The Zero Garbage Challenge

MY 2009 NON-GARBAGE

2009 was a great year. I worked all year to reduce my garbage to nearly nothing, and learned a lot in the process about priorities, compromises, and how to make changes without feeling like I was sacrificing.  Thanks to everyone who supported me and cheered me on during the year.

The garbage items that I did accumulate weighed less than half a pound. 

At the end of the year, I wondered “Can I go back to throwing things away?”  No way!  This has become too fun to turn back now.  And there is lots more to learn about landfills, recycling, and how to best use my consumer powers.

“Grey Zones”

Over the course of the year, I discovered four major grey zones - parts of my challenge that were particularly challenging because it was difficult to make a definitive decision.

1) Gifts: If someone gives me a gift, I try not to let my zero garbage challenge overrule my gratitude.  If a gift contains some disposable pieces, I generally try to accept it with grace and then decide what to do with it later.  Sometimes I regift these items, sometimes I donate them, and sometimes I decide to keep them and add the disposable parts to my pile of collage material.

2) Rental house: I rent my house.  Sometimes I make household purchases (such as the toilet float that I had to replace) and my landlords reimburse me.  Technically, these household purchases are not mine, but so far, I have accepted the resulting garbage as part of my pile.  If I owned a house, I would probably have to make similar purchases.

3) Eating out (and bulk grocery shopping): When I eat out, I never throw anything away from my meal (napkin, food scraps, etc).  However, I cannot overlook the fact that in the kitchen of the restaurant, my meal is created using some disposable items.  Similarly, when I buy in bulk, those big grain and bean containers are filled using bags that are probably thrown away.  These are compromises that I’ve been willing to make, because … well, it would take much more extreme measures to avoid this garbage.  But I will continue to investigate the wiser choices, and I’m also open to suggestions! 

4) Friends and relatives: When other people make me a meal, I do not expect them to adhere to my challenge (although some of my friends do).  If someone is making food for me, I try not to let my challenge overrule my gratitude.