Friday, May 17, 2013

Takeout

One of the biggest challenges for achieving a Zero Waste home is take out or leftovers from dining out.  How do you bring home the food without producing waste?  I have to admit, even as mindful as I am about it as of late, it's hard to come up with a solution for all cases.  I wanted to spend some time sharing some of my experiences, challenges and solutions since deciding to head down the road to zero.

During the school year, we have a pretty set routine when it comes to dining in and out, most of which is dictated by our oldest's schedule given she her after school activities.  In most cases, we have dedicated Tuesdays as "Chipotle night" and Thursdays as "Pizza night."  So, how do we get around the waste?  Here's are our solutions:

Chipotle: I want to start off by touting this food chain.  As you can see from visiting the site (http://www.chipotle.com), they are honed in on sustainability.  They strive to serve hormone free meets and dairy and local (in many cases organic) ingredients, yet they remain affordable.  This is my favorite "fast food" place for all of those reasons.  But getting to the good stuff, here's how I cut through the waste.  If you've ever visited Chipotle, you know that it is an order-at-the-counter place whereby they assemble as you go (paying at the end).  My solution is instead of telling them I want it to go (in which case, they would put my items in a disposable bowl with aluminum lid or aluminum foil), I tell them that I am dining in (in which they typically serve in reusable plastic red baskets like those pictured below with a think piece of tissue paper liner).  I then move each order (by grabbing each corner of the tissue) into my reusable glass bowls and return the plastic baskets.  So, technically, I do have one 12" x 12" piece of compostable tissue paper as waste for each order.  I do not ask for anything on the side so as to avoid plastic disposable condiment containers.

Pizza: We order from a place that is walking distance from our house.  I usually make a salad for us and have pre-prepare veggies for the kids to eat as sides to go along with our pizza.  The only disposed of items from this meal is the pizza box, which we recycle (if clean) or compost (if dirty).  Often times I recycle the top as it stays clean and compost the bottom.  The place we use puts a piece of tissue paper to line the bottom of the box and it often works to keep the box clean allowing us to recycle the entire thing.  If we want cheese or pepper flakes, we simply bring in our own container instead of using the plastic disposable condiment containers.  

Anecdote: This mindset for take out actually worked to provide a solution to one of my other zero waste challenges.  I was having the hardest time trying to figure out how to get grated Parmesan without packaging.   Unlike other cheeses like cheddar, provolone and Swiss, which are readily available at deli counters to be sliced or cut from bulk and put in a container that you bring in, Parmesan is not an option unless you go to a gourmet cheese store and pay $16-$20/pound.  [Can you hear me choking?].  I love my kids, but I am not spending that kind of money on a pasta topping.  So, I was at the pizza place one day and remembered to bring by container for extra cheese when the light bulb went on!  The solution to my Parmesan dilemma had been staring me in the face the whole time!  I don't know about you, but pizza places always give us more Parmesan and pepper flakes than we need.  So, now that one service if cheese from my pizza place in my reusable container is plenty for all of our grated cheese needs throughout the week.  Problem solved!  Moreover, I am now spending $0 for my grated Parmesan instead of $16-$20/pound.  Score!

TAKE OUT TIPS: 
  • REFUSE unneeded condiments and utensils.  And check your boxes before you leave the restaurant to make sure there aren't any hidden items that you don't want/need.
  • BYOB (bag) or container for your items, including condiments.
  • Use takeout or dining in as a resource for condiments that you can't otherwise get "waste free" at a store.  
  • Bring your own containers to use as doggie bags.  Otherwise, any leftover foods from dining in will get thrown out.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Paper vs. Plastic: How About Neither?

This week, I want to hone in on the topic of eliminating the use of disposable bags and containers for your shopping.  I will discuss solutions so you don't have to even worry about the paper vs. plastic dilemma.


Since having kids, but prior to my decision to strive for zero waste, I have been a conscious shopper in terms of what I bought.  I am a "label reader."  I am particular about what I am putting into and onto our bodies.  It has been a priority for me to opt for all-natural products that don't contain artificial ingredients (like artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners), preservatives or toxic ingredients (like parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, petroleum bi-products, etc.) because of what I believe to be the harmful effects they cause.  However, I never really thought about the issue of waste in what I chose to buy.  

I used to think that "recycling" was the solution, and prided myself in it.  Don't get me wrong, if the options are between something going in recycling or a land fill, that's a no-brainer.  But, imagine if you didn't have to even make the choice because you never had the packaging to begin with?  In addition to all of the resources it takes to make and distribute packaging, recycling requires its own slew of resources for collection, sorting, storage, shipping and repurposing of it.  What's more is that some thing may only be able to be repurposed once (and hence will end up in a landfill after its second life).  Finally, there are so many things that just simply can't be recycled.  So part of my road to zero waste is also reducing the amount of recycling I generate.

I am sure many may find the thought of bringing your own bags and containers to the store cumbersome, but I have actually found that this is not the case at all.  In fact, I find it so fulfilling when I discover a new solution in this regard.  I have the sense of accomplishment is the good I am doing and how it is getting me that much closer to "zero."  The only hard part is making sure to remember your reusable bags and containers, but I will discuss some helpful tips on that below.

The first and most obvious change is B-Y-O-B, as in "bag," not booze or beer. The comment I hear most often from people with the best of intentions is, "I keep forgetting to bring them."  I have made it a point to keep by bags and sometimes even extra storage containers in my car.  I have never had a shortage of bags.  Over the years we keep accumulating them, particularly from birthday parties and as freebies from seminars we have attended.  One of my favorites is a cooler typy canvas bag that was a freebie my husband got at some seminar.  It doubles as a cooler for bringing my meals to work (with me reusable sweat-free ice packs made from recycled plastic bottles).



While having bags in my car is never really an issue for me, making sure to have a particular type (bag, jar, bottle, storage container, etc.) or quantity of food storage items, is tougher.  I recently came up with a tip that has proved extremely helpful.  For a long time now, I have kept my grocery lists (one for each of the places I shop) on my smart phone.  When I am home and realize we have or are about to run out of something, I stop what I am doing and add it to my digital list.  Otherwise, I will likely forget to add it.  I never have to worry about forgetting my list because I always have it with me.

But now, I have taken it one step further.  Next to the items on my list, I make a notation if such item requires a particular type of reusable container that I need to bring with me.  So, for example, if I am getting cheese or meat, I will put "(C)" next to it to stand for container.  If I need a produce bag for something loose like bulk items or produce, I will denote with a "(B)".  If I need a jar, I will put "(J)" next to it, and so on.

Another really helpful habit that I have recently adopted is to ask myself before I walk out the door, "Am I running any errands today?"  If so, I look at my list, take a tally of each type storage item, and grab and put them in one of my shopping bags.

Since starting to do a lot of bulk bin shopping to avoid packaging, I have been faced with some challenges in terms of packaging.  For example, I didn't know at first what to use for liquids, powders and spices, as produce bags, glass snap lock top containers and swing top jars didn't really work.  In addition, I wasn't sure how you get the cashier to zero out the weight of the container itself so you are not over paying.  But I have managed to work out most if not all of those problems as set forth below.

In most places where you can buy in bulk, before you start shopping, you can have one of the cashiers weigh your container and mark the "tare" on it.  The tare is then deducted from the weight of the item (including the food) when you inevitably cash out at the end of shopping.  For glass containers, I use a sharpee (as it actually will wash off of glass even though it doesn't wash out of fabric) or a grease pencil (BTW - the peels from the grease pencil are compostable).  For my cloth bags, you can use a regular pencil, washable marker or washable crayon.  To be honest, if the bag is super light, like my produce bags are, I don't even bother getting a tare for heaver items like nuts, grains, etc.  In terms of the product number, I take a picture with my phone and rattle off the numbers to the cashier at checkout.

As I mentioned above, some items have proved trickier than others in terms of finding a packaging solution, but here's what I have come up with so far:

Mesh Bags: for produce and large bulk bin items that won't fall through holes like nuts, dried fruit, grains, dried legumes and granola (for which we go through a huge container every week):






Fine Textured Items: For things like flour, sugar, sea salt and protein powder, I have lined my above produce bags with leftover cotton fabric liners as seen below.  But any sort of finely woven bag or liner will do.  Alternatively, you can use a swing top jar like the one pictured below and just have the "tare" marked before filling it with the item.


Spices: I purchased plain spice bottles from specialtybottle.com.  Each costs a dollar and comes with a shaker fitment like the one seen below. I recently cleaned out my spice rack to find spices that had been expired for years (some over 10 years YUCK)!!  The great thing about buying your spices from bulk food stores is that you only buy what you need, so it doesn't go to waste by expiring.  In fact, my jars are usually only about 1/3 full.  I also use a sharpee or grease pencil to indicate the particular spice.  These again require you getting the "tare" beforehand.

Spice Jar Round Glass 4 oz w/ Shaker Fitment and White Lid
Liquids: For things like olive oil, agave, soy sauce and honey (all of which I can get from http://www.rainbowacresca.com in Culver City), I purchased swing top bottles from specialtybottle.com for between $1.80 or $2.42 each.


Meet/Cheese: This is by far one of the easiest solutions because the meat/fish/cheese counters have the scales on hand.  They simply weigh the container beforehand and then subtract such amount from the scale before adding the item I am buying. My containers of choice for such items are my glasslock containers because thy are leak proof and stack much easier than the swing top jars.

Milk/Yogurt/Juice/Soup: As mentioned in previous posts, I now buy all my milks, almond milk, juices and soups (unless I make homemade) in returnable glass jars from Whole Foods, Erewhon (which is 100% organic) or another specialty store.  If you don't have a store like Erewhon that sells premade items in returnable bottles, another solution is making your own from scratch and putting in a reusable container.  I used to do this for soups before discovering this convenient solution.  Every once and a while, I will treat myself to one of Erewhon's organic iced coffees with Vanilla Almond Milk.

 

Farmers Market Tips: Try to buy as much as you can from farmers market, preferably organic stands.  These will have traveled the least, which means they are fresher, last longer and take less resources to transport.  This is my preferred place to shop and I buy and EVERYTHING packaging free.  This is the only place I can find things for which stores do not have a container free solution, such as berries, eggs, cherry tomatoes.  I have them put berries in a sturdy storage container so they don't get smooshed by my heavier items, cherry tomatoes in a produce bag (which you can also get from one of your local salad bars), bread/pastries in a produce bag and eggs in an empty carton that I just bring back every week.  They then reuse the packaging that I opted not to use.

 

I must note that I still haven't found a solution for everything, but I am about 85-90% of the way there.  Until I start making my own salty snacks, like crackers (which is one of the few processed foods we buy, but something my kids really, really love), and condiments, I won't be able to reach 100% zero waste shopping. For now, if you feel forced to choose a packaged item for whatever the reason, choose one whose packaging is almost certain to be recycled, like glass and aluminum and AVOID PLASTIC.  There are certain things for which I still haven't found a solution, like the various vinegars (red wine, cider, rice and white), which are essential for making my homemade salad dressings and pickling brine.  Until I find one, I only buy these in glass jars and recycle them.

TIPS RECAP:

  • Keep your grocery list on your smartphone so you have it at all times
  • Mark a note next to an item that requires a particular type of reusable packaging you need to bring with you
  • Keep bags and extra containers/produce bags in each vehicle
  • Before you leave the house, ask yourself what errands you are running today, and check your list to make sure you have all your containers

This may seem daunting and a lot of work, but I PROMISE you it is not hard to make the switch.  Within a couple of weeks, you will get the hang of it and it will become second nature.

If you are trying to find a packaging-free solution, do note hesitate to reach out to me.  I would LOVE to help!!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Composting

Due to popular demand (as many people have been asking lots of questions lately), this post is dedicated to composting.  I want to qualify this from the get-go in that the rules with regards to composting depend in large part on where you are situated.  For example, the cities of Denver, San Francisco and Santa Monica are much more progressive in that you can compost any food waste (whether plant or animal based) through the city's provided waste services.  If you live in rural areas, like Michigan,  where I am originally from, you have the liberty to dig a hole somewhere on your typically vast property and bury your compostable items.  Given that much of my audience is based in Los Angeles, I am going to speak primarily on what the dos and don'ts are here.  But you can easily research your particular area.

I want to start by talking logistics.  In L.A., the green bin that the city provides for your lawn trimming is actually you compost waste receptacle.  In fact, if you open the lid (assuming you haven't had it for more than 2-3 years), it lists many of compostable items.  In the home, I keep a countertop composter like this (found at Amazon.com) that gets filled and dumped into our green bin multiple times a week, but a large bowl works just as well if you want to take out to avoid the mess and attraction of fruit flies (which I have seen happen in the summer):

 

Now turning to the most anticipated answer to: "What can you compost?"  For L.A., it includes any and all plant based food and other scraps (think of the bin as being a vegan).  This means:

  • Fruit and veggie scraps, Egg shells, Coffee/tea grounds and bags/filters
  • Yard trimmings (including trimmings from trees, small plants and bushes in addition to mowed grass), natural/real wine corks (as opposed to plastic ones), untreated wood (such as chopsticks)
  • Non-shinny paper/cardboard products (e.g., newspapers, paper towels, tissues, paper napkins, printer paper, shredded documents, etc.) - that do not have animal-based food waste or plastic tape on them.  The preference is for these items to be shredded, but its easier to simply wet them down as that causes them to break down.  Things like cereal boxes, which are made of the shinier cardboard, should be kept clean of food waste and recycled.
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  • Dryer lint and Meyer's dryer sheets (you can find them at Whole Foods or Amazon.com).  These are one of the few packaged items I buy because it's only cardboard that is 100% recyclable. 
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Here's what you CANNOT compost in LA:

  • Any animal-based foods (e.g., meat, fish, dairy, the insides of eggs)
  • Any of the above "compostable" items that have animal based food waste in or on them.
  • Compostable and/or biodegradable food storage items or bags made from plastic #7 (e.g., silverware made from veggie based plastics, the compostable veggie-based plastic cups many establishments are now using for takeout drinks).
  • Treated wood (e.g., stained, painted or varnished)

So for example, if you have a pizza box with cheese melted all over it, you cannot compost, but if it is simply oils, it is typically OK.  

Many might ask, what is the point of having biodegrable or compostable items if they can't go in your municipality's composting system?  In my opinion, while these items are ultimately going into a landfill, it is still better than petroleum-based products (like plastic) which are very taxing to obtain, process and create as well as toxic.  I would rather have a plant based product that will inevitably decompose and that doesn't need to be obtained by drilled and processed creating pollution and waste.  

Personally, I am now opting for reusable/non-disposable items as much as possible.  I realize that when I am hosting a party for 30 people and using reusable plates that it creates more work for me in the clean up, but it gives me peace of mind that I am not creating a bunch of trash to send to a landfill.  I do have some items that I have purchased over the years like paper plates that I am still using up.  But once they are gone, I am not replacing them, which means I will save myself a lot of money and save the earth the energy and resources used to make them and dispose of them.