In 2012, Lauren Singer, then an environmental studies major at NYU, began documenting her journey towards a “zero-waste” lifestyle on her blog, Trash Is for Tossers. Part of her master plan was keeping track of every tiny bit of trash she accumulated in a single mason jar as way to keep track of her garbage footprint.

“I was a die-hard activist,” Lauren said. “I had been telling people how to live sustainably, but I wasn’t living in a way that aligned with what I cared about. I felt like a hypocrite, so I decided to stop using plastic.”

Over six years later, the 25-year-old woman is still packing that same mason jar with clothing tags, produce stickers, plastic straws, and other non-recyclable, non-compostable items. She’s also founded the Package Free Shop in Brooklyn, New York (with an equally robust online store), that provides sustainable alternatives to household items.

Saying goodbye to plastic

It all started when she was studying Environmental Science at New York University, when she discovered her passion for sustainability was limited to the classroom.

“One day I went home after class and opened my fridge to make dinner, and I realized that every single thing that I had in there was packaged in plastic.”

It was a light-bulb moment for Singer, who quickly decided to make some changes — first by going plastic-free, and then by committing to a zero-waste lifestyle.

‘I’m incredibly lazy’

With plastic bags, bottles and cutlery becoming part of everyday life, it may feel like drastic changes have to be made in order to “go green,” but Singer believes anyone can do it.

“I am incredibly lazy — I would never live a zero-waste lifestyle if it meant spending extra time doing things to live this lifestyle. Contrary to what people think or might assume it’s actually very easy.”

It’s about making small changes. For example, if you order a drink at a bar, just ask the bartender to not put a straw in your drink, Singer suggests. When you go shopping, take a cloth bag with you. And if you can’t find toothpaste that doesn’t come in a plastic tube, make your own.

“Everyone thinks it’s really hard to make your own toothpaste but I think it’s hard to go and buy my own,” says Singer.

“I would have to get dressed, walk to the store, buy toothpaste, walk back — and I’ve spent US$8 and wasted 30 minutes of my day. Whereas if I make my own toothpaste, it’s three ingredients, I can do it naked in my kitchen and it takes me 30 seconds and doesn’t cost more than 50 cents.”

So ... what’s in the jar?

From ditching packaging to making her own products, Singer has become an expert in living waste-free. But she still accumulates the odd bit of plastic — even if it’s only enough to fit in a 480ml jar.

Little stickers on fruit and veg can’t be recycled, and although Singer only buys clothes from secondhand stores, the bits of plastic connecting the price tags also go straight in the jar. “I like to collect my trash just because it helps me see what problems are difficult to avoid.”

Check your trash

One of the ways Singer hopes to solve the landfill problem is to inspire people to cut down on their waste.

She says the easiest way to begin a sustainable lifestyle is just to start. Whether it’s drinking from a reusable bottle or visiting the farmers’ market, you have to make a first move, no matter how small.

Second, go through your trash and see what you’re throwing away. If there’s lots of food waste consider doing small, regular shops to avoid food going moldy.

Third, change the products you use. Try brushing your teeth with a bamboo toothbrush, washing with hard soap rather than bottled products, and cleaning your house using vinegar instead of commercial chemicals. You may even find these options work out cheaper.

(SD-Agencies)