How I Fit 5 Years of My Trash In This Jar

Summary

Lauren Singer, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, and founder of the zero-waste lifestyle blog 'Trash is for Tossers', shares her journey towards sustainability. An Environmental Studies major at NYU, she was inspired to make a change after realizing her own consumption habits were as harmful as those she criticized. Singer transitioned from a plastic-free to a zero-waste lifestyle, which involved composting, shopping at farmers' markets for packaging-free food, and creating her own beauty and cleaning products. She addresses common criticisms, such as managing menstruation and bathroom habits without waste, by using a menstrual cup and a bidet. Singer emphasizes the significant impact individuals can have on the environment and climate, encouraging small, collective steps towards reducing waste to make a substantial positive difference.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Lauren Singer is the founder of a blog called 'Trash is for Tossers' and a company called 'The Simply Co', promoting a zero-waste lifestyle.
• 🏛️ She was inspired to live a zero-waste lifestyle after realizing the contradiction between her environmental studies major and her own plastic use.
• 🎓 During her senior year at NYU, she was motivated to change her habits when she saw a classmate producing a lot of waste despite studying environmentalism.
• 🚫 Lauren decided to first go 'plastic-free' and then adopted a 'zero-waste' lifestyle to align her actions with her values of environmental sustainability.
• 🍱 She eliminated food packaging waste by composting, shopping at farmers markets, and making her own beauty and cleaning products.
• 🥤 To reduce waste, she avoids single-use items like straws and uses a menstrual cup to manage her menstrual cycle sustainably.
• 🚽 Addressing the criticism about toilet paper, she mentions using a bidet as an alternative to reduce waste.
• 🛍️ Lauren emphasizes the importance of being prepared with reusable items like stainless steel containers to prevent trash generation.
• 🌱 She believes that individual actions, such as reducing personal waste, can collectively have a significant positive impact on the environment.
• 👥 Initially, she thought political solutions were the answer to environmental problems, but now she recognizes the power of individual choices.
• 🇺🇸 She highlights that the average American produces 4.5 pounds of trash per day, contributing to climate issues, and advocates for small daily changes for a bigger impact.

Q & A

What is the name of Lauren Singer's blog?

Lauren Singer's blog is called 'Trash is for Tossers'.

What is the name of the company Lauren Singer founded that makes organic vegan laundry detergent?

The company is called 'The Simply Co'.

What is the name of the zero waste lifestyle store that Lauren Singer has?

The zero waste lifestyle store is called 'Package Free'.

What book influenced Lauren Singer's passion for environmentalism?

Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring' influenced Lauren Singer's passion for environmentalism.

How did Lauren Singer realize she was not living in an environmentally friendly way?

Lauren Singer realized she was not living in an environmentally friendly way when she saw all the plastic packaging in her fridge and around her apartment.

What was the first step Lauren Singer took towards a zero waste lifestyle?

The first step Lauren Singer took was to go plastic free.

What are the three main sources of trash that Lauren Singer identified?

The three main sources of trash are food waste, food packaging, and product packaging.

How does Lauren Singer eliminate food packaging waste?

Lauren Singer eliminates food packaging waste by shopping at the farmers market for unpackaged food.

What does Lauren Singer use instead of single-use menstrual products?

Lauren Singer uses a menstrual cup, which is a washable silicone cup.

What alternative does Lauren Singer propose for toilet paper to maintain a zero waste lifestyle?

Lauren Singer uses a bidet as an alternative to toilet paper.

How does Lauren Singer feel about the impact of individuals on environmental problems?

Lauren Singer believes that individuals have a huge impact on the world and the climate, and that every small step taken by individuals can make a big positive impact.

What is the average amount of trash produced per person per day in the United States according to the script?

According to the script, the average American produces four and a half pounds of trash per day.