HOW I WENT FROM BEING A NON-RECYCLER TO A ZERO WASTE ENTHUSIAST

Recycling is dumb. Recycling takes a lot of time. Recycling is pointless. People that recycle are exaggerating. This is what I thought about recycling.

It took one fact and one person to completely change my mind and inspire me to this zero waste journey. The fact I learned was: water bottles take 450 years to decompose and even if you recycle them they turn into other things that can't be recycled. Mayra Cordero, a friend, and expert on the subject, inspired me (with her example) to take on this journey. I want to emphasize ‘journey' because I know there's so much more I can do. But I don't minimize my efforts, and neither should you.

Many times I used this zero waste journey to feel like I was failing, not doing enough or punishing myself for forgetting to say "no straw, please" at a restaurant. So it's also been a journey that has taught me to be kinder to myself.

Here are some of the things I do to minimize my plastic use and decrease toxins in my home (that ultimately end up harming the environment). I highly recommend the book Zero Waste by Bea Johnson. Her philosophy is that that the best way to take care of our environment is with prevention. For example, recycling is a way to deal with the water bottles we buy, but prevention is not even buying water bottles and using refillable stainless steel bottles, instead. This is the ultimate approach that Bea Johnson recommends:

REFUSE

This is the most important step. Avoid buying plastics and toxins that will end up in our landfills. Refuse straws, balloons, bottled water and things with plastic packaging. It might seem overwhelming in the beginning but the important thing is to do what you can now. Personally, I started by using my stainless steal bottle instead of buying bottled water. Ask yourself:

How can apply this in a way that feels possible?

REDUCE

This step is basically to reduce the amount of crap we have. I really recommend The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo for this step. I've been able to reduce the amount of stuff I own by about 50%. It's so liberating! Now I want "a life based on experiences, instead of things" as Bea Johnson says in her TEDx Talk. Everything I buy is because I need it and I love it.

How can I reduce the number of things I have?

REUSE

The things you can't refuse or reduce, reuse them. I reuse salsa glass bottles to use as Tupperware in my kitchen. My family and I reuse gift bags we receive. Sometimes we get Christmas bags for our birthday, but who cares? Ask yourself:

How can I reuse this?

RECYCLE

Things you can't refuse, reduce or reuse, recycle them. I'm still not a fan of recycling and I love that this lifestyle is about recycling less, not more.

What are some things I can recycle?

Here are some of the things I do every day. It was a bit challenging at the beginning but the process is so rewarding and you really feel like your efforts have an impact. It took me two years to get here and to do it consistently, so just start with one thing that feels doable for you.

IN THE KITCHEN

Use glass Tupperware

Use small glass Tupperware instead of Ziplock bags (I don't even buy them)

Use cloths to clean counters (instead of paper towels)

Use an eco-friendly sponge

IN THE BATHROOM

Change the plastic shower liner to a washable cloth liner. Disclaimer: at the beginning I had some problems with water leaking through the liner, but it took just a bit of adjustment to fix it

Buy soaps that have no packaging

Use shampoo bars. Now I'm in the process of washing my hair every other day

TO CLEAN

Clean your house with vinegar (2 parts water, 1 part vinegar, and a few drops of essential oils). I use this for bathroom, floors, and countertops

Use cotton cloths to clean (instead of paper towels)

WHEN OUT AND ABOUT

Take and refill a stainless steel water bottle

In restaurant/coffee places, ask them to refill the bottle (some coffee places even give you a discount for taking your own cup)

Ask for ‘no straw, please'

Take grocery bags to the store. And don't use plastic bags for fruits/veggies/nuts. I use the cotton cloth where my bed sheets came in, to get nuts/seeds/oats

In the supermarket, try to buy more things from the bulk aisle instead of foods that come in packages

Refuse flyers you don't really want and take pictures of the ones you do want

Don't buy balloons. They take long to decompose and are a threat to wildlife

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