I do my part to recycle and bring my own bags for purchases, but I am far from producing zero waste. While lugging multiple recycling bins to the curbside every week it has occurred me that I have a lot of recycling for only one person. I never totally connected the dots that the goal should be to have a system where all of the wrappers, junk mail, jars and cans don't enter my home to begin with!
I was recently inspired by a television show where Bea and Scott Johnson of Mill Valley, Calif., talked about their Zero waste lifestyle. They produce the equivalent of a quart jar of waste per month for their entire family of four. Now that is pretty close to zero waste and a goal I am going to aspire to!
In a recent article about them in Sunset magazine, I was inspired by their commitment as a family to leave a lighter footprint. Their children are just as committed to the cause, and wrap their lunches in large cloths which they roll up and carry to school and reuse the next day. They have simplified their lives so completely that they are able to pack up on a dime and spend extended periods of time traveling and doing things they love. They are able to pay for the trips because of the 40 percent less they are spending on living expenses! They also rent their home while they are gone and use it as a teaching tool with detailed instructions for the renters on how they can create a zero waste lifestyle.
I yearned for the freedom from encumbrances that they have achieved, and the good feeling that comes from knowing my lifestyle is completely in alignment with my ethics about sustainability for the planet. I am inspired by their example to do more!
In Bea's recent article in Yes magazine, she outlines 10 tips to help the average person get on board and move closer towards zero waste. Here are some of her great suggestions:
-Refuse what you do not need.
-Reduce what you do need.
-Reuse by using reusables.
-Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse.
-Rot (compost) the rest.
Next: More about Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot
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