Why Go Zero Waste?
When we first told everyone that we were going zero waste, it was only natural for people to ask us: why go zero waste? We don’t have just one answer, so instead, we’ll go with Mahatma Gandhi’s famous line: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” We as a family decided to go zero waste, because we want to be the change we want to see in this world. We know that if we want any changes to happen, it all has to start in our own homes, with each of us doing our part. It all begins with the conscious decision to make a change. It continues with the willingness to learn new things, the bravery to take a chance and step out of the box, the knowledge to realize that it takes time, the humility to know that setbacks and sometimes even failures can and will happen, and the perseverance to get back up and try again. Like with many challenges in our lives, whether they are chosen or thrown at us unexpectedly, going zero waste is just another adventure with lots of ups and downs and many pitstops along the way.
Almost five years ago, we decided to stop eating meat, fish, and dairy. After watching numerous documentaries about the treatment of animals and the benefits of going plant based, it was almost overnight that we changed our carnivorous diet to eating more whole foods. In addition, we drastically stopped buying processed foods. This was a very difficult and uncomfortable experience for us. Not only did we live in Texas aka cattle country, but we also didn’t get very much support from our families. Most of them thought we were crazy or that we lost it. I’m sure some thought that we were just going through a phase. In passing, we would get the usual comment, “when you start eating meat again…” They just couldn’t understand why we would just flip our lives over just like that. Even my grandma, who at the time was 91-years-old and has only lived on a very meaty Filipino diet, seriously looked at me in the eyes and asked, “Are you no longer Catholic?” Seriously, Grandma? But she wasn’t kidding. Like I said, people thought we have gone off the deep end. Living in the South, with my husband only having been in that part of the country his entire life and me only knowing that every meal - dinner, lunch, AND breakfast - HAD to have meat in the dishes, we were literally outcasts. As one lady who was serving BBQ at a Halloween Festival once told me when I asked her if there were any vegetable options, “Oh honey, you’re looking in the wrong place.” And she was right. With limited options to accommodate our new lifestyle, we knew that our current living arrangements were not going to work. So we moved…to California.
And we are still here, living life the way we want. But now, we live in a more “accepting” community. We still get the occasional, “not even fish?” and “can’t you just eat meat this one time?” But most of the time, people get it. And they just let us live our lives. Every so often, we slip up and go vegetarian. But that only happens when we eat out. We are only human after all.
Of course now, we’ve just added a new twist to the mix: living zero waste. But unlike being vegan, this new change isn’t upsetting anyone (at least I hope not), and people aren’t questioning us as if we’re crazy (again, I’m hoping they’re not). They just want to know why out of curiosity. And it’s the good kind of curiosity. The kind that may or may not get them to change their living habits, but nevertheless, it’s making them think. And that’s all we can ask for from this project.
Since our change in diet, we have been more mindful, more thoughtful of what we eat. We have also become more careful as to what we put on our bodies. We have spent a lot of time researching and reading customer reviews to make sure that what we brought into our homes is right for our family. We knew it was just a matter of time until we would be headed down this road towards living more minimally and having less waste. Moving from the mentality of “everything is bigger in Texas” to a more casual California was the easiest and best decision my husband and I have made thus far. We downsized our belongings tremendously, taking only what was important to us. But since we’ve moved, what we thought was important at the time quickly became things that are just that - things.
Toys, books, picture frames, knick knacks - these are all just things. Do they provide us joy? Sure, some of them. But are they replaceable if we would like them in our home again? Chances are pretty good. And an even bigger question - can we take those things with us after our lives here on Earth has reached its end? We all know the answer to that. A lot of our decluttering “discussions” about whether or not we should keep something or not is always resolved with that last question. Do we still have some things we haven’t learned to let go? Yes, of course. But minimalism and zero waste is a constant learning process. It’s going to take time, but as long as we stay mindful and thoughtful of how we live our day to day lives, it doesn’t matter how long it takes. What matters is that we’re trying at all.
So why are we going zero waste? Because why not? We’re not hurting anyone. We’re not breaking any laws. We’re not forcing anyone to join us. We’re not endangering the planet. We’re not disrupting people’s lives. So why not? Instead, we’re making small gestures of change in our own lives that will lessen our waste distribution. By going plant based, we’re showing our compassion towards animal beings while lowering our carbon footprints. We are simplifying our lives by trying to have only the things that are necessary and surrounding ourselves with few but beautiful and meaningful items. And we do that by trying our hardest to purchase things made in the USA and support local small businesses. There are only six of us, but our actions are significant in helping keep our planet green and blue. So I want to ask you - why are you not going zero waste?