In this day and age, plastic seems inevitable. Plastics are found in the environment, in our food, clothing, hygiene products, and even, according to recent research, our bloodstream.
In the face of this universal struggle, two South Whidbey residents are determined to adopt a lifestyle that minimizes waste wherever possible, striving to meet a standard known as “zero waste.” Did.
According to the Zero Waste International Alliance, “zero waste” refers to the responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning or emitting them into the environment. to save resources.
Derek Hoshiko, a climate change activist from Clinton, has spoken out against oil transit agencies and banks that finance fossil fuels, testified to shut down coal export terminals, and lobbied Congress for clean energy.
He continues his commitment to his cause at home, doing most of the green housework for his family and housemates. He keeps a collection of different types of bins and bags, carefully separates household waste, and tries to come up with ways to reuse waste that ends up in landfills.
Without hesitation, he reached into the container and removed used cans, wrappers, lids, and other items from the container, all with no trace of food or mold.
He was looking wistfully at what might have been old laundry sheets or disposable wet towels, thinking of ways he could reuse them. Landfills are always at the bottom of the list of possibilities in his mind.
“If something is basically clean, you can think about what to do with it,” says Hoshiko, whose daily routine includes trash cleaning.
While it may be common sense to some, many people don't think twice before throwing dirty containers in the trash. However, the items must be empty, clean and dry, and a simple rinse and dry is sufficient, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
In fact, recycling facilities aren't cleaning recyclables, and food residue can grow mold and attract bacteria, rodents, and insects, contaminating the entire bin and making the material unrecyclable. , the authorities said.
In 2006, Hoshiko began hosting zero waste events. The event produced less than one bag of trash for a dinner of 300 people.
Repurpose, the grassroots zero-waste organization he co-founded with Joanne Greene, is launching a reuse and recycling program for hard-to-recycle items in the county in 2023, according to a press release. In December, the organization partnered with Washington State University's Waste Wise program to host a zero-waste Nutcracker show at South Whidbey High School.
An artist, Green enjoys using his creative talents to make the most of trash.
At home in Langley, Greene keeps containers filled with random, seemingly useless items that students at Greene Art Lab, her art education business, can use to make toys and decorations.
Mr. Green lives in a 16-unit cohousing community. There, neighbors grow food together, share tools and appliances, and give new life to unwanted items by using old playground slides and turning large tires into quirky outdoor tables. I'm blowing it.
Her home is less than 700 square feet, which she says is helping her continue on her zero-waste path.
“The more space you have, the more stuff you fill it with,” Green says. He used to shop as a way to cope with stress.
Citing an article he read a while back, Hoshiko said that people spend a lot of time thinking about the things they want to buy, but they spend much less time thinking about what they're going to do with them once they're done buying them, or they spend less time thinking about them at all. No, he said. .
Mr Green said he wanted society to move towards a circular economy, where materials and products are reused and recycled.
“I wish we had stopped all production for three years,” she said. “We probably have enough to last us for more than three years.”
In a highly consumerist economy where things are consumed and thrown away, Hoshiko believes there is a need to educate people about the importance of making responsible choices and coming together to lead change.
The problem isn't just in the pipeline from stores to landfills. Behind the attractive appearance of a product in a store or on a website is often the environmental damage caused by the extraction of natural resources and the production and transportation of that product.
“This is essentially a completely unsustainable situation that we have found ourselves in,” Hoshiko said.
There are many ways to live a greener life, one step at a time.
Wherever possible, Green and Hoshiko buy products in bulk using reusable containers, make salad dressings and hummus at home, compost food scraps, and create plastic-free laundry and dishwasher pods. I'm using.
If a child's toy breaks, Hoshiko fixes it. Sometimes all you need is a new battery. When her clothes get torn, she lets Green fix them.
When she needs something, she thrifts or searches the “Whedbey Island Buy Nothing'' Facebook group. There, users can post things they would like to give as gifts or share with others. It's also a way to build and strengthen community, she said. In some cases, they've adopted abandoned items found in alleys, such as skillets and toasters.
To avoid impulsive and wasteful purchases, Hoshiko asks herself if she really needs them, and ultimately chooses to spend her money on experiences with her family.
Greene believes Island County should declare a climate emergency, which would help allocate funding for zero waste efforts, while Langley County, which has already made this declaration in 2021. I think we should pass a zero-waste ordinance that bans single-use plastics.
Hoshiko believes that one solution to a cleaner world is to eliminate landfills and remove trash cans. Only then, he says, will people start making conscious decisions about the trash they produce and send to landfills.
With billions of people living in a world that many experts say is on the brink of climate change, it can be discouraging to take the time to rinse, reuse, and properly dispose of trash. There may be some people.
But as Hoshiko and Green learned firsthand, one person can make a big difference by raising awareness and setting an example for others. Only then can people come together to hold those in power accountable.