The Week Without Trash Wraps Up

So living completely without trash is a bust.

My downfall started Thursday at a trade show, when a free grilled cheese sandwich appeared at my booth at 2:30 p.m. after I hadn't eaten lunch... on a styrofoam plate.

Compromises had to be made Friday for free decaf at Caribou, too. And/or a box of Junior Mints (I swear I haven't had them for years. Something about not being able to have them did me in).

WALL-E is sad about my lack of willpower. Image from www.firstshowing.net

But! There are several useful lessons I learned from my week "without trash":

1. Buying bulk foods is really fun and easy (and cheap).

2. Cooking at home and then taking leftovers for lunch in a pyrex is delicious, cheap, and trashless.

3. Trash = money. The less trash I throw away, the less money I spend (I saved SO MUCH this week).
- I didn't eat out or pay for coffee.
- I bought more basic foods at the grocery store, which aren't taxed the same way as processed foods.
- I planned my eating a lot more carefully and wasted a lot less food.

4. Napkins, towels, and rags cut from old t-shirts are better than paper products.

5. If the produce will be peeled, it doesn't need a plastic bag.

6. A worm bin would greatly reduce the amount of trash I produce.

I'm relieved to be able to guiltlessly eat chocolate and cheese again, but I think I'll keep some of these habits going as long as I can. Buying in bulk really is fantastic - fewer preservatives, less packaging, and you control the amount you buy. Amazing!

If you have kids in schools, check out this article about encouraging your school to weigh its trash.