Singer, L. (2014, November 18). I Haven’t Made Trash in Two Years. Here’s What My Life Is Like. Mind Body Green.
Retrieved August 14, 2015 from
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-16168/i-havent-made-any-trash-in-2-yearsheres-what-my-life-is-like.html
Plastic wrapping is the main product that covers daily products in the US, and plastic produces waste and the author, a 23-year-old woman from New York, of this article did not want to produce waste and live a life without producing waste. She started to use jars and bring her own bags to supermarkets to store food. Eventually she started to create her own beauty products, reducing the amount of plastic containers she had. The process of becoming waste free did take her a year to completely embody, but she writes that she is proud of her decision and continues to live by it.
This article demonstrates how some citizens of the US are completely dedicated to becoming waste free, and are frustrated with the amount of waste used in everyday products. Not all people in the US are like this, only a small percentage are, but with this article out, hopefully people will read and use some of the techniques to try and reduce their waste. The author’s commitment may encourage others to try and conserve and reduce their waste by bringing their own cloth bags to the grocery stores and to take other small steps in the direction of becoming waste free.
It takes a big commitment to go plastic free… we are surrounded by it in 21st century society. Great that a story like this is making news. Disposable plastic is truly a story of externalities and Tragedies of the Commons. It’s so cheap to make and use, but who cleans it up… and it lasts forever. Any ideas on how to reduce plastic for mainstream people who aren’t quite as committed as the person in your article?
Wow! Super interesting and inspiring article! This woman totally sets an example of how we should aspire to live our lives. However, it is not pragmatic that everyone put their normal lives on pause to dramatically reduce their ecological footprint with the reduction of plastic use. What do you suggest as a practical resolution to the problem of plastic?
I agree that her lifestyle is unachievable for most Americans, but I think her story demonstrates that simple measures can be considered in the household to reduce plastic use and waste.
It is more important that manufacturers and producers of goods reduce the plastic they use in their packaging. It is really difficult to cut out all plastic from our lives, it is used on everything. Do you think that the manufacturers and grocery stores should take more of a proactive approach to this matter, rather than relying on the consumer?
I do think that manufacturers and grocery stores should create more ecofriendly bags and products instead of relying of the consumer because it eliminates the opinion for the consumer to produce more waste.
The amount of plastic we use in the U.S. is scary. There is a trash accumulation the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean that is detrimental to the ecosystems it affects. It is important that we use more biodegradable products and cut down on plastic production until we no longer need it. One way would be to use synthetic plastics made from corn.
Corn is a vegetable that is used for many efforts to reduce waste, like you said they are using it for plastics and they are also using it for a fuel alternative. I hope in the future companies can use more of these alternative products to reduce their waste and consumers’ waste.