Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?
When it comes to recycling and composting, I am aggressively assertive. This comes from the belief that one of our greatest charges is being a steward of the Earth (from the Bible, some things you learn as a child really stick deep in your soul). I was raised on PSAs from Woodsy Owl and Smokey the Bear and have one grandmother who grew up during the Great Depression. Who needs Tupperware when you have coffee tins and margarine tubs?
Growing up poor, which I only fully realized later, also shaped my attitude towards recycling. Recycling was not just a moral duty but also an income stream. Stomping cans for the recycling center was a fun activity for me and my brothers, and a significant source of my spending money as a tween before my first real job. I also recall recycling newspaper bundles for a similar reason.
Since moving to the East Coast and having a partner who was raised here, addressing the mentality that the Earth doesn’t need to be taken care of (apparently, that’s a Vermont thing and not a Boston/Massachusetts thing) has been one of the things I won’t budge on. I am willing to spend the extra money for compostable disposable dishes and utensils for camping (or hot summer days), compostable food storage bags (I have tried the beeswax wraps, too), Earth-friendly cleaning supplies like Blueland laundry detergent, and even compostable dog wipes and poop bags made from post-consumer recycled plastic. All this composting is possible because of Bootstrap Compost (I am not at the point where I want to do it myself), and the City of Boston has rolled out residential compost pickup.
When it comes to shopping, I have had my reusable grocery bags for almost 20 years (thank you, Trader Joe’s!) and have recently given up disposable feminine care items. The Diva Cup is life-changing, but TBH, leak-proof period underwear is my favorite. If I am caught out unexpectedly, I hit a Target for Honey Pot pads.
Admittedly, there’s a contradiction in my actions when I order sustainable items from Amazon. I strive to buy direct as often as possible, but I also appreciate the convenience of Amazon’s subscribe and save feature, and I try to bundle items for delivery to minimize the environmental impact.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Living in the city, I also want to be in a neighborhood with a high walkability score or reasonably near public transit, and has bike lanes. After living carless in Los Angeles for two years, I know it’s possible.
Lastly, I have started giving my textiles to Helpsy to keep them from the landfill. Scheduling a pickup has been a relationship-saver since I would take FOREVER to take things to Goodwill.
The Wright Stuff 