Zero Waste Week 2019 – A Week in Summary

As zero waste week 2019 has closed; I find myself reflective on the last couple of weeks. It is clear that I am making good progress towards a zero waste lifestyle but I find myself feeling like there is more that could and should be done.

Leading Up to Zero Waste Week 2019

During the weeks leading up to I took stock of the output. I found that in the waste collections leading up to zero waste week, there was very little landfill waste (just over a fistful), food waste was also remarkably little, but the recycling itself was quite a lot. It is good this is going to be recycled, of course. However, there does need to be less.

When it comes down to the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle); I feel like I’ve got the recycle part nailed (yay for me) but the first point (reduce) needs some work. Part of reducing my waste should be refusing to bring certain things into the home. Whilst, most of the recycling comes from things that are needed into my day-to-day life (and aluminum cans); convenience food (some coming from a busy lifestyle, some from the kids) and bathroom waste are areas that could use improvement.

During Zero Waste Week 2019

Zero waste week itself went well!

The waste collection for that period saw a noticeable improvement. Food waste remained the same, a tiny portion of a small bag food bag. General (landfill waste), has reduced to less than a handful. Recycling, one reusable bag’s worth. I am very happy with these results.

The week didn’t allow me to make big sweeping changes that I might have liked. No. I didn’t make my own bathroom or cleaning products (something I’ve wanted to do for a while) due to other commitments or make any new zero waste swaps. The improvements ultimately come down to mindfulness. Rather than making big changes, making small decisions. This is how I got to the starting point before zero waste week too. Deciding what products to bring into the home and thinking about how they might end up leaving your home. This is an iterative process. You can keep improving and keep doing better and every step along the way makes a big difference.

The thing that worried me, is that where I live there are communal recycling bins. I found (and sorted) one of the bins that had paper and clothing waste in the bottles and recycling, as well as carrier bags and a couple of bits of metal. All of these have different places to go even in the bin configuration where I live. So, I don’t know if it is indifference, ignorance or what but it did make me sad. Could that have led to an entire batch of recycling having been rejected?

Awareness is important!

It builds that sense of mindfulness I feel. I’ve shared my knowledge on the roles landfills, food waste and fast fashion play in climate change. I also wrote up a post about recycling in the bathroom (although I couldn’t get that out due to personal issues). I find myself wanting to do more to help and inspire others to start this process.

Going Forward…

Outside of zero waste week and across my larger journey, I got this far by making gradual swaps and being aware of what I buy and consume. There is much more that I can do. My journey is far from complete.

I learned about how much difference, thinking can make. You do a certain amount by default when you switch to an environmental mindset but even then, you can push a bit further. I have realised that there is a lack of male representation in the environmental movement; more men need to get on board which means more men need to be willing to put their face out there. I don’t know that my face fits but I do want to do my part. What that means for me going forward, I don’t know.