourced XYZ. I currently have a doc with about 8 different brands or websites that are certified B Corps and sell things like blankets and towels, plates and cups, and more. These are my personal choices but I encourage you to do the same. These practices are what have helped us to reduce our household waste and choose more sustainability sourced and produced materials!