attackferret

Shamefacedly, I did very little to limit my trash today. I created two pieces: a little rice box from Asian take-out (yes, I was too lame to pack my lunch) and the wrapper from a Hershey’s milk chocolate bar that I had no need to eat. To go even more in the negative, today was the one day this week where I could have ridden my bike to work, and tomorrow is sustainable transportation day. Boo hiss! I only have one positive and one neutral anti-trash thing going for me today. My trash neutral scenario is that the main dish for my Asian take-out came in a good reusable container, which is going in with the tupperware – reusing rather than trashing, which is a little better (but of course not as good as reducing in the first place). My anti-trash move is that I’m using my diva cup rather than a disposable menstrual product – which will be a whole entry sometime in the future : )

First, check out storyofstuff.com.

Day 1 instructions (paraphrased):

1. Make a list of products you ‘need’ to buy this week. Cross out the ones you don’t really need, figure out how you can make the rest, or buy used.
2. Get an empty reusable trash bag. For today, fill it up with all your personal trash and food waste. (I already threw an apple core away in the normal trash! Oops!)
3. For this whole week, try not to shop for new items.

• stuff to try making natural deodorant (ok, yesterday I caved and bought arm and hammer natural deodorant. hopefully it works.)
• leg wax (definitely don’t truly need this)
• food items with disposable containers (specifically on my list are things like oatmeal and soy milk.) – undecided, may just do without
• food from restaurants/conference that may come with disposable plates/containers – I’m going to a three day conference this week. I don’t know yet how food will be handled
• Vermiculture bins! I may check out goodwill to see what they have.

I think that’s my full list. I didn’t put food that I buy containerless in there – I’m thinking I’m going to count coffee gotten with my own mug and produce bought without a bag as non-consumeristic behavior. I’m already starting to feel guilty about the coffee, I may have to nix that one. I feel like my list is really short – surely I buy more stuff than I think. It will be interesting to add on to my list of things I think I need as the week goes on – and to see what choice I make when confronted with it.

It’s a great day to rake leaves – and then go on a trail run with the puppies!