I have looked into so many things about going zero waste that I didn’t know where to start. I have so many ideas and plans! Of course, my initial reaction was, “Oh crap – now I have to go buy all new stuff…” But that would be wasteful. So, I’ve decided that I will finish up using all my stockpiles of supplies (or start incorporating easy changes to make sure I like them and they’re feasible for my family).

But the FIRST thing I did – since my true panic and obsession over this began over the Christmas holiday while I was away from home – was to contact some of my favorite companies as well as my state and national elected officials to ask them their environmental action plans to make their products more sustainable and reduce the creation of new plastics/landfill waste.

It’s been interesting to see which companies have responded and their response. For example, within hours Starbucks had responded about how they’re attempting to reduce plastic use, make their products recyclable and set up recycling stations within their stores (but it depends on the individual owners/locations), how they’re trying to make an entirely plant-based cup so that they’ll be compostable, and their incentive program to encourage people to bring a reusable cup (10 cents off your order. Personally, I think it should be more). Other companies, such as Cover Girl, sent me a response days later thanking me for my inquiry and that they’ll forward my thoughts to the appropriate department. I emailed back and asked if I would then hear from the “appropriate department” and I have not heard back.

I’ve noticed that the companies that seem to have an environmental action plan were able to respond quickly and direct me to a website link outlining their plans. Other companies, such as Bath & Body Works (full of one-use plastic packaging), I have yet to hear from.

(I also have yet to hear back from any elected official in Ohio or at the federal level, but it’s Christmas and there’s a government shut-down so I’ll give them a little bit more time.)

Because let’s face it – it is very challenging for consumers to make the changes. Not impossible – but it’s definitely not as convenient as throw away plastic. Which is why we have SO MUCH THROW AWAY PLASTIC. The only way for things to truly change is for things to change at the top.

It would be AMAZING if our government would care more and incentivize corporations to make their products and packaging more sustainable. We elect these people to power and they need to use that power for positive change. And they won’t initiate that change until we make enough noise. It would be great if corporations would incentivize their consumers to reuse products (say refill a shampoo bottle). It would be AMAZING if more every day grocery stores would provide food in bulk and refill stations. And their products in plastic free packaging.

But they won’t change until we ask for it. And use it. Repeatedly.

So get out there and make some noise! Email your product manufacturers and tell them you’d like to hear their environmental action plan. Ask them what they’re doing to reduce plastic use and create a more sustainable future. Make some noise – it’s an EASY way to start taking your own steps towards zero waste and a sustainable future.

Hi, my name is Julie and my house is filled with plastic.

(“Hi, Julie” – obligatory response)

It’s the end of 2018 and I have been panicked, to put it mildly. It started with a 60 Minutes segment on plastic. My husband called me into the room because he thought it was going to be an inspiring story about people trying to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Island thing. And while it was inspiring in many regards, it had the opposite affect on me.

I panicked. And started obsessing over it.  

They showed pictures of plastic in the ocean – sea creatures with plastic things they shouldn’t even know exist – and found the most remote island in the Pacific and all the plastic that has washed up on shore. And dead bird carcasses that died with bellies full of plastic. For me, the picture that sticks in my memory is the scientist holding up a handful of used plastic toothbrushes that drifted there.

I feel as if I just woke up from the Matrix. (Did I use that reference correctly? Eh, I don’t care…)

I’ve always been quite proud of myself because at my house, we produce very little garbage that goes in the trash. We don’t even pay for trash pick-up – I take our one small bag of garbage a week to my parents house and combine it with theirs. We recycle EVERYTHING we can, we compost (we are not picky composters either), we use reusable materials – I even cloth diaper and cloth wipe my children. There should be a nice white fluffy cloud reserved for us in heaven, right? Right beside the chocolate fountain and the cute rollicking pandas and otters.

As I was obsessing and rambling on and on about how to reduce our purchasing of plastic, I can’t remember the exact conversation, but my husband said to me, “Well, yeah – Reduce Reuse Recycle – in that order.”

In. That. Order.

I stopped and looked at him with that look. That dumbfounded look where I’m pretty sure light was shining out of every orifice in my head because a giant lightbulb just turned on in my brain.

(I hope it was LED)

Was this one of my adult learning gaps??? You know, the information you find out in adulthood and you never knew you never knew and you feel stupid for NEVER KNOWING? (Know what I’m talking about?)

I honestly didn’t know those were listed in order of PRIORITY. Reflecting on his comment made me realize that I had personally always emphasized the RECYCLE part of it. You know…save the best for last…

But really, recycling should be our LAST step.

You should see our recycling. We have multiple LARGE garbage cans in our garage that we fill quickly and drive to our local recycling center (for anyone in Hartville, that’s on Midway or at the Flea Market). The majority of that is SINGLE. USE. PLASTIC. The majority was produced NEW for sale. Most of it isn’t made from recycled plastic. Plastic is permanent. So ALL OF THAT PLASTIC will be around forever now, whether it’s intact and remade into new products or filling a landfill somewhere. Or if it’s broken into microplastics and filling our oceans and soil. Permanent.

So, this is about my journey to try to turn my panic into positive progress. To try to REDUCE my family’s trash and our use of new plastics. I don’t expect perfection and I know that our trash will not be reduced to the point where it will be able to fit in a mason jar by the end of the year, but I’m hoping for positive progress.

This is just us, open and honest.

Because the time to change is now.

(….Actually…it was about 50 years ago, but now is all we have).