Zero Waste in Uni

What's up? I'm your local friendly college zero waster. I'm not a sustainability studies person, nor a scientist, just your average student who cares about the environment! My inbox is always open for asks and requests!

[zero-initiative]

Sourcing it second hand

I am a big fan of estate sales, and let me tell you, you can source just about anything second hand :)

I live on the east coast in the south, so minimalism, zero waste and low waste are essentially foreign concepts. A lot people tend to stock up a lot and have a bunch of things in their homes.

I have gotten really good at shopping estate sales before shopping first hand, if you are interested, I highly suggest you to look up estate sales in your area

There are lots of ways to shop second hand

Estate sales(personal fave)

Yard sales

Facebook marketplace

Craigslist

Free cycle(I don't live in an area where free cycle is used)

Bunz(again, not accessible in my area)

Charity shops/ thrift shops

Barter and trade(another personal fave, just traded some wheels for insulation that someone had in their attic for 6 years)

You can also

Repurpose things around the house

Dumpster dive (check your rights and your cities rules, but most cities are okay with it. Obvi, locked dumpsters are sadly off limits. I know there is good stuff in the trash, but if something is wet, don't do it, wet stuff always gets a certain smell :'/)

Make something with stuff you have

Try a trading group(clothes if you know someone else who is your side, a book club where you pass around books)

Ask someone you know if they have xyz that you are looking for

Go without for a bit and see if you really need xyz that you were looking for

Essentially what I'm trying to say is you can find most things already. A lot of stuff that you may want or need already exists, so there is no need to buy first hand 90% of the time

I'm always seeing China sets, candles, decor(please, no more decor! There's so much of this crap for every season, just get it second hand or craft it!!) Sheets still in the packaging, nice wood furniture, clocks, wood scraps,garden supplies of all types, lonley plants wanting to come home with you, books, China sets(there are so many) kitchen ware and gadgetry

The point is, there's already so much stuff that's out there and so much that's just waiting for a new home, next time you are looking something, try to source it second hand first. It's always better to use something that is already there than to create demand for something that doesn't need to be made :)

I hope you have a prosperous day and find some great second hand finds soon!

[zero-initiative]

I had to stop plastic free July due to health issues. I am still trying my best, but please be respectful that not everyone was born with a functional body.

Ways I can still reduce waste

->being mindful of NEW things I bring in. Do I need it? Does this bring value to me? What are the environmental impacts?

->embrace the second hand economy. People love hoarding. You can find a lot of stuff at estate sales and second hand shops. Even craft supplies and home improvement stuff! No need for buying new :)

-> Clothing. Face it, you probably have enough. Personally, I have about 20 items of clothing I wear year round(I would be more than happy to share :) ) you don't need to be perfect to others, only to yourself. Know yourself and know what you feel good in!

-> stop bringing in random junk that's a maybe. It's not worth it and causes mental stress

--------

Places I draw the line

-> medical devices, medical supplies. I need them, sorry they are plastic. It's not my fault that the system is messed up. I am aware I have a lot of medical waste and I feel guilty about it, but it's necessary to my survival

-> food to go. I need to eat, like everyone else. I will get Clif bars for going out places(hiking mainly, I feel alive) and sometimes I will get take out from restaurants. Unfortunately, my area has a lot of styrofoam, so I have contributed 2 containers this year, which sucks. I am trying to find ways to use styrofoam though, so I will compile a list of things to do/ways to reuse styrofoam in the future

-> my limited food packaging. I have Celiac's, so gluten tries to attack me. I unfortunately live in an area where gluten free crap only comes in packaging. I buy large quantities of items, but still, it's always in plastic. I do not have the convenience of a bulk store and sometimes I just really want to make a cake, you feel me? I am not wasting my quality of life

[zero-initiative]

Failing at Plastic Free July

I promised myself I would no longer hate myself for my slip ups, so here is a good reminder it's okay to try and fail

I have created waste

7 Clif bars wrappers

2 sour patch kids pouches

4 plastic water bottles(I know I'm the devil, I went somewhere with bad drinking water)

2 salsa bottles

2 dried fruit plastic bag containers(bulk)

Tile spacers(we are redoing our bathroom, it was literally falling apart)

A lot of medical waste(do not feel guilty about your medical waste, this stuff keeps you alive and out of the hospital!)

Gatorade (my lover got too drunk and it was bad. You need to replace electrolytes after vomiting)

Condoms

1 Almond milk tetrapak

I am aware this is a lot of waste, but I don't want to lie about the waste I have produced. I will continue to be 100% transparent about this plastic free July journey.

[zero-initiative]

Making zero/low waste good for you wallet

Today we are focusing on FOOD!

So, I know the stereotype zero waster is a cis, white, middle class, woman, but here's the deal... YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THAT!!!

I feel like "perfect" zero wasters stands in some elitist pedestal, but here's the deal, perfection isn't what we need. We need a lot of people practicing zero waste and low waste imperfectly.

I strive for low waste now, because zero waste was not good for my mental health, and I do really well living low waste. Take it easy if you produce trash in the form of plastic packaging. Even though plastic is pretty bad, there are a lot of people also using plastic. Just do not be wasteful! And if something is in plastic, ask yourself if there is an alternative that is attainable to you.

I know cost is a big thing for me. I cannot work due to coronavirus, so I am currently living very frugally. I am greatful I have a garden to get plastic free produce, but that isn't everyone's reality. When I shop, my list usually contains the following: bananas, carrots, bell pepper*, tomatoes*, onions*, garlic, spring onion*, broccoli*, berries*, cereal°, almond milk°, coffee°, oats, chips, salsa, pasta, pasta sauce, canned soup, canned fruits, canned vegetables, frozen fruit, frozen vegetables, hummus, rice, vegan ice cream.

*i grow these, and am not buying them rn

°for my s/o

This list may look odd, and does fluctuate, and most items don't have to be purchased regularly. We float a bill that looks like the following for the two of us: 100 dollar Costco run once a month, 25 dollar grocery run(previously weekly, now bi-monthly, if that. So let's say 200 bucks a month for the both of us. I understand that this may seem like a lot, but we don't eat out and are working towards reducing our expenses. Recently though, we have been spending a lot less because of my garden, but I understand not everyone has the luxury of tending to a garden.

[zero-initiative]

Day 1 of Plastic free July went alright.

I went through the fridge and did an inventory check. Using food you already have is super important, even if it makes my plastic free July imperfect!

I found 2 half empty salsa containers and ate some chips(bulk, wrapped in plastic) with salsa

I also made some juice out of produce that was going bad. I don't have a juicer, I just have a blender, all you do is strain produce smoothie through a towel/cheesecloth and boom! You made juice!! Juice is my favorite way to get a good use out of old nasty looking produce. You can use the pulp to make crackers if you so please, it alternatively use it in the compost bin to make ultra rich soil.

Overall. I spent no money and created 2 waste items: 2 plastic salsa jars

Total plastic count:2

P.S. yesterday in my life away from zero waste was super rough. I lost a cat and took a lot of time to be gentle with myself. I do usually eat more than chips and salsa and green juice.

Also, its never too late to start tracking your waste :) whether you're a "perfect" zero waster or an imperfect cognizant/ low waster, the less you produce the better. You don't have to go to extremes, just do your best :) 1 less item of plastic per week becomes 52 less a year and so on! You can do it!!!

[sakana-no-yama]

[aromantic-official]

[ID: 4 drawings. The first says “black aros matter” (with aros in green) and has an aromantic flag with a bust of a black woman on it. She is wearing a yellow tank top, has a green heart shape on her chest, and her eyes are closed. The second says “black aces matter” (with aces in purple) and has an ace flag with a bust of a black man wearing a plaid shirt with a purple heart on his chest. The third says “black neurodiversity matters” (with neurodiversity in rainbow) and has a large infinity sign in rainbow with a bust of a black person with dyed hair, a yellow cap, and red glasses. All 3 of the people are slightly smiling. The fourth image has a black background with a lighter yellow and teal patch in the center, with a black fist on it, and says “ALL black lives matter.” End ID.]

[zero-initiative]

I'm going to be doing plastic free July on here publicly, 100% realistically, and 100% mentally sustainably for me. I'm not going to lie, I'm only low waste now, but I do what I can. zero waste made my OCD go out of control and is not something I can do, but low waste is, and I believe everyone can reduce their waste :)

Covid 19 has led me and my boyfriend to buy tetrapaks of almond milk(ngl, the convenience is great, even though the package is problematic) and we buy in bulk to avoid trips(so, plastic) and we are imperfect! I do grow some food and we do live 20 miles from a farmers market, so it's not impossible to get packages free food(my garden is of course the simplest) but the current reality is that I don't have enough to sustain us and I have plastic.

Thus, I want to show what my plastic free/low plastic July is like. It's probably not going to be child friendly since we do have sex and use condoms, but I want to show what a normal couples low waste journey looks like :)

There will 100% be plastic waste because I have medical issues and don't leave the house often, but I'm excited to show you what our realistic low waste life looks like :D

If you have any questions in sustainability, shoot me a question and I will respond. Have a lovely day and see ya tomorrow

[sustainabilitythoughts]

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from driving

A recent New York Times climate forward email discussed the result on greenhouse gas emissions if everyone in the US reduced the number of miles traveled in their cars.  In 2017, light-duty vehicles in the US (cars, SUVs, pickups, etc.) produced about one-fifth of the country’s total emissions footprint. The email suggested that if each person reduced the number of miles they drive each year by 10 percent, the result would be similar to taking 28 coal-fired power plants offline for a year.  The article also pointed out that more than one-third of all car trips are less than two miles.  In many areas of the US, it isn’t practical to live without a car, as public transportation options are not available and distances to work and school are farther than practical walking distance.  However, you can reduce how many miles you drive your car.  Here are some ideas for reducing the use of your car:

·       Combine trips and plan ahead to use the most efficient route

·       Look for stores, restaurants, and medical professionals that are close to your home, your school, or your work

·       Carpool when possible

·       See if you can telecommute one or more days a week

·       Walk, bike, or use public transportation when it’s available and practical

·       Don’t let your car idle in parking lots.  Pick a spot near the entrance to the parking lot so you don’t spend a lot of time driving around looking for the “best” spot

[passionforpasta]

Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, shares a sustainability pro-tip in honor of Earth Day. Instead of wasting leftover pasta water by pouring it down the sink, you can save it, let it cool and use it to water your plants. The starchy H2O will give them a beneficial nutrient boost and help them grow. Just be sure to avoid using cooking water that has been salted or seasoned.

[smalltownsustainable]

This also applies to leftover water from boiling spinach, potatoes, and hardboiled eggs, according to Reader’s Digest.

[saturnineaqua]

this definitely is an amazing thing to plants, it gives them a boost like NOTHING that can be bought in stores. ive had an orange plant that didnt bloom for years and then gave them some pasta/potato water twice a week, and now its blooming like crazy , pretty much over night. and plants that were looking kind of drawn are looking BEAUTIFUL!

[zerotometal]

I love this hack as it helps save on my water bill and stops me from using more water than needed.

[thehopefuljournalist]

Ah, hello! Your blog has really helped my climate anxiety, but I have a question. Is the ozone layer actually repairing itself, and does this mean we’re doing something right? Or is this just something that won’t have any impact. Thank you so much for what you’re doing 😊😊

Hey there, love :)First of all, thank you so so much! You have no idea how much it means to me to know that I’m actually helping people out there. I think, in order to act and to work towards something (in this case, helping our planet), we have to have hope. Without it, the fear will paralyze us, and we wouldn’t be able to move and to act.  

About your question. The ozone layer is repairing itself, and has been for quite a few years. Here’s some background: In 1985, scientists discovered a huge hole in the ozone layer above the South Pole. Now, why is that a problem? Because the ozone layer absorbs most of the sun’s (dangerous) ultraviolet radiation, which can cause cancer, seriously damage crops, and more. The reason for this hole in the ozone layer was discovered to be man-made chemicals, called chlorofluorocarbons, that were used in things like aerosols and refrigerants.. This whole realization caused a huge environmental scare in the 1980′s, and so, in 1987, 180 countries signed the Montreal Protocol, agreeing to completely ban CFC’s in order to prevent additional holes from forming. In January 2018, a study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, which used data from NASA’s Aura satellite, has stated that there has been 20 percent less ozone depletion in the Antarctic since 2005, according to scientists. In November 2018, a UN report came out, and started that the ozone layer is healing itself, and by the 2030′s, the Northern Hemisphere could be fully repaired, with Antarctica following in the 2060′s. Now, the problem is not entirely solved yet, there are parts of the ozone layer that haven’t healed, but this is still very good news! 

According to what I read (and I’m not an expert of any kind, guys), the hole in the ozone layer is a problem caused by humans, but doesn’t have anything to do with global warming. They both are caused by human activities which release pollutants into the atmosphere. Like I said, the hole in the ozone layer is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons (found in aerosol spray cans and refrigerants), but global warming is caused by putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when coal, oil, and natural gas are burned to generate electricity or to run our cars.

So the ozone layer repairing itself is amazing and so, so important, but doesn’t have an impact on global warming, though it does have an impact on our health.

The way I see it, though, is that the ozone layer repairing itself after humans stepped up shows that humanity (and countries) are capable of working together in order to save ourselves. It’s happened in the past, therefore, it can happen again. We are doing something right. Awareness to this issue has been rising. Many countries, cities, and even people, have started working in order to fix what we have broken. Yes, there is hope, there always, always, is.

Sources: X X X

[green-hypocrite]

[birdandmoon]

New comic about climate concerns. You are not alone. Thanks to NNOCCI for helpful input!

[thehopefuljournalist]

It’s so easy to feel alone in this, but the truth is we’re not. We’re so many and we can make a difference. 

[newsfromtheendtimes]

How One Billionaire Could Keep Three Countries Hooked on Coal for Decades

The story of a mining project in Australia helps to explain why the world keeps burning coal despite the profound risk it poses to the futur

[newsfromtheendtimes]

The hellish future of Las Vegas in the climate crisis: 'a place where we never go outside'

Las Vegas is the fastest warming city in the United States. The city’s poorest residents are most at risk in the heat

[thehopefuljournalist]

About hope - and climate change

So here’s the thing: I try to be as hopeful as I can in my blog, because I know many (MANY) of us need that hope to keep going.  BUT, hope is not enough. We should be acting. Whether it’s by doing small things individually (like recycling, going low-waste, etc) and whether it’s going to protests and making petitions and signing them. Every little act is so important, because when we all act together, it actually makes an impact. Hope is essential, because without it we wouldn’t be able to do anything. But please don’t count on companies and politicians to do the work that needs to be done. Go out and fight for it. Change your lifestyle, even just a little.  

[thehopefuljournalist]

2+1 million trees for Brazil

Installs of Ecosia have increased by a 1000% in only a week. The Amazon fires have brought Ecosia much attention and we are responding to the trust our (new) users put in us by increasing our efforts in Brazil.

After announcing plans to plant 1 million additional trees for Brazil, Ecosia will be planting 2 million more trees.

The devastating fires in the Amazon have been getting more and more attention over the past week. The media has finally started posting, people have taken out to the streets in protest, and politicians have been pressuring Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, to act in order to save the rain-forest. 

In this post I talked about the amazing Ecosia, the search engine (similar to Google) that plants trees around the world. Last month they announced that they will be planting 1 million trees for Brazil, as a response to Bolsonaro’s policies. Today, they issued another statement. 

In just one week, installs of the Ecosia app have increased by more than a 1000%. people around the world are looking for ways they can help. With Ecosia, they can. Thanks to these new users and their searches, Ecosia will be tripling their efforts in Brazil. Over the next 12 months, Ecosia will plant another two million additional trees. These will add to the 2.2 million trees already planted in previous years.

“The trees Ecosia will plant are more than just trees” Severino Ribeiro, Director of our partner organization in Brazil, said. “They’re a sign that in times of crisis, we all hold together - Brazil and the international community”.

Amazing, and so simple! Switch to Ecosia to help our forests. 

[zero-initiative]

Ditching E-Exercise

Exercise!!

It's good for both your physical and mental wellbeing, and getting strong is one of many benefits gained from participating in exercise. I am sure just about everyone reading this post has heard of an elliptical(elliptihell) or a treadmill or a bike, but I have beef with these. Why? They waste energy. You can practice walking by walking. I know not everyone lives in a good area(I don't) but maybe your work or someone you know lives in a nice area? Why not go for a walk and breath some fresh air while walking? If you're in a nice area, why not commute to school by walking? I'm 1.5 miles from my University and walk, it's a nice way to clear my head both there and back.

Biking is also a nice way to get some wicked strong legs and possibly run errands (put your food or whatever in a backpack or put your reusable bags on the handlebars. Investment in a basket or some saddle bags? These will all add resistance to the exercise)

The point is, you don't need to go to a gym and use their fancy electronic equipment for working out. Especially not for cardio. Just get out and go if you can and if you can't, maybe be more mindful of the time you spend at the gym.

Just a though on a small way to save electricity