A life without trash possible or not?

What if you could live without making any trash? Would you do it? Or more importantly, could you do it?

Just a few months ago, a restaurant in Chicago made international headlines by going completely trash-free, having produced absolutely no garbage in over two years! Everyone loved the idea and commended the restaurant for its success but never thought it would be something they could do themselves. At least, that was until young New Yorker Lauren Singer came along. Inspired by the Environment Studies course she undertook at New York University (NYU), Singer hasn’t produced any trash in over two years and her story isn’t what one would expect.

It began one day during her course, when Singer opened her refrigerator and realised that everything in it was contained in some form of disposable packaging. The realisation made Singer — who referred to herself as a ‘Green Girl’ — feel like a hypocrite as she was leading a lifestyle which harmed her surroundings and the environment in general. It was then that she knew she had to mend her ways. Gradually, she eliminated all possible sources of waste from her entire life, one baby step at a time.

The first step was removing all plastic and packages products from her residence and replacing them with handmade cloth bags that could hold her shopping. She even started buying clothes from second-hand stores and formulating her own personal care products instead of buying them. A major part of Singer’s quest was economising: she sold off all old, unnecessary items and refused everyday items like straws, plastic bags, plates and cutlery completely. In fact, she even said that she refused to accept paper receipts from the retailers she visited!

Singer also saves a considerable amount of money by sticking to a simple grocery list, buying food in bulk and staying away from unnecessary or expensive items. She subsists on a diet of unpackaged vegetables, fruits and whole grains from local farmers. One weakly trip to the supermarket is enough for Singer and she is rid of having to clear up boxes and trash as well.

Of course, implementing such a radical change was not an easy feat but fortunately, Singer has emerged successful, healthier and happier than ever before. She admits that she never anticipated that her life would improve so much. Finally living a life in line with what she believes in, Singer hopes to inspire others to follow in her footsteps via her interactive blog, ‘Trash is for Tossers.’ Singer has also established her own, zero-waste company entitled ‘The Simple Co’ which sells handmade, organic products she makes herself. Through her efforts, Singer has successfully proved that a life without waste is very much possible. Perhaps we ought to take a page from her book and try to curtail the trash we produce in our own homes as well.

Quick tips to reduce trash

•  Use cotton mesh bags instead of plastic ones when shopping.

•  Invest in re-usable glass jars and containers to store food items.

•  Buy groceries in bulk instead of going to the supermarket every day.

•  Minimize the waste produced by setting up a compost system in your backyard. This waste can also be used as a fertilizer for grass.

•  Prepare everyday food items like yogurt, bread and cereals from scratch instead of buying them. This will help you avoid packaging and the harmful chemicals packaged food often contains.

•  Remove disposable materials like paper towels, napkins, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc. from your life.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, January 4^th, 2015.