those of you who have been following me for a while know that I provide tips and resources for people seeking to reduce their footprint. But sometimes, many times actually, a person who is just as far as long as I am in some category assumes that I am somehow way further along.
Which in this case is definitely not the case. Avoiding single-use plastics and other single-use crap feels like a blood sport at times lol! Anyway her comment is in the screenshot, and my response is pasted below.
This extremely well-meaning individual is beating herself up trying to so-called to “get to zero,” and I guess assuming that I am somehow at zero. There is no such thing as zero. There’s a reason why one of my favorite groups is called journey to zero waste.
The plastic thing is something that you just can’t beat yourself up about. The retailers and restaurants and everyone pretty much shove it down our throats. Sure, do what you can, but probably all the tips I can offer are things you have already thought of. And please don’t think I’m anything close to zero in this department!
Some things that help: buying from local farms, buying from a local dairy that still uses milk bottles including exchanging them, and buying from a local retailer who is super on board with avoiding plastic. Also, always remembering my cloth bags when I shop, and always remembering my reusable takeout containers when I go to restaurants. And always remembering to not ask to ask for no straw. That said, I don’t always remember, and even when I remember they sometimes still stick the straw or the plastic utensils or whatever in there. Hope this helps! Also, do you belong to any of the reuse and recycle groups here on Facebook? They are super inspirational and lots of emotional support. I wouldn’t be able to function without them, because I sometimes drive myself crazy about the plastic!
I share your aspiration about not wanting to send it past your yard, but honestly, reading the level you’re at, it doesn’t sound like I’m any further along than you are. We do the best we can. And as we normalize speaking up about this, we might help shift the envelope in our area. For example, if 10 customers in a day walk into a retailer and then they refuse to buy something that’s packaged in plastic, it might have an effect. Especially if it’s a local business as opposed to a big corporate supermarket etc.
I’m a huge advocate for personal responsibility and doing something everything we can as an individual, but that can only take us so far. The next step is speaking up about it and influencing the people around us. Which can be hard, because one gets a lot of pushback and condescension, as you have surely discovered yourself!
PS. And on a meta note, social media can be very misleading as we know. We only see peoples outside’s that they present. As an influencer, even though I’m just a micro influencer with a micro following, I have in recent years become acutely conscious of how I have unintentionally contributed to people being demoralized. I’m doing my best to remedy that going forward.
PPS. If You have been following me for a while, and I am still the only environmental educator/inflencer, or even just the main one that you know, please start following other people, such as the many whose work that I share in here and on my other platforms. Many many people are a lot further along than I am. And can help you!