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This is Day One. This is day one of breaking it down, of how I am drastically reducing the amount of waste I produce in my everyday life.
Let’s begin, again, with work. I work for a research program associated with the Biology department. This is where my trash for the past two weeks has come from. But, not any more. I have the best supervisors and they have given me the option to use a heavier pair of gloves which can be used multiple times. And yes, I say best, not just for brownie points (mmm, brownies), but because I believe it.
The best supervisors like to celebrate their workers’ birthdays, holidays, and other days with one of my favorite things. Food. Let’s describe the typical office celebration: There are people. There are chairs. There is sitting. There is standing. There is conversation. There is beverage. There is food. (Like brownies!) To avoid the disposable materials this food and beverage is usually served on, I have placed my own reusable bottle, bowl, plate, and silverware at the office. This way, unexpected or not, I will not make use of the disposables. I do want to note that the paper-based disposables can be composted, but I don’t expect most work places compost… When bringing my lunch, I pack everything in a reusable, washable, food-storage container. And, when eating somewhere else, I am careful of what I order, and never accept disposable, plastic straws.
Oh, no! My hands are messy from being gluttonous. Better go wash them. Step, step, step…wash, wash, wash…wait. No hand dryer – only paper towels. Again, compostable, but do I really want to stuff wet paper in my bag until I get home to my own compost bin? Nope. This is why I have brought my own hand towel from home to work. Or, you can try this next part with me…
You are standing near the sink from just washing your hands. Put both your arms down, with your hands at your sides, some distance away from the rest of your body. Now alternate your hands from in front of your body, to behind your body, as fast as you can. This should be, to some lesser effect, close to that of a hand dryer. I call it the “Hand Dance.” You’re welcome.
This dance can also be fun at home! Yep, you got it, I’m again transitioning to the potty-room. But this time, let’s discuss it in the aspect of getting ready for each of my adventurous days. I usually start them by waking. I then shower. Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash – they all come in plastic bottles. I have discovered most of them to be recyclable. But, I do know there are more organic cleansers and soaps which contain paper-based packaging or no packaging. I am again putting the link to Beth Terry’s “Plastic-Free Living Guide” below. This topic begins at number 41 on her list, and is a must-read.
Most hygienic products are packaged in recyclable bottles. Unfortunately, many also have a non-recyclable plastic seal around their opening, or the package is surrounded with stretches of non-recyclable plastic. I have many of these products to use up before trying other alternatives, so I don’t know if I’ll ever get a convenient chance to tell you about any changes I’ll be making. I definitely will be attempting many of the suggestions from the “Plastic-Free Living Guide” when the times come. For now, I will mention one area I am not changing. Contact lenses. I am near-sighted, and as much as I do love my glasses, I don’t like wearing them every day, especially when exercising. Am I a quitter already? I like to think not; contact lenses are a phenomenal invention, and one of those which requires sterility to produce and use.
I’m picking my battles. You’ll see the outcomes. Eyesight is a loss.
This is Trashy.
I work.
I work for a research program extended from the Biology department. Rather than boring you with any details, I’ll just give you the short version. I do science.
Well, I kind of do science. I’m more like another pair of hands to help with all of the plant and water samples we collect and sort, along with cleaning various laboratory materials. The latter is where I have failed this week. This is Trashy.
This is the amount of trash I have created this week that wasn’t from products from before I started this project. IknowIknowIknow, but I wanted to show you what I am doing, not what I did do… Anyway, what you are seeing are three pairs of single-use laboratory gloves. I wear them to protect my hands from strong acids while cleaning various laboratory vials and what-nots. Even though I didn’t purchase them, I had direct contact in using them, and am therefore including them as part of my trash. To me, they seem unavoidable, as this is a part of my job.
And this brings us to my first point: businesses. I am sure there are many regulatory rules and possibly laws which I am uneducated about involving certain procedures of cleanliness, or in my case, strict sterility. My thoughts may be hinting towards major food companies and manufacturers of materials which require precision to operate. These would include your staple restaurants and fields of science, both of which I speak from. My past work experience includes a solid five years with the restaurant industry. During that time, I have tossed so many “trash” bags into dumpsters, all mostly containing food waste, packaging, and single-use restroom materials.
And here we go, to point number two: potties. Yes, “potties,” because I feel a little childish when mentioning something too close to bathroom humor. When conducting my business, I opt to flush all waste, including the single-use toilet paper. Now, it is compostable, but I’m sorry. With mild justification, I am not always able to conveniently compost with the use of public restrooms. This is another step I have not taken, and most likely will not ever take. My apologies to the humorous, bathroom-savvy idealists.
I have, I think, successfully managed my first week, creating a minimal amount of trash. And still, this is Trashy.
