01.16.2016

1650

So I filled out the “About” section of my website yesterday and I know I wrote that I’m trying to live a zero waste lifestyle. I use the word trying because the system isn’t perfect. As we all change and get older, our needs change, whether it be mental needs, health needs or the needs of our loved ones. So this is the trash I’ve accumulated so far in 2016:

I started trying to live a zero waste lifestyle in 2010 and over the years my system became more refined. I found better alternatives for current products I use and even had to opt out of certain products. To give you a better perspective of what I gave up, I made a list: (of what I could remember)

Bathroom In The Past:

1. Tampons (Tampax)
2. Scented bedroom spray (Bed Bath & Beyond)
3. Bug spray for your body (OFF)
4. Face wash (Clearsil)
5. Deodorant (Secret Invisible solid)
6. Toothpaste (Colgate)
7. Toothbrushes (made of plastic that would end up in the landfill)
8. Candles (Bed Bath & Beyond)
9. Band aids (BAND-AID)
10. Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
11. Nail polish (from wherever)
12. Nail polish remover (store brand)
13. Shampoo bottles (Garnier)
14. Conditioner bottles (Garnier)
15. Harmful bathroom cleaning sprays (Scrub/409)
16. Toilet cleaner (Scrubbing Bubbles)
17. Jewlery cleaning liquid (La Sonic Jewelery Cleaner Concentrate)
18. Cotton balls (store brand)
19. Cotton swabs to clean my ears (Q-tips)
20. Candles (to make the bathrom smell nice)
21. Fancy body lotions from (Victoria’s Secret)
22. Face lotion (Neutrogena)
23. Rubbing alcohol (store brand)
24. Toilet Paper (Store brand- packaged in plastic)
25. Make-up (chap stick/lipstick/eye shadow/eyeliner/mascara)
26. Disposable razors (Gillette)
27. Dental Floss (Oral-B SuperFloss Dental Floss)

Bathroom During the Present: (Product details can be found under: Store> Store Link)

1. Vinegar
2. Toilet paper (wrapped in paper)
3. Dr. Bronner’s soap bars (which I use for 6 different household cleaning tasks)
4. Deodorant crystal
5. Baking Soda
6. Stainless steel seasoning container (to contain my baking soda)
7. Compostable toothbrushes
8. Citrus essential oil
9. Keeper Moon Cup
10. Dental floss (ECO-dent)
11. Bulk lotion
12. Gauze and paper tape
13. ALBA Sunblock
14. Pumice Stone & Wash rag
15. Sage leaves (I burn sage to release the aroma and use it as a cleansing method )

I think that’s pretty much the entire list. If I’ve left out anything I’ll come back to edit it. This is what my bathroom looks like now:

From the list of items I used to buy, the one criteria I needed each product to pass was the plastic packaging issue. Now I buy items packaged in glass or stainless steel OR paper (and not the glossy kind of paper- just raw paper). I have seen bulk soap sold in stores, but they always have a sticker price tag attached to them, which is not recyclable. I use my Dr. Bronner’s soap for cleaning my bathroom, as a body wash, as a face wash, pet shampoo, laundry detergent, and dish washing soap. With the amount of use I get from one bar of soap, I think this investment pays for itself. I now only use candles in my emergency kit in case of a power outage. My list also was tested with the help of another blog called “The Zero Waste Home” with Bea Johnson and her family. I followed a majority of what she suggested but there were a few that I did not agree with. If you want to check them out, here is the link The Zero Waste Home

There are a few hang ups with this system that still doesn’t make it completely 100% zero waste, such as sunblock and make up. However I did discover a company called TerraCycle who will let you mail them certain trash to be reused into other items as long as you join one of their brigades. Check them out here TerraCycle- Outsmart Waste Currently I’m on their wait list for their Personal Care and Beauty Brigade.