The Zero Garbage Challenge

Grey Zones

Over the course of the year, I’ve 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 this year, because, well, it would take some 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).  This is similar to receiving gifts - if someone is making food for me, I try not to let my challenge overrule my gratitude.  It’s an interesting issue.  When I go to a friend’s house, they make a vegetarian meal for me because they respect my choice to not eat meat.  This is because it is relatively easy for people to incorporate vegetarian cooking.  Perhaps one day it will be easier for everyone to avoid trash, so my friends can more easily respect my choice to not add to landfills.

Halfway there!

Here is my pile of non-garbage for the first half of the year.  My goal is to accumulate even less than that between now and December.

I was talking on the phone the other day to a man who retired from a career in garbage collection. Naturally, he considers himself an expert on garbage. When I mentioned the zero garbage challenge, he said flatly “It can’t be done.” He went on to argue, “You can’t possibly eliminate the garbage that your life creates. Everything that you buy has garbage associated with it. Even if you’re not physically throwing things away, there is garbage being created for every item you buy.” Maybe part of that is true.  But his argument leads directly to the question “Why bother?” I prefer the question “Why not try?”