Waste-free challenge started
(SPOILER ALERT: This is an "operational" post- so it can be a bit boring. Not exactly the best piece of poetry I've ever conceived. Still worth reading, though...)
I will not buy any packaged food (and drinks) for the next 30 days
Why:
Because it's right. Although the impact of each individual action is minimal and I should spend my time in activities with more leverage, I believe there's simply no choice for me other than to act in a congruous way. Actually, once a routine and the mental discipline is in place, I believe this challenge is not going to require ANY time investment whatsoever!
Because it's going to be a fun learning experience: bringing more awareness, more (weird?) interactions... hopefully get others to think. I will see where the fallpits are, turn to the phylosophical side, explore the limits of our throaway society....
Definition of no waste:
All organic scraps and non-colored carton will be composted, so OK
Glass jars (tomato sauce) will be reused as food storage jars, so OK
Returnable beer bottles are OK: based on an internet search (I might be wrong), I assume that they are normally going to a rewashing process (rather than reprocessing of the glass which requires a lot of energy).
Most of the items that are considered recyclable from the municipality (ex: colored carton, some plastic cups/bottles, drinks containers, small glass jars, tin cans) are NOT OK. Recycling processes involving cutting down and reprocessing the material are energy intensive and inefficient (trust me, I am an engineer AND I have no vested interests).
Exceptions:
The rule is suspended during travel days and resumed after my return.
Shared meals with housemates are OK (as long as they are mostly made from non packaged food), because I cannot impose on others the same strict rules I impose on myself. Packaged food that has been recovered and was destined to the bin is OK too.
Why do I focus only on food and drinks? The amount of stuff that we eat and drink everyday is several kilos, and therefore the packaging that goes with it is the largest contributor to our landfills. Consumption of all the other things is minimal: toothpaste, shampoo, dishwashing liquid: they all last months. Moreover packaging for items that are non-food can be more easily made from recycled materials (law requirements on"food-grade" materials are very strict, making recycling difficult).
To conclude:
Be radical (go all the way in the chosen area, to gain insight and momentum) but also strategic with choices (to avoid overcomplication and loss of overall focus).
If not now, when..? If not us, who...?
