Going zero waste for a week Zero Waste Challenge Going zero waste for a week

Why? Every single person produces about 2 kg of garbage everyday..... 13 kg per week ...... 726 kg a year.... and currently there are about 7 billion people on Earth. That's a lot of trash........

But this can be changed…. Lauren Singer‘s trash in two years:

Bea Johnson and her family of four generate a quarter-size jar of waste per year:

Waste is defined by Lauren Singer as point source, meaning it is discarded by its holder with intent of it going to landfill. Trash is anything a person plans to throw away or anything a person deems obsolete that is then discarded in a manner where it will not be intended for re-purposing or reuse even if it unknowingly will be at some point in the future.

What is zero waste? Similar to a forest ecosystem, zero waste systems produce nothing that can't be reused and repurposed. Waste to one system is food for another.   “To me, Zero Waste means that I do not produce any garbage. No sending anything to landfill, no throwing anything in a trash can, nothing. However, I do recycle and I do compost.” Lauren Singer

The 5Rs Refuse what you do not need, Reduce what you do need, Reuse what you consume,  Recycle what you cannot Refuse, Reduce or Reuse Rot (Compost) the rest.

2 steps to zero waste 1. Evaluate: the first step is to take a look at your daily life and ask yourself the following questions: - How much garbage am I currently producing and what types? - Why am I even interested in decreasing my impact? Really understand your motivators and use them as a place to start decreasing what you use. - What do I actually use on a daily basis (what is in my daily routine) and what do I not use/need? - What products do I use that I can get more sustainable alternatives to? Example: exchanging plastic tupperware for glass or mason jars. - How much and what do I really need to be happy? Really assess why you own and hold on to certain things, and determine if you really need them

2. Transition: start to downsize and properly dispose of the unnecessary things: - Bring a reusable bag and water bottle with you everywhere! - Get rid of the plastic. (donate or recycle) - Replace these products with sustainable, long-lasting alternatives. Such as Organic cotton, stainless steel, wood, and glass. - Be creative. Figure out what you can use in different ways. Organic cotton napkins can also be used as a drying rack, to store leafy greens in the fridge, or to bring lunch to work. Mason jars can be used for coffee, takeout, leftovers, toothbrush holders, lotion dispensers... - Make your home your sanctuary. - Minimize. Ask yourself, what do I not need? What do I wear every day? What did I buy last year that still has tags on it? - Think Organic, think Local, think Sustainable and BUY IN BULK.

Tips by Bea Johnson First arm yourself with a reusable water bottle, grocery bags, cloth bags, reusable jars and bottles

Kitchen Welcome alternatives to disposables: Swap paper towels for reusable rags, swap sandwich baggies for kitchen towels or stainless containers, drop garbage liners all together (wet waste is mostly compostable anyways). Buy in bulk, bring reusable bags (dry goods), jars (wet items such as meat, deli, fish, cheese, oil, peanut butter) and bottles (liquids: oil, soy sauce, shampoo, conditioner). If you can‘t find them in bulk, make it yourself. Shop at the farmer‘s market Learn to love your tap water. Turn trash can into big compost keeper. Reinvent leftovers before they go bad.

Bathroom Use 100% recycled and unbleached toilet paper. Reduce cosmetics and use homemade substitutes like self made tooth paste. Use safety razor. Use package free soap bars. Refill bottles with bulk shampoo. Use bamboo toothbrushes.

Cleaning Welcome natural cleaning alternatives: Castile soap, homemade all purpose cleaner, baking soda for scrubbing jobs and vinegar. Welcome alternative house cleaning tools: a metal scourer a wooden brush, an old toothbrush and rags (made out of worn-out clothing items)

Office Refuse free-pen / free-pencil give-aways. Use refillable pens. Start your personal junk mail war, cancel your phone directories, and sign up for electronic bills and statements. Reuse single-side printed paper for printing and when buying new paper, choose recycled and packaged in paper. Use memory sticks and external drives instead of CD’s.

Whatelse? Buy stuff second hand. Do your own composting. Learn some sewing tricks so that you can repair your clothes. Make shopping lists.

Schedule for next week Monday „Zero waste shopping tour“ in Cork Tuesday 11am Farmer‘s Market in Wilton Wednesday 11am „Stop food waste“ presentation Wednesday 6.30pm „Make your own toothpaste Friday 12pm „zero waste lunch“

Zero waste is good for the environment and helps you to safe money and lead a healthier life! It is about changing the way we look at our lives and our place in the world. So let‘s get started now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BMWQZkBgsM&nohtml5=False https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N-rPTJVk80&nohtml5=False https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYDQcBQUDpw&nohtml5=False