Volume 06

come to terms with passing up what ever is being offered
out of the plastic cup. There are useful websites to look
at for inspiration. I was surprised to find that there are
a plethora green alternatives to plastic. Websites such as
http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/store/ and
http://www.trashisfortossers.com/ offer recipes, ideas,
and purchasable products.
“Besides, environmentalism
is sexy. ”
“Trash is for tossers” is especially interesting because it
is a blog by Lauren Singer. Lauren Singer, Brooklyn NY,
has spent the past two years creating almost zero trash.
Singer was an environmentalist major in college and she
found it more than necessary to not only believe in her
values but also live by them. When she moved to Brooklyn
she down sized and started her life over by living
sustainably and creating alternatives to create zero waste.
The only waste she has accumulated regularly, are the
stickers on fruits and vegetables and condoms.
In my sweatshop free article I discussed how the cost
of fair trade clothing in comparison to other clothing
averaged out to be the same. The same goes for a plastic
free life style. Razors for instance, are gendered to
increase profit. Razors are purchased semi regularly and
are made of plastics that cannot be broken down. They
usually end up in oceans and landfills. I began shaving
when I was about 12. (It was terrifying but all my friends
were doing it). For the past eight years I had bought
razors once every other month for about $7. In short,
I have spent nearly $360 on razors. I could have spent
that money on a plane ticket, VIP passes to a music
festival, pay for college tuition, or replace the alternator
in my car. Buying a chrome, stainless steel razor costs
about $45 and is a onetime buy that can be used for
years. When I include items like tooth brushes, plastic
sandwich bags, beauty products, plastic water bottles,
feminine products, bags, gift wrapping, etc. etc. etc.
etc. The numbers add up quickly and all of the sustainable
products that seamed expensive at first now appear
to be freeing.
Rather than looking at this as an animal life style of
adaptation, it’s just a way of being aware of our surroundings
and respecting the earth. The percentage of
my time on earth is miniscule in comparison to human
existence. Yet, the choices I make on trash lasts for decades.
We have the power to say yes and a responsibility
to say no to the things we do not need. Having less has
made me feel less jaded. With each Item I have donated
and discared I feel as though I can breathe easier, and
the things I do own I cherish. By owning less clothes I
tend to only own things I absolutely love, which makes
me feel good because each day I know I will be comfortable.
With fewer options I don’t feel as stressed in the
morning wondering what I am going to wear. Although
it sounds silly, those extra ten minutes has helped a lot
with getting ready for class or sitting down to eat breakfast
in less of a rush. With fewer plastics, and consuming
buys, I take less trips to the store, leaving my agenda
with one less errand and one less concern. When I
switched to fair trade clothing and began thinking in
terms of practicality I realized I don’t need eight tops
with different animals and inspirational quotes on them.
The same goes for my garbage trail. I don’t need trash,
and neither do you.
-----Besides, environmentalism is sexy. Especially if the
only trash you leave behind are condoms.