1 More Month of Zero Waste | August 2021

Last month the blog took an unplanned break so we didn’t talk about Plastic Free July. How did you do? What challenge did you set for yourself? What issues did you face? If you didn’t participate in Plastic Free July, it’s not too late, you can make August Plastic Free instead!

Something that will help you greatly on your zero waste and plastic free journey is a zero waste kit.

A zero waste kit is super easy to put together, and doesn’t require that you buy anything new. Usually a ZWK is any collection of items that will help you on your journey during the day and during the week. Some things that you might include in a ZWK could be

flatware - this can be only a fork, or a full on set! Fork, spoon, knife, spork, sharp knife, straw, chopsticks, etc… Whatever will help you use reusables instead of opting for a disposable that will end up in landfill.

napkin - you can use this as a napkin instead of taking a paper napkin that will end up in the trash. But you can also use it to clean, mop your brow, wrap left overs, or use it as a bag…. plus more. What else can you use it for? to dry a seat, to sit on on the grass, to cover your head in the sun? The possibilities are vast.

a reusable bag - for groceries, for retail, for carrying anything, just in case you need it.

a water bottle or coffee cup - for water, for coffee, for juice, for soup, to keep things warm, to keep things cold…

a jar or storage container - to keep other things in or get take out, or pick up interesting leaves, or birds nests, or whatever you might need a container for.

What else can you think to put in your zero waste kit? What will most help you avoid waste in your day to day life?

For August, make your kit, bring it with you, use it, and enjoy creating less waste!

Plastic Free July is Over - What's Next?

OK, you made it through Plastic Free July - good job!
What did you give up? What did you find was hard about this challenge? Or was it easier than you thought?

But what's next?

That's up to you, of course. You may choose to do something you didn't get to do for the month of July, or you may choose to continue to do something you started during PFJ. If you are planning to continue on the Plastic Free journey, here are five ideas to try next:

-Give up single use plastic water bottles
This is a tough one for a lot of people. Maybe you still buy bottled water. Now is the time to get a reusable water bottle and never look back! 

-Have a trash audit
Save your trash for a week or some period of time and see what you are throwing away. Once you see what you are wasting, you can see where to reduce your waste. 

-Have a recycling audit
Same idea as above but with your recycling. A good thing to keep in mind is that glass and metal can be recycled almost an infinite amount of time, but plastic can only be recycled once or twice before they go to the landfill. 

-Pick a disposable plastic to give up forever
Maybe you gave up plastic straws for Plastic Free July, go ahead and give them up forever! Or if you already integrated giving up plastic straws already, pick plastic bags to give up next, etc..

-Choose food not packaged in plastic
Hopefully, if nothing else, PFJ made you more aware of all the plastic that is used in daily life. Once I started thinking about plastic, I realized it was everywhere!! An easy start to refusing disposable plastics is to pick unpackaged foods. Skip the cauliflower in a plastic bag and buy unpackaged broccoli instead. (or find cauliflower unpackaged at a different store). 

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Now that you are thinking about the plastic and the waste in your life, there’s so many little steps you can take to reduce. Plastic Free July is a great start, but don’t stop there, the sky is the limit!

For more inspiration, check out our 6 More Months to Zero Waste Series!

BYOS (Bring Your Own STRAW)

Getting rid of plastic straws and plastic bags will not save the planet, but every little bit helps.

The zero waste and plastic free movements are not just about bringing your own straw or using reusable grocery bags but everyone has to start somewhere. Learning to say no to a plastic straw is a greaat starting point to saying no to other disposable plastics. It’s also a great exercise in going without. Learning to carry a reusable grocery bag is an exercise in mindfulness. We have become a society obsessed with convenience and getting everything we want exactly when and how we want it. But if we have chosen to advocate for the environment, convenience is something we have to give up. Making due and going without is a big part of living a zero waste, plastic free lifestyle. Taking on that responsibility is a huge step in the right direction.

One of things that strikes me about a more sustainable lifestyle is that it places more responsibility on the individual; to make due, to go without, to find alternatives, and do better for themselves, the planet and our global community. That’s a big responsibility, a big commitment. And it’s not always easy. But no one is going to hand us that, we have to achieve that task for ourselves. Sometimes it seems impossible. Sometimes it seems like too large a task. But by breaking it down into easily achievable steps, we can do a few steps every day until we achieve our overall goal.

Now that it’s gotten harder to bring your reusable items to many places, at least you know you can always bring your straw! (and flatware, and napkins, etc…). We cannot count on shops and restaurants doing the right thing by getting rid of plastic, we can’t expect them to forgo the health and safety of their patrons for the health and safety of the environment under the world’s current conditions, and we cannot rely on big corporations to take a long term view on the safety of the planet and our global community (they have money on the mind instead). But we can choose to fight for what we want instead of sitting back and being passive. As consumers we can make the right choices and take responsibility on ourselves. Instead of using plastic cutlery at a restaurant, we can bring our own reusables. We can refuse a plastic take away bag, and use a reusable bag we brought ourselves. We can say no to a plastic straws, but no one needs to go with out, simply bring your own.

What is Plastic Free July?

And What Are We Doing About It?

For the last 3 years I’ve posted about Plastic Free July. Each year, people all over the world take place in the exercise of giving up some sort (or all) non-reusable plastics (single use, disposable) to help reduce disposable plastics on a global level and raise awareness towards a plastic free lifestyle. Visit the official website to learn more about it.

“Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?”

My first Plastic Free July in 2017, I was testing the waters, learning about the movement and working out how the zero waste lifestyle could be part of my life. The following year, I was more able to incorporate PFJ into my life. By 2019, I was making lists and getting stuff done. This year, it feels easier than ever to make plastic free changes..

At first glance my Plastic Free July to do lists might not have that much to do with plastic. But the fact that disposable plastic is so insidious in our daily life means that almost everything we do daily is some how connected to single use plastic or plastic waste.

We didn’t have to sit down and have a brainstorm about what to do this year (but we did make a list, of course!). Our big challenge for PFJ 2020 came organically from an idea we had had for a while. We had be researching and talking about giving up store bought cheese (which is bad for the animals, environment and inevitably comes in plastic), for a while, so PFJ was the perfect time to put that plan into action.

This might seem like a very small thing to do. How can the act of not buying one thing help the world? But if everyone made a choice to give up one item of disposable plastic, it would have a huge global impact, and if we all give up the same item, for instance, disposable plastic bags, or straws, or water bottles, well then we wouldn’t have to worry about those pollutants or the ripple effect of problems they cause at all any more.

PFJ isn’t about doing it all, getting everything right. It’s about making a mindful, intentional effort to be better. To do better. It’s about a easy month long challenge to break into a more sustainable plastic free lifestyle. Plastic Free July can be a great jumping off point for anyone interested in leanring more ahout this movement, or the push you needed to get started.

Since we at Mad Cat Quilts already break up our journey to reduce waste into month long challenges, Plastic Free July is easily incorporated. How will you celebrate and challenge yourself this month?

On My Mind On Friday Morning

Another photo essay about windows.
I love the idea of having items that might be considered obsolete long into the present day! What old or “outdated” device are you still holing on to?
Here’s another list from NJ News on spots to visit around the state. And if you are planning on braving the beach, here’s a list of how much it will cost you.
Yesterday I wrote about thinking about what you want to keep from your time on quarantine, here is an interesting article about what some people will continue to hold dear.
I don’t love Treehugger’s new website, but they still have great articles. Here’s one about gearing up for Plastic Free July! It shares a lot of the same tips as I would.

6 Months to Zero Waste: Welcome to Plastic Free July!!

In the first 6 months of 2019, we’ve been examining ways to reduce our waste and become more plastic free. Here are some of the things we’ve been working on:

January - Trash Audit
We separated and looked our trash to see what we are throwing away and what we can reduce.
February - Declutter Everything
We went thru what we have to declutter and reduce.
March - Switch to Paper
This month we moved to paper to get one step closer to reusables.
April - Compost
Composting is an easy way to reduce food waste and prevent it from reaching the landfill.
May - Meatless Monday
June - No Bottled Water.

All this has been leading up to now, when we can participate in Plastic Free July.

“Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics? Plastic Free July provides resources and ideas to help you (and millions of others around the world) reduce single-use plastic waste everyday at home, work, school, and even at your local café. Our movement has inspired over 120 million participants in 177 countries. You making a small change will collectively make a massive difference to our communities. You can choose to refuse single-use plastics in July (and beyond!). Best of all, being part of Plastic Free July will help you to find great alternatives that can become new habits forever.”

When I tell people I’m trying to become more zero waste and plastic free, they almost always ask, “so you have no plastic in your house??” or “but your glasses are plastic!” or some other pre formed concept that jumps into their head. Going plastic free is a gradual step and one that takes time. I have greatly reduced the amount of plastic in my home and daily life, but that stuff is everywhere!

Now, I’m not talking about my glasses, or the casing to my record player, or plastic used in hospital equipment, or cars, when I talk about going plastic free. Plastic is a miraculous and useful tool that’s helpful in many locations and situations.

But we have taken disposable plastic too far. We have put our own convenience over the safety and wellbeing of the planet, wildlife, and ultimately ourselves. The Plastic Free July challenge asks you to examine where you fit into this.

Plastic Free July is a great was to be more conscious of the plastic we consume and how we use it. Whether you give up all single use plastic, one type of single use plastic (perhaps the one you use the most?), or jus as a reminder to examine what plastic you do use (did someone say garbage audit??).

If you’re continuing on your plastic free and zero waste journey, participating in PFJ is a great step. How will you celebrate this year? What action will you take?

Plastic Free July

In 2017 I started my zero waste journey. Zero Waste is the goal, mindful practice is the action. When I use the term Zero Waste, that is my ultimate goal, but Less Waste would be a more  accurate description of my evolving lifestyle.

Happy Plastic Free July!

2017 was the first year that I even knew what PFJ was, and it came right at the right time of my life. I was just learning about Zero Waste and the Low Impact Movement. I was thinking about it a lot at that time. But I wasn't ready to really paricipate in PFJ. I was a little at a loss as to how to even do that.  But July 2017 was, if I can pin point it, the time where I really started my Zero Waste, Low Impact, journey. That was the month I first tried to refuse straws on the regular, I bought a water bottle and tried to use it, and that was when Low Impact became a serious undercurrent in my life. 

So here we are a year later, and this year, I was ready for Plastic Free July! This year, refusing straws is second nature, bringing my water bottle is becoming the norm, I try to always get items in my own containers instead of a disposable container, we no longer use plastic wrap or garbage bags! Continuing these practices is part of my PFJ2018. I also created a list for my self for things to work on this year:

- Audit my trash for the month of July. I have done this before while I was starting out along my ZW journey, and I do it every once in a while to see where I'm at. This month, I plan to mostly audit our recycling. 

- Take the time to recycle the items that are difficult to recycle. We are donating clothes, dropping off our electronics, bringing our plastic bags to drop off centers, and other annoying tasks this month. We still accumulate some of these items, so disposing of them properly is super important. 

- Focus on building our garden for this year and years to come! We recently (finally) planted our front bed and now we are hooked! We cannot wait to create more avenues for us to grow our own food and rely less on conventional, and often plastic packed, fruit and veg. 

- Utilize local farmer's markets! Summer is the best time for fresh fruits and veggies and I want to eat them all! The farmer's market is a great to get them, plastic free!

- Continue to refuse disposable plastics like straws, plastic bags, plastic cups and coffee cups, single use plastic containers, etc... and get better at it!! The more you practice, the easier it becomes!

- Preach! Mostly, I try not to be too preachy about my Zero Waste journey, but PFJ is the perfect time to let people know about the horrors of disposable plastics, give them some insight into my lifestyle and ideals, and to hopefully spark them to think to these ideas!

So far, I'm happy with how my Plastic Free July is going. How are you celebrating PFJ?

Plastic Free July

The month of July is now Plastic Free July. It's a time to choose to give up single use plastic. Give up one item, like plastic straws, or give up all single use plastic for the month. Either way, the main thing is to think about how we use plastic and if we need to use it as much as we do.  

Ever since we moved to the beach, I've been more aware of how much waste we generate as a family and where that waste ends up. I've started reading a lot about the zero waste movement. I would love to become zero waste one day. But sometimes thinking about how to effect the changes necessary makes me feel like my head might explode. Or at least, that the goal seems impossible. 

But the thing I'm trying to remember is that zero waste is the goal, thoughtful purchases and practices is the action. 

This July I wasn't able to give up any single use plastic entirely. But just knowing about Plastic Free July helped me be more thoughtful. I tried to opt out of using plastic bags, plastic straws, buying items packed in plastic, or only buy plastics that can be recycled. I've tried harder to look at all packaging and recycle more carefully. 

I try to buy items packaged in cardboard, or glass, or better yet, not packaged. In all items I try to buy organic, non gmo, sustainable, or manufactured by "good" companies. This early in my zero waste journey, I'm still figuring out what that means. I try to research, read labels, and find a balance between what my family likes, what's healthy for them, and what's healthy for the planet and my local community. 

I'm trying to find ways to use plastics less, like finally committing to a reusable thermal mug. By choosing one that keeps drinks hot or cold and has a standard volume, I hope to make it easier for me to use it in many situations. For July, I've diligently tried to bring my new mug with me and use it as much as possible. 

Although I wasn't able to give up plastic this July, I feel I've made a good start and hopefully next July, I'll be ready to give up some sort of single use plastic for good! Or even if I'm not, Im confident that I'll be steps further on my journey. 

Is anyone out there working towards zero waste? What steps are you taking?