The influencer with over 95,000 YouTube subscribers opens up about her ‘failed’ zero waste journey, but reveals that the quest for perfection doesn’t have to stop people from pursuing a sustainable lifestyle. I’m emphasizing.
As the saying goes, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
How does a zero waste lifestyle work?
As detailed by the Environmental Protection Agency, communities across the United States define “zero waste” goals differently. Still, the principle remains the same. Prevent waste through responsible consumption habits and reduce waste by recycling, reusing and composting.
Kathryn Kellogg (@GoingZeroWaste) describes visiting a zero-waste store to purchase items packaged in reusable glass containers as part of a “failed” program. But to complicate matters, commuting to work required public transportation and considerable walking distances, taking three to four hours round trip.
“We didn’t get to travel much like that,” Katherine says. “Since we were so far away, it was very difficult to stock up on large items, so we had to carry everything on foot.”
Eventually, Kathryn says she stopped going to the store and gave up on the concept of a “trash can,” a mason jar that could hold all the waste she’d made over the past two years.
“The trash can is not real, it’s a kind of illusion,” Catherine says. “…is driving for 30 minutes, stuck in traffic, and getting into smog better than buying plastic packaging? yeah.”
However, Kathryn claimed that her zero-waste efforts were a failure, but even if her ideal vision did not go as planned, applying zero-waste principles can still be meaningful. It’s clear that it’s having an impact. From California to Maine.
Before moving, Kathryn said she was advocating for policies to prevent illegal dumping of trash on the streets. Now on the East Coast, she focuses on making choices that prevent future waste, such as repairing old furniture and buying second-hand items. She also plans to level up her pantry with zero-waste concepts like reusable containers.
“It really feels like starting completely over,” Katherine said. “I’m in a new place. I’ve lost all my support system when it comes to this. I just have a lot of work to do. … I’ve done it before, I’m excited to do it again.” can.”
Why should we adopt zero waste principles?
It’s no secret that the United States produces a large amount of waste, with more than 290 million tons in 2018, according to the EPA.
Instead of being recycled or reused, much of that waste ends up in landfills (releasing global warming gases like methane) or polluting our communities and recreational areas.
If the idea of sharing beach trash and contributing to global warming that leads to even more extreme weather events isn’t enough of a reason to join the zero-waste movement, the financial rewards can’t be ignored.
You can save hundreds of dollars each year by buying used items, mending torn clothes, and reusing empty containers.
Are there other ways to achieve zero waste?
Whenever we take action to reduce waste, we are actively participating in the Zero Waste International Alliance’s peer-reviewed definition of its principles.
This means, according to the EPA, that “responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning or releasing them onto land, water, or air that threaten the environment or “to conserve all resources.” human health. ”
If you need to organize your home, many companies, including Best Buy and Apple, have programs that reward you for sending in unwanted items.
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