Tag: Sustainability

Our New Trash Problem

Our New Trash Problem

by No Makeup Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Today was trash day once again and I am very happy to report that our trash for one week fit easily into our new tiny trash can – even with the 75 photos [and other miscellaneous things] that I threw away for the Minimalism challenge! We had so little trash that we could go for months without needing a trash pickup. BUT we definitely need a weekly recycling pickup because our recycling can is filled to overflowing.

Here is our tiny trash can – next to two boxes of products that we need to phase out [proof that we are not perfect and that this is a process].
So now we have a new problem. We are recycling too much. It may be better than sending waste to a landfill, but it is still unnecessary waste. The key is still to REDUCE, then REUSE, and then recycle. The best way to reduce my waste is to not create it in the first place.

I have been purposefully choosing recycle-able containers over things that are not when I can’t find [or am not committed enough to buy] a waste free option. But I just need to get myself more strongly committed to the cause. Although, I will have to start with a recycling inventory because I don’t even know what fills that can each week. It doesn’t seem like much when I’m throwing it in the recycling basket – but then, come Wednesday, the can is entirely full.

This is the box we throw recycling into throughout the day. We empty it into the can outside once or twice a day.

For the next week, I’m going to pay closer attention to what we are recycling and see where I can make changes to reduce that too.

I guess I might as well start now…

Recycling basket currently contains packaging from some photos we ordered and – wait, where did that bottle come from?!? BRETT!!!

[Side note: It would be SO NICE to not need a trash pickup at all because Brett and I are SO BAD at remembering to put the cans out! Embarrassing, but true!]

Oh I’m so excited to start analyzing our garbage…kidding.

Wish me luck!

Karis

Goodbye, Old Friend

Goodbye, Old Friend

by No Makeup Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is trash day in our neighborhood, which always has me thinking about our trash output. As I mentioned before, we are not exactly without waste, but we are making improvements. Today’s improvement happened to have a visual impact.

We have had a large black trash can in our kitchen since Brett and I got married 7.5 years ago. I don’t actually remember buying it [maybe it was a wedding gift], but it is one of the few possessions that have stood the test of time [others being our wedding rings and childhood photos], until now.

[I should mention as a side note how pathetic it is that we have had so few belongings actually last seven years. It is proof that we have spent most of our married lives prioritizing the cost over the quality and it is further proof of our desire for a constant influx of new “stuff.” Sad, but true – until recently.]

Anyway, today we gave the old friend a demotion and have sent him to the basement, where he won’t collect any garbage at all, but just sit around waiting for us to determine his fate [anyone need a trash can]?

After collecting the trash this week, we realized that we no longer need a tall trash can. [I also realized that we have a lot of trash cans sitting around not collecting any trash at all.] So, we took a small can from another room in the house and put it under the sink. The size difference is significant. But how nice not to have this huge trash can in our kitchen anymore!

This is partly a big win, and partly a leap of faith. Will our trash for a whole week actually fit into this teeny-weeny can? We will see, I guess. Worst case scenario, we have to change the bag mid-week…but I’m not planning on giving myself permission to do that. I’m just going to go for it.

It’s like I always tell my personal training clients – you’ll never know what you’re able to do unless you give it a try.

[Nearly] zero waste, here we come.

Karis