I discovered zero waste in February of 2017, after taking a class at the Seward Co-Op called “Zero Waste Grocery Shopping”. I left that class shocked at what I had learned about waste (every plastic toothbrush I’ve ever used is sitting in a landfill, WHAT?!). I vowed to move towards a waste-free lifestyle as soon as possible and immediately made a plan that I felt would help me do so.
I became so passionate (and obsessed) with moving towards zero waste that I forgot one important thing – I didn’t live by myself. My husband, Brett, lived (and lives) with me and was an equal member of the household. Brett hadn’t attended the zero waste class and therefore was missing that educational piece that had convinced me to live waste-free. But I felt that if I was exhibiting the behavior he would follow, right? Ummmm nope. Turns out when you try to change the way someone lives overnight without their knowledge or consent, they don’t like it.
Brett and I grew frustrated with each other. I was mad that he wasn’t immediately on board with these big changes I wanted to implement. He was annoyed that he couldn’t bring cereal into the house without me freaking out about the plastic. Looking back, I made a lot of mistakes that didn’t set either of us up for success. I should have included him more in the planning, been more patient, spent more time exploring the basics of zero waste with him, etc.
Lot’s of people have told me that they struggle with getting their loved ones, roommates, housemates, partners, etc. to join them in their journey to live waste-free. I get it. It’s disheartening to feel that someone so close to you doesn’t support you, or that they aren’t on board with something that means so much to you. But you have to do your best to understand where they are coming from and work with them, not against them. It’s a journey, after all.
Here are some things I have learned along the way from my personal experience with my family. I hope this advice helps you communicate and encourage others in your life to join you in your journey.
1.Educate.
Take the time to ensure that people understand why you are choosing to move towards a waste-free lifestyle. I recommend showing them a video from Bea Johson about the basics of zero waste or a video of Lauren Singer talking about her realization of her behavior and how it relates to waste. Articles such as National Geographic’s Planet or Plastic are filled with facts and stunning imagery and can also help you get your message across.
2. Start slow.
Just because you are ready to jump in feet first, doesn’t mean that others are. Make sure to start this process slowly and allow room for others to move at their speed. If you force people to move quicker than they are comfortable, you run the risk of alienating them.
3. Make a plan together.
If you want to outline a plan to move your household towards zero waste, include everyone involved in the planning process. This way, everyone knows what is expected of them and has a voice. An outline of my plan is available here.
4. Let people keep things they love.
Striving for zero waste means that you will have to switch out products you currently use (and probably love) for new products. This process takes time and effort. If someone in your life is moving towards zero waste and has made big strides in waste reduction, but loves their plastic shampoo and doesn’t want to give it up, don’t give them grief about the shampoo. After all, this journey is about waste reduction and reducing waste, not perfection.
5. Celebrate and reward one another.
Make this journey fun by setting zero waste goals and rewards. One goal might be to decrease your household waste by 25%, or to start a backyard composting bin, or to always bring your own to-go containers when you go out. Reward these milestones with a movie night with popcorn from the bulk aisle, a family picnic or outing, or a visit to your favorite coffee shop. Celebrating your milestones will continue to motivate you.
I hope this advice helps you and your loved ones.
If you want to explore more on this topic, Alyssa Erding from Zilchin Consulting is facilitating a class on this topic in the Tare Market space on June 13, 2019. Tickets are available as part of the the Tare Market crowdfunding campaign.