Zero Waste Accessibility

Waste is accessible to everyone. However, not everyone can avoid waste. Through reading other blogs (white blogs) I have come to the understanding that though living zero waste can be economical in the long-term, the act of living zero waste needs a specific accessibility to types of grocery stores or bulk stores, specific types of organic or expensive supplies, and is very time-consuming. With more wealth, transportation options, and the materials to create essentials instead of frequently buying them, a sense of inaccessibility comes to play. The environmental movement as seemed inaccessible in some regards since its creation. White environmentalism is a real, but sometimes not considered, the problem with environmentalism and environmental justice. Actions like “not in my backyard” create hostile and unsafe living situations mainly for people of color. Also, putting coal or oil refineries, landfills, and pipelines in low-income neighborhoods perpetuates stereotypes about hygiene and increases health issues (highly expensive health issues) in communities that already are looked down upon.

These thoughts have been filling my mind while I am learning more about media representation of environmental justice (EJ). With waste production, if no middle-class people of color are visibly taking the 30-day zero waste challenge, then what does that say about the whole zero waste movement. It is found that most people concerned about climate change are middle to low-income individuals that are neighborhoods that are directly impacted by climate change right now. The people who are the most passionate about making a change are not given the opportunity to make these changes due to a lack of access to cloth bags and bulk order stores. This is not EJ. Giovanna Di Chiro, in the book Keywords, explains the intentions of EJ as an “analysis of interconnectedness and strove to dismantle the oppressive binary systems that construct divisions between “local and global,” “economic and ecological,” and “human and environmental.” (p 102) This heavy statement essentially defines that EJ is rooted in finding these intersections between environmentalism, racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. Chiro highlights that economics and oppression are ruining human relationships to each other and the natural world at large. How can living a life with minimal waste be more accessible?

Education is always the first step. The individuals blogging and vlogging about their zero-waste tiny house in some economically inclined area need to work on directing their messages to individuals that may not be able to live completely zero waste due to their housing location or access to travel, and these individuals need to help others minimize waste in ways that are financially and socially responsible. Not everyone can use a bamboo toothbrush, but almost everyone can learn which products are made of recyclable plastics or are made of glass that can be returned. After this project, I would love to find and work with successful and mindful organizations that are proving these resources. However, with all, it is important to also education individuals of high or higher economic standing. This discussion so far has left out the individuals that can more easily live zero waste lifestyles but do not because of the easiness of using packaging and trash or the lack of awareness. There are two sides of education and discussion that are needed to lower trash production (both of recyclable goods and trash items). I am in no way claiming that one is more important than the other, but rather that one is more accessible and one is more directed towards individuals that want to make a change. Education is not the only solution. There also needs to be actions towards food accessibility in a way that provides neighborhoods that are located in food deserts with minimal waste items that can be used to the advantage of the consumers. This is a necessary corporation based change.

As For me, I am trying to talk to everyone I can about the awareness of trash and where it goes. I have a conversation with my mother the other day. She has lived in the same city her entire life and did not know where her trash goes. I believe too many people do not know where their trash goes due to privilege. These same individuals may not know how much of their trash is still on this earth and what the implications of that existence are. This project is important to me as an activist and an education because I understand what is happening and I realize how important it is to spread this knowledge. My hope is that in the coming weeks and can appropriately convince the people I am around almost every day to make a conscious effort to lower waste in a way that does not shame their current actions. Talking to friends and peers is such an easy thing to do. I now feel called to do it.

Work Cited:

Adamson, Joni, William A. Gleason, and David N. Pellow. Keywords for environmental studies. New York: New York U Press, 2016. Print.