Realistic Zero Waste | Non Esthetic Reality of Eco Living (upcycling, recycling, composting)

I feel like in the zero waste world there are people on insta/pintrest/the internet in general presenting this life style as if it’s always pretty and perfect. But it’s not. Zero waste is not about looking a certain way. It’s not about having only a quart size mason jar that contains a year's worth of trash. That is not an accurate depiction of low waste living. …definitely not in my life. So this video is to serve as an honest look at how messy and ugly living sustainably can be. And the reason I’m doing videos like this, is to help drop the guilt or frustration that some of us might feel when we don’t meet those unrealistic standards. “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” - Ann Marie Bonneau

Music:
1983 - Ben Elson
Mint Conditions - Dusty Decks
Markers - Homebody
Assorted Berries - Dylan Sitts
More Than Right (Instrumental Version) - Paisley Pink

[LiliansGardens]

I like zero waste person who is able to adjust the other family members who cannot strictly adapt. In my household every one is amazed when i repurpose items and everyone starts to enjoy the alternative use. Thanks for sharing your own journey. Take care.

[debbiekoortzen]

Oh I loved this video. I try to reuse, recycle, rethink, repair and compost as much as possible. I try to reuse the bags food come in. Often they are sturdy and sometimes even have a zip thingy. I label them clearly and get another few uses out of them. Haven't bought freezer bags in ages. I truly enjoy your videos, thank you. 😊

[ritalynb]

Sadly, where I live we can not recycle plastic, glass, metal or textiles!! 😭 I thrift/buy second hand, compost, repurpose or reuse anything I can and try NOT to buy packaged products at the grocery store. It is so FRUSTRATING!! After 40 years of reduce, reuse, recycle, there are still SO FEW options!

[terryhenderson]

Corporations also have a term called "complete use" which pre-dates the zero waste movement. Under complete use, the concept is to squeeze every piece and part of the materials being used into a production product; this generates less waste which in turn can be cost accounted into manufacturing cost savings. Ex) One company used to cut parts from full sheets of material. Big parts cut from full sheets with scrap being generated and multiple small parts grouped by final use criteria from individual sheets of material with scrap being generated. When the cost of the sheets of material went up, they found ways to cut small parts from scrap being generated when cutting big parts. They also changed how they cut thier multiple small parts so as to maximize the use of the material rather then grouped by final use.

Then, as transportation and disposal costs rose, "complete use" expanded to include ways to use the scrap and waste produced. In some cases, this meant branching out into an additional product line, selling the waste for use by others, or simply finding a way to give thier waste away for use by others.

Corporate zero waste came out of the complete use era.

[arwan]

Just found your channel and I already love it. Keep making more videos. The whole takeout trash was inspiring. Gotta start doing this!!

[jayneofalltrades]

I love the fact that you adapt your processes to incorporate your boyfriends non zero waste habits! Being the eco one in my house means I can't make them do it... But I can adapt what they have to be useful to the planet! You are the first person I've seen who has acknowledged this!

[Angeegabs]

I love this! So much of zero-waste is about aesthetics vs practicality. I really like how knowledgeable you are too (I had no idea the term started for corporations).

The soap slivers are brilliant!

[creativeadventureswithdeni]

I love this video. I got lots of ideas about what I can do with stuff I normally throw away. Thanks!

[caroleminvielle]

You just inspired me to take a little mesh bag that came with garlic to contain some homemade soap for a scrubbie. It is plastic, but I’m glad to reuse it. It was on my desk for craft use.

[respondstonancy]

I haven't used paper towels in about 2 years but i don't think it would've been possible if I stopped eating takeout. i use the napkins from takeout food for any disposable paper towel job, keep the utensils for guests or crafts, and use the paper bags for trash in the car. I've even used the aluminum lips from chipotle as baking trays a few times lol

[lesliealarrazabal]

Love it!!, I'm glad that you decided to post it because you are also inspiring others with your content <3

[lindabonomi]

great video!!! We need more of these ideas

[Amalkavs]

our lives might not be glamurous, but we trying our very best to do something good for the planet, so I guess that's a pass? hahah :)

[BeccaDoesStuffYT]

Hello, everyone! I’m sorry about the exposure. I look a little washed out. 🫢I hope you’re all having an awesome Monday!

[terryhenderson]

It seems as if the minimalist, de-clutter, and zero waste movements got captured by folks trying to sell stuff.

[D_TheMessyPerfectVLOG]

Can you do a video on how to get started with composting? And how that works? 💖

[ashleyannbates]

My husband hates when I keep empty containers. My drawers and cabinets are full of them to be reused. I also use them, just like you do, for almost everything and anything. I love doing that and even if my husband hates it
I will keep doing it just to piss him off lol

[priskilaa]

I think we can also use old socks for the soap bag

[mariamulas]

I love this. I wish it was easier for me, but in my country, exactly in the city I live in, recycling is not a thing, also I still live with my parents so we create a lot of waste and it's really hard not to.

[terryhenderson]

We fail to understand that humans are critters within an ecosystem. All organic entities utilize inputs and produce outputs. In an ideal and balanced ecosystem system one entity's waste or excess becomes becomes another critters input. In the world of nature, often there become imbalances due excessive growth of one entity but there are systems in place tomp reduce populations, utilize extras, and other wise form a correction. A close examination of what happens to and in a compost pile is a good example.

Even if we humans each had our own little space of ground on which to live fully sustainable in a fully balanced ecosystem, we would create waste; in a fully balanced system, our waste would become the very food and produce the habitat for some other critter. In the very real world, humans have questionablely utilized more than thier fair share of resources, questionablely created more waste than thier ecosystem can deal with, and created waste which the rest of thier ecosystem cannot utilize. I say questionablely because while a growing number of people believe it, there are still a number who do not. However if individuals look at thier sustainability profiles most of us have things we can do to make our lives more sustainable. And, unless you live on an island this must exist in a world that wasn't built for zero waste in most areas. It is what it is and the best we can do is the best we can do. But, if others are working towards sustainability, each in thier own individual ways it adds up.