Next steps

For the past couple weeks, I have been sketching different design ideas based on my experiences during the 30 day exploration. To help generate further ideas, I plan to go back through my own blogs as well as others doing similar things and start listing out some of the themes. I want to capture specific foods, tools, and systems mentioned as well as the emotions connected to them. I hope this will help me expand my thinking into new areas.

Wrap-up and reflection

Well, my 30 days are up and it's time to consider what I have learned and what choices I will make going forward. I have to say that this process has made me more aware of what a huge amount of food we are throwing away as a society. Prior to this exploration, I was focused more on the waste associated with food, such as packaging. I have also realized how difficult it is to avoid some sort of waste, even with fresh local food - like the bags and wrapping from our CSA. Also, some waste decisions are out of your control, like when a restaurant places a paper napkin at your place setting that they will throw away even if you don't use it.

I took up composting, but it hasn't seemed like I've done much but created a pile of leaves and food. I don't think anything has really started to break down yet. Hopefully once the weather gets warmer I will start to see a transformation. As a renter with no garden, I also feel like I would better off if I could donate my scraps to a community garden. In the future, I can see myself really getting the benefits of it though.

I also plan to drastically reduce and hopefully eliminate the use of paper towels, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil. I will continue to bring my lunch in my own containers and try to grab lunch on the go less often. But I do know that I will be back to some of my old favorites, like Chipotle. And I have to be honest and say that I am not likely to bring my own containers to the deli/butcher counters anymore. It's just too awkward. 

Overall, this has been a interesting experience that has opened up new avenues for me to explore as a designer - though one thing I am happy to give up is blogging about it!

 

Tea time

I couldn't resist having some hot tea at the morning breakfast buffet in the hotel. There's something about free food that seems to override concerns about waste. 

Actually, most of the food in the conference was buffet style with regular plates, cups, and napkins. Although I can't know for sure, it seems like they managed the amount of food pretty well so that were not too many leftovers.

Gelato!

Got to see a bit of Vancouver today and stopped into a chocolate shop for gelato. I ended up taking a few samples and throwing away the little spoons they gave me. When we ordered the gelato, I looked closer at the spoons and saw they were recyclable. The symbol was so tiny it was quite hard to miss, especially on the semi-transparent plastic. But I am taking them home for proper recycling.

The gelato container itself had a sadder fate. Now normally, I get my ice cream in cones so as to have a consumable container, but this gelato was for sharing. A bowl just made more sense from that standpoint. 

Apple core

Sadly, this apple core will not make it back to my compost in Atlanta. 3 day old fruit probably doesn't do well in a suitcase - not to mention possible customs issues.

Sushi

Tonight my friend and I went out for sushi in Vancouver. Wooden chopsticks and a napkin into the trash. 

Green touches

I got into the Four Seasons Vancouver and decided to relax in the hot tub. They had pitchers of water infused with things like lemongrass and cucumber and lemon/ginger. They also had what looked initially to be disposable cups. Upon closer inspection however, I noticed that they were in fact compostable. So I picked one up, and I will plan to bring it back home with me.

Flying

Flying from Atlanta to Vancouver today. I decided to bring along some buffalo jerky as a good snack so that I wouldn't have to buy any lunch at the airport. Although the bag goes in the trash, it saved me having to generate extra waste through an airport meal. 

Starbucks receipts

Today I went to Starbucks before class for a hot chocolate (in my reusable travel mug of course). Whenever I'm there, they ask me if I want my receipt and I always say no. Today I saw a huge pile of receipts on the cash register and I became curious about their fate. When I asked the cashier if they recycled all the receipts he replied, "Unfortunately, we don't." What?! Like it would be so hard to do. I wonder if they even have a recycle bin back there. I have often felt some stores could save a lot of paper by reducing the extra junk they print on the receipts like ads and promotions. Blockbuster is the worst with this. It seems like you get 4 slips of paper for one movie rental. Anyway, seems like both a waste of money and paper. And come on GT Starbucks, just recycle these things! From now on I will be taking my own receipt at least.

Smorgasbord

Today I was in the Klaus building and there was some event going on where they were providing snacks for the participants.

As is customary at these things, you can see many examples of landfill-bound packaging. They have bottled water, soda, snack size chip bags, and disposable plates, cups, and silverware. Even though some of the items are recyclable, most people will probably throw them in the large trash can "conveniently" located next to the table. This is despite that fact that recycle bins are in the line of sight of this table. I saw one lady throw an empty gallon of tea into the trash which could have been recycled. I think public receptions like these are incredibly wasteful, both in terms of actual food and packaging.

As they were wrapping up the reception, I did happen to spot some brownies that were left on the tray. Not one to let food go to waste, I did my part to keep them from the trash. :)

Cloth napkins

When I was at my parents' on Sunday for the Super Bowl, I asked my mom if she had any cloth napkins I could have. I have been using dish towels as my napkin at home, but it's too bulky to take around. So I got a couple from her, and took one out for a spin today. I also plan to take it with me on my Vancouver trip.

Wire ties for greens

This is a twist tie that came around my cilantro. For one thing, the sign at Whole Foods said the cilantro was from South Carolina, but this thing says "Product of Mexico." Which one am I to believe?

Anyway, this particular object has to go in the trash as far as I know. Unless maybe if I ripped of the paper and separated the wire. But, lo and behold, through a Google search for "metal twist tie alternative," I stumbled upon a fascinating patent for a wireless polymer twist tie that is fully recyclable. I'm actually a little concerned that I am so excited by this. Sadly, I have never seen such a twist tie, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Moldy orange

Okay. I don't know how this happened. We got 3 or 4 oranges from the CSA last week, and this one is already moldy! The other ones we ate already. It was hiding under an apple, so I don't know how long it had been going bad. Sometimes it seems like these things just pop up out of nowhere. I think some of this produce just has to be defective. Citrus usually has a longer shelf life. Oh well, off to the compost.

Super bowl bean dip

Here is a collection of food packaging from my Chipotle Black Bean Dip:


Standard recyclable can. Alternatively, I could have bought the black beans in bulk and cooked them myself. Originally I thought I wouldn't have time, but as it turns out, I probably should have done that.



This was a good chance to use up some frozen corn. However, these bags are not supposed to be recycled according to PlasticBagRecycling.org.


Our cherry tomatoes from the CSA came in this container. Standard packaging for small veggies and berries. This was recycled.

One reason I chose this dip was to use up some chipotles in the fridge as well.

Individually wrapped?

Last night I drank a can of root beer with dinner. Even though it is recyclable, it made me wonder if this should be considered excess packaging since, in some ways, this is an "individually wrapped" food item. I wonder if that holds true even if my boyfriend and I shared it.


When I think about it, you don't really see large containers of specialty sodas. Only the standard Coke, Pepsi, etc. which we never buy. At one point, my boyfriend really wanted to try making his own soda. Maybe we should revisit that idea.

Foil over microwave

I heated up a ham steak for dinner last night. We usually wrap it in foil and put it in the toaster oven. Thinking about waste, I considered if I should heat it up in the microwave instead. But we generally try to avoid the microwave as much as possible. Especially for meat, I don't like what it does to the taste and texture, not to mention potential health concerns. So I ended up using some aluminum foil. But I reused some that we had been keeping in the drawer. Afterwards, it was clean enough to rinse and put in the recycling.

Swiss chard and aluminum foil alternative

So I made a swiss chard gratin tonight - we got a bunch of swiss chard from the CSA, so I found a recipe on Fine Cooking. I have never actually cooked swiss chard before. Smothered with cream, cheese, and bacon, it's pretty darn good. :) Anyway, it is a great green for waste reduction since the whole thing can be used, stems and all.

So as it was cooking in the oven, the breadcrumb topping started to brown before the gratin was ready to come out. The usual remedy for this is just to cover lightly with foil to reduce further browning. Since I have been trying to avoid foil, I racked my brain for a foil alternative. I considered flipping a plate upside down over the dish, but I don't think they are oven safe. If I had a Silpat (silicone baking mat) I might have used that. But then I realized I had the perfect tool. My stainless steel saute pan has a lid that would work perfectly.

I really felt proud of myself for being resourceful. It really wasn't that hard to find a kitchen multi-tasker that would do the trick, but I think we are so used to certain "convenient" solutions that it makes us resistant to thinking up other possible options.

Draining bacon

Tonight's dinner involved bacon. When it was ready to be taken out of the skillet, I realized that this may be one instance where paper towels would be necessary in my kitchen. Prior to this I had figured that we could eliminate paper towel usage from our house entirely. So I took a sheet and drained the bacon on it.

Now I realize that I just wasn't being creative enough. I decided to search Google for an alternative to paper towels for draining bacon. Not surprisingly, I quickly had some other options. One is to use the random paper napkins that seem to come our way in various restaurants, etc. This still uses the paper, but would obviate the need to buy paper towels. Another idea I liked was to just use a small rack over a plate. Our toaster rack would work pretty well for this.

BYO Part 3

I was back at Whole Foods today and decided to try using my own containers again. I planned to pick up some beans in the bulk section, so I actually brought back a couple of the bags that we used in the past so I wouldn't have to get new ones. And I brought a couple plastic containers for beef - I was planning to get some ground chuck and a couple pounds of brisket. This time I tried to be a bit more explicit that I didn't want the extra paper. This time it went off without a hitch - at least for the ground beef. For the brisket, they took in the back to cut it and brought it back already in a styrofoam tray wrapped in plastic. Guess I can't win.

In some ways, I feel a little self-conscious about rocking the boat and making special requests. I guess it's the type of the thing I have to get used to. I have a feeling it's not something they see much even at Whole Foods.

Tower of waste

Last night we went out to a Mexican restaurant with another couple. At least I thought it was going to be a "restaurant", in the sense that they bring the food on ceramic plates with metal silverware and maybe even a cloth napkin. As it turns out, I probably negated any of the waste savings I might have made thus far. When they brought out the drinks in styrofoam cups, I knew we were in trouble. I at least took the extra napkins with me so they would not be thrown out as well. And my boyfriend and I shared one cup of water to save the extra cup.

If I had known this was really more of a taqueria/fast food place, I would've suggested an alternative. Sadly I can't even say that it was worth it for the food. We won't be going back again.

FridgeSmart containers

I have owned these Tupperware FridgeSmart containers for a few years now. To be honest, I'm not even sure they really work. It's hard to know how much the quality of the refrigerator itself contributes to food going bad (from excess moisture for example). 

Anyway, the design is supposed to regulate airflow with the little white tabs on the side. Also, the bottom has ridges to allow for airflow along the bottom. On the side it gives you a little guide to what type of produce requires which settings.

So I'm not sure it they are really helping, but I feel like it does work out better than keeping things in a plastic bag where they tend to get slimy.

EcoLogo

I met a friend for lunch yesterday in the Student Center. Since I had brought an orange with me, I figured I would need a napkin (haven't yet gotten a cloth one to bring along.)

I noticed a small sticker on top of the napkin dispenser that said EcoLogo. For some reason, this made me feel that it was ok to use the napkin. Anyway, I checked out the website today and it looks like they certify many different types of products as "environmentally preferable." Actually I really like that terminology because it is a much more realistic way to put it, as opposed to "environmentally friendly" for example.

Lunch today

Ate at a Middle Eastern place for lunch today after the shelter. We picked it because Chik-Fil-A and Chipotle were out due to the extra packaging. However, this place still had paper napkins at the table. I didn't really use mine so I took it in the car for emergencies. The bad thing about paper napkins at sit-down restaurants is that they have to throw them away even if you didn't use them. 

Space

One of the downsides of carrying your own containers around with you is the space it takes up. Even in my large school bag, it gets kind of crowded to carry a Tupperware container with my lunch, my Kleen Kanteen, and a travel mug in case I want a hot drink. With the drink containers, I have been opting for either/or. If I think I will want a Starbucks drink, like on Wednesdays before my business class, I will bring my travel mug but leave my water bottle at home. As for the lunch container, it's sort of understood that it will take up space initially, but the nice thing about disposable or soft packaging is that it takes up minimal space once empty. If I was generally just going around town with my regular small purse, it would be harder to carry out waste to recycle or compost. I would either need a larger purse or maybe an extra bag that could be folded up in my purse just in case. Actually, I got some really nice bags like this as gifts for my mom and sister which would be perfect. Just can't remember what they are called off the top of my head.

Compost workshops

I thought it might be interesting to check out a composting workshop to get some hands on learning, but I wasn't able to find anything happening this time of year. It looks like they might get started in the spring. Last year there was one at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and I also found an Organic Gardening Meetup group that offered a workshop.

Daikon radish

Large radishes are something we often get in the CSA during winter. I'm not very familiar with what to do with them, but in the past I've roasted them with other root vegetables. Unfortunately, we have had to throw out some in the past that we did not use. But being more conscious this time around, we used our Daikon radish in time. I used half of it last weekend in a sausage hash over grits and last night my boyfriend finished it off in a fried rice dish. I like it better that way than roasting because it sort of blends in and just adds some texture. I saw a contestant on the Food Network grate it and use it in a potato cake, so that could be possible inspiration for the future.

Bon Appetit Food Footprint Calculator

I played around with this calculator a bit today, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. 

First of all, the nuances of how a particular food item is sourced can't possibly be taken into account. For instance, I ate homemade granola with local milk from pastured cows. The closest thing on their list is possibly yogurt and granola with seasonal fruit. For me, it just highlights how complex these things really become. Plus, it doesn't seem to support side by side comparison, which is something I would like to be able to do. The way to hack around this is to add something to the frying pan to see how much the impact 'thermometer' goes up and then remove it and add something else. 

The idea is definitely interesting in that it might get someone to think about the environmental impact of food choices, but unfortunately, I don't think it can be boiled down to a simple number.

Waste equals food

This is one of the mantras in McDonough's and Braungart's Cradle to Cradle, which I finished up yesterday. In the book, they are mainly referring to the design of more intelligent manufacturing processes and materials. But this concept has a lot to offer when thinking about food waste. Compost is the ultimate cradle to cradle process. Not only does waste equal food, but food equals waste. 

Another repeated scenario in the book is the idea of product packaging that can be safely thrown on the ground to decompose or that is embedded with seeds that will grow into a tree. Extend this to food, and you could imagine a candy wrapper that grows into a tomato plant. So you can feed yourself with the food inside the packaging as well as the packaging itself. 

Butter wrapper

I learned today that butter wrappers are compostable. Sweet! My butter guilt is gone. I think I also remember reading a reader tip in an old Fine Cooking magazine about reusing butter wrappers for something. I'll have to see if I can dig that up...

Advance planning

Now that I am trying to be conservative with food packaging and waste, it pretty much requires me to plan ahead and pack a lunch to bring to school. For some reason, this has always been difficult for me. I like planning and cooking dinner, but lunch always seemed more of a hassle. Given that it needs to be portable, it feels somewhat limiting. Anyway, in the past I might have picked up a prepared sandwich like this from Starbucks or something like that, but no more. 

In actuality, it is only a slight inconvenience, and it ends up saving me money. It's probably the healthier option too. Just goes to show how changing one aspect of your life can have something of a halo effect on other parts as well.

Food waste at the library

I am sitting in the cafe at the library and I can't help but take notice of all the excess food packaging I see. Hot drinks go in the disposable paper cups, while the cold drinks go into plastic cups with plastic straws. I see only one person with a reusable travel mug. Sandwiches wrapped in plastic film and sushi arranged in plastic containers. Then there are the vending machines dispensing individually wrapped snacks and drinks. The more frustrating part is that many of these things could actually be recycled in the bins provided for aluminum and plastic, but I have a feeling most of it will end up in the trash.

Not even a banana peel is sacred

A banana, like many other fruits, is a great food in terms of reducing waste, as long as I don't put it in a produce bag at the store. It comes with its own unique biodegradable wrapper. But alas, even a banana is not waste free.

It is impossible to get away from these plastic stickers that come on every store-bought fruit. Even some of the fruits in our CSA box have stickers. While I understand the store's need to label things for inventory, at least the sticker could be biodegradable as well.

Ketchup packets

Tonight I made meatloaf and I created a glaze out of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and balsamic vinegar. We are out of ketchup, but we have a little stock of ketchup packets from previous takeout meals.

On the one hand, I am using up ketchup that would otherwise go to waste, but on the other hand, I do have to throw away the empty packets. But at least they are empty instead of full. In the future, I will have to make a point to request no condiments in any takeout orders.

What's mine is yours

Something to consider when taking on a lifestyle change such as this is that it is inevitably going to affect your family as well. When I chose my project direction, I knew that my boyfriend would have to be involved, especially since food is a big part of our life together. Since we trade off nights for making dinner, there was an immediate implication that his dinner preparations would have to adhere to waste reduction principles for me to be "allowed" to eat them. It also limits where we can grab a quick bite to eat together. We rarely eat fast food to begin with, but Chik-fil-A is an occasional guilty pleasure. I don't think it's possible to get out of there without excess packaging and waste, even if you order to eat at the restaurant. 

I think this type of scenario holds true for many people attempting lifestyle changes. I'm reminded of diet shows where the dieter has to throw away all of their junk food and keep tempting items out of the house. Food waste issues aside with this strategy, it has a huge impact on the whole family's lifestyle. If cookies aren't allowed in the house, then no one gets to have cookies. Likewise, it would probably be much more difficult to quit smoking if your partner had no plans to stop themselves. But I don't think this is such a bad thing. In fact, under the right circumstances, making a lifestyle change can inspire others around you to do the same. 

Walmart Ads

I noticed today that Walmart is featuring reusable bags in their tv commercials. I'm not sure how long they've actually been doing this on the commercials, but I did turn up an article on their website explaining how they have been offering reusable bags for purchase since October 2007. It's a step in the right direction, but I can't help noticing the irony of all the excess packaging featured inside those bags.

BYO Part 2

Well, I brought my own container to Whole Foods today because I was planning to buy some local grass-fed beef. The guy working the counter didn't seem to have any problem with putting the meat in the container I brought, but again, he did have to measure the beef onto some thin butcher paper. After measuring, he looked thoughtful for a minute and then went back to the wrapping station. Before I knew it, he had wrapped up the beef as usual before setting it neatly in my container. I guess next time I will have to be more specific. But I am glad to see that there doesn't appear to be any health code violation associated with bringing your own container.

I also picked up some oats from the bulk section. 

It would be pretty easy to bring your own container for this, but it would have to be something very lightweight because you must weigh it on the scale yourself, and you wouldn't want to pay for the extra weight of the container. I think biodegradable bags like the BioBag would be a great option, or possibly a very lightweight cloth bag. Really, Whole Foods should supply biodegradable bags in their stores.

Water vs. foil

Last night I baked some sweet potatoes in the oven. The recipe I was following said to cover a baking sheet with foil before baking. This is a very common recommendation due to the easy cleanup. Just toss the foil and you're done. But I often feel that it's a waste of foil so I choose to just wash my baking sheet instead. However, it does take extra scrubbing and I often wonder about the tradeoffs of using more water vs. sending the foil to the landfill. 

Foil can technically be recycled, but it is usually too dirty to be accepted. For dryer applications it can easily be rinsed off and reused multiple times before recycling, but most foil ends up in the trash. According to Earth911 it would take around 400 years for foil to break down in a landfill. Given that, along with the manufacturing implications of the demand for foil, it seems like washing is a better option. Especially since I do have more control over how much water I use during the process. I can do a lot of soaking and prescrubbing without having the water run the entire cleaning time.

BYO...

Every once in a while, we will pick up some sliced Boars Head deli meat from Kroger. Today was one of those days. But this time, I have to think about the extra packaging that they provide. At this store, they put the sliced meat in a zip top plastic bag. So today, I brought a Tupperware container with me and asked if they would put it in there. The deli worker obliged, but said that she had to cut the meat onto the paper first. Okay. Maybe it's compostable. Anyway, she sliced the meat and then I arranged it in my container. 

As she handed me the sticker to scan (more waste, eek!), she gave me a bit of a funny look and said "That's very strange." I tried to explain that I was saving a plastic bag, but she just shook her head and repeated her observation. Oh well. I am curious to see if I would get a different reaction trying this at Whole Foods.

Manager's Special

I just got back from my local "emergency" Kroger which I try to avoid as much as possible. The fluorescent lights are practically binding, and the first thing you see when you walk in is bins full of bargain-basement Twinkie rip-offs and other packaged food products. I can't say I enjoy the shopping experience there. 

Anyway, they have a small organic section near the front, and I always check it out to see what's on sale. Clearly, the organic clientele are not frequenting this Kroger because there are often dairy products near expiration that are put on Manager's Special at a deep discount. Today I picked up Horizon Organic unsalted butter for 2.49 a box. It usually goes for 5.99. They also had some goat milk and cheese that was on special. 

It expires in 5 days, but butter freezes very well so it's a good candidate for stocking up. But I can't help but wonder what happens once it expires. I mean, I know what happens. They must throw it away, which is just terrible. Realistically, all of this organic dairy doesn't belong in this particular Kroger. It just won't sell, yet they consistently have something on Manager's Special every time I'm there. While I enjoy getting a deal, I really hate thinking of all the wasted food.

The refrigerator isn't helping

After my arugula went bad last week, it got me thinking about what factors led to its demise. I think the main problem was that I had simply forgotten about it. And while I realize I can't pin all the blame on my refrigerator, its design certainly didn't help me remember the arugula. It was stored in a clear container maybe on the second shelf or so. I don't remember how far back it was pushed. But most refrigerators are designed so that many of the items are somewhat hidden from view.

This is basically my view of my refrigerator if I am standing straight up. I barely see what's in the door. I can see what's in the front of the top shelf and maybe some of the bottom shelf as well, but that's about it. To see what's in the back I have to crouch down. To see what's in the drawers, I have to open them. I usually only go to the door when I am looking for something very specific. I know some modern fridges have opted for the bottom freezer, which I think works much better, but in a full fridge there are still things hidden in the back that usually get forgotten about. 

I could imagine a fridge design where the doors are clear and the shelves are only deep enough for, say, a gallon milk jug. That way, everything is visible and at hand. In a more technological sense, it would be nice for the fridge to sense when produce is starting to turn by monitoring methane off-gassing. Of course, we've all heard stories about the futuristic fridge that will email you when you need more juice, but what about notifying you of upcoming expiration dates?

Currently, I'm just trying to be more aware of the things I have that are in more danger of going bad quickly, like the spinach and lettuce. Getting stuff through the CSA is great, but it means I have to plan my meals after I get the items, instead of being able to plan ahead. Anyway, at least my refrigerator should try to lend a hand.

JCT Restaurant

Today, my boyfriend and I had lunch at JCT Restaurant. They have two different types of tables there. The stainless steel tables didn't have any table cloth or other covering on them. The other tables were made to look like whitewashed boards, but I think they were made from plastic. Anyway, each of these tables had a brown paper table runner that was changed for each guest. The paper looked to be made out of recycled materials since it had little specs in it. We started wondering what was more "environmentally friendly" - these disposable paper table runners, or reusable table cloths. 

At one level, you have to consider the manufacturing process. Even though table cloths are reusable, we don't know where they source their materials, what kind of chemicals they use, etc. Plus, they probably aren't washed in-house, so they are probably transported by truck through a service where they are washed in hot water with unknown detergent. The paper on the other hand is probably bio-degradable, but only if disposed of properly. If it is just put into a plastic trash bag to head to the landfill, that advantage would be lost. 

Trying to figure out tradeoffs like these quickly becomes a futile exercise when you realize all of the unknowns in the whole process. At a surface level, reusable table cloths seem to be the best, but that only takes into consideration the usage stage. The whole lifecycle of the product is of importance, but there is almost no way to track this information down, especially to a consumer needing to make a decision in the moment. Ultimately, we figured it would best to use neither of the table covering options since the surface looked easy to clean anyway.

As an endnote, they also put the brown paper down on the plates which seems gratuitous. I crumpled it up and took it with me for composting. On the way out, they had Lemonheads instead of mints. Naturally, I grabbed one for each of us. It was only until we got outside that my boyfriend reminded me that I shouldn't be eating it because of the plastic wrapper. But it was too late to bring it back. In the end, I guess I got rewarded for my bad behavior with a sweet candy treat. 

Compost options

When I first started looking into options for doing my compost, I found a pretty helpful website that covered all of the basics. They also have an online store that sells compost equipment. I never realized there were so many different styles of compost bins. There are some that are modular, some that have little trap doors in the bottom to "harvest" your compost, and some you bury part way in the ground. If I was going all out, I think I would pick this tumbling composter that makes it easy to aerate and turn the materials.

However, with the cheapest one almost $200, it doesn't make sense for me right now. As an alternative, I almost considered buying this indoor composter that relies on fermentation to break down and only requires kitchen scraps. It comes with some kind of compost starter to get it working. It seems ideal for apartment renters and people who want something more low maintenance. 

But again, I really wanted to do something that cost nothing at all. So that's why I decided to go with just a plain pile. From what I've read, it is a perfectly reasonable way to go, but there are some downsides. First, it doesn't look as nice as if it's contained well. Also, there isn't much protection from animals. Also, it just requires more work than say the tumbling composter. For me, it offered the lowest barrier to entry into composting.

Plastic wrap & paper towels

               

These are two disposables that I think are overused in my kitchen. We used to use paper towels as napkins, but I have recently started using kitchen towels. I will probably buy some cloth napkins, but towels are working for now. One good reason to get some cloth napkins is that they are less bulky to take around in my bag. Another place I tend to use paper towels is to dry all the lettuces and other greens that we get from the CSA (and to absorb moisture during storage.) But we will soon get a salad spinner that will hopefully eliminate that need. There are many paper towel alternatives out there, like the Skoy cloth that I turned up today in a Google search.

As for plastic wrap, we tend to put this over leftovers on the same plate that we originally ate from. Intentions were good, thinking that it would be using a dish one more time before having to wash it. But I think it's incidental to wash another dish in the dishwasher, especially if we are loading it properly. So we will now be using our Pyrex and Tupperware to store leftovers and reserve the plastic wrap for times when it is needed more. Hopefully, we can avoid it altogether in the future once we run out this time.

Confession

I think it's worth pointing out that this exploration actually started out as something more like a challenge. I had the idea that I would try to eliminate all food waste, including packaging that couldn't be composted or recycled. I quickly realized, however, that trying to do so was going to be much more difficult than I realized and in some ways a violation of common sense. For example, my boyfriend makes his own granola with oats, nuts, and dried fruit. The dried fruit and nuts came in plastic packaging that couldn't be recycled. Yet we no longer buy packaged cereals because of this. Surely, our less "industrial" cereal should count for something?

A pasta dinner was another concern. Should I not eat the pasta since it was packaged in non-recyclable plastic? It started to dawn on me that I might have to go out and purchase all new foods just to get "acceptable" packaging. In some ways, it was too late to take back the decisions we had made regarding packaging. The food was already in the house, the landfill was going to be that much bigger. So I loosened up a bit. I figured that taking a critical look at the packaging that we did use would also be a beneficial exercise and help me to be more conscious in the future. Ultimately, it did not make sense to bring more packaging into the house, even if it was recyclable.

These types of concerns highlight the awkward transition phase that might occur when trying to change to a more sustainable lifestyle. Physical evidence of our former decisions can cause guilt, yet it usually doesn't make sense to get rid of these things, especially when it only means creating more waste. The desire to be more green sometimes means you have to hang on to your not so green possessions.  

Napkin, salad, and fish

Today I had to use a paper napkin from Starbucks. I now allow myself to get hot chocolate from them since I am using my own insulated travel mug. But when I put the top on, the drink spilled over and I had to grab that napkin. I am planning to compost it though, so all is not lost.

We had fish chowder for dinner. And I used up the rest of the Bibb lettuce for a salad. Yay!

The fish from Trader Joe's comes in plastic packaging that can only be trashed, which is very disappointing. I do prefer buying the fish frozen though because the stuff at the grocery is usually previously frozen anyway. However, the plastic packaging is a big negative.

Meatballs 2 ways

For dinner tonight, we had homemade meatball pizza, capitalizing on leftovers from last night's pasta with meatballs. They were made from pork sausage from the CSA (local, heritage pigs). I actually cooked them in some leftover bacon grease which made them extra yummy and utilized the extra fat. They were not waste free however, since the meat does come wrapped in butcher paper. 

I have read on some sites that you can compost butcher paper, but that actually surprises me. I thought the waxy coating would prevent that, as well as the meat residue, since you are not supposed to compost meat products. I think I will send a note to the CSA and see what they say. 

Waste free lunching!

Thanks to this post on Fake Plastic Fish, I have found the most awesome lunch box from To-Go Ware.

It's basically a stainless steel lunch pail, but with two different pieces that snap together. Plus it has a little container for dressing or whatnot. Love it! This looks like a great option for carrying leftovers from a restaurant also.

They also have a nice reusable utensil set made from bamboo. Another set I have seen is this one from the Global Exchange Online Store.

The utensils are made from recycled buffalo horn. Crazy. I like this one also because it has the napkin with it. If I was crafty, I bet it wouldn't be that hard to create a little utensil holder like this. The holder could even double as the napkin.

Using up some greens

Especially in winter, we get a lot of greens from the CSA. That includes lettuce, which I think they actually grow hydroponically right now. Anyway, I'm not a big salad eater, so using all the lettuce is a challenge. Last night I made lettuce wraps with a ground pork filling, so it was a great way to use up some nice Bibb lettuce. I also used some cilantro that's about to turn. 

Tonight, I used up all of the spinach by tossing it with some roasted potatoes and onions. I am trying really hard to avoid the fate of the arugula from last week.

Mesh potato bag

We're probably all familiar with these mesh bags that things like onions, oranges, and potatoes come in. They can't be recycled as far as I know, but I wanted to find out if there were some creative ways they could be reused. I found some ideas on thriftyfun.com ,which I discovered through a Google search. The most bizarre one has to be using them to hold shark chum off a boat. I think the most useful for me would be to create a pot scrubber. Still, though, I can't help feeling that it's just a layover on the way to the landfill. Maybe the best idea is to buy loose potatoes that require no packaging.

Methane footprint?

Move over carbon footprint, how about methane footprint? Jonathan Bloom talks about how the food we throw away is causing environmental harm (quoted in this article):

That food rotting in landfills, because it isn't decomposing with the help of oxygen, is creating millions of tons of methane gas, which scientists say is more than 20 times as harmful as carbon dioxide to our atmosphere.

This isn't just food from individual households obviously. So much is wasted from restaurants, grocery stores, and other food establishments. Home composting will help, but there has to be something done at an institutional level.

First Compost

Today I created my compost pile. We have some temporary fencing up between our yard and the main fence so the dogs don't fence fight with the neighbor dogs, so I thought was a good place to put the pile so the dogs can't get it. We have been putting all of the fall leaves and pinestraw back there already, so some of it was getting some good decaying going on. I hope that will help my compost pile get started.

First I mounded up some of the leaves and stuff that was already there as a base. I read from a few sources that the bottom of the pile should have some twigs and branches for aeration, so I threw a few of those on there.

I've been collecting some scraps for the past couple of days, so that went on top next.

Finally, I covered it with some more leaves to keep the smell down and keep pests away. Hope it works!

I know that winter is not the best time to really get a compost going, but maybe I can find a tarp to help keep some heat in. Anyway, I feel good to have that started.

Moldy arugula

Ugh. I feel really awful, but I had to put a whole bunch of arugula in the compost pile. It came last week in the CSA box, but we didn't use it. I pulled it out today, but it had spots on it and some pieces were rotting. When in doubt, throw it out. I have to make sure that doesn't happen for this week's delivery. We already used some spinach tonight, but we have plenty more. And 3 heads of lettuce. We got some nice kale which I'm going to put directly in the freezer.

Let's talk about the packaging for the CSA box. It all comes in a cardboard box, which I flatten and bring back to the pickup site for reuse by the farm. Most produce comes loose, but greens are usually bunched together in a large plastic bag. We can reuse that to store freshly baked bread. The spinach came in another small plastic bag, which we usually use as poop bags for the dogs. The potatoes came in a brown paper bag, which is compostable. The meat orders are wrapped in butcher paper (not sure if that can be composted), and all grouped together in one plastic bag. They certainly don't provide excess packaging, though it would awesome if it all could be recycled or composted. But what's the alternative - go to the grocery and pick up some organic produce from across the country but leave out the plastic bag? It doesn't seem to add up. 

Day One

Well, it's the first day of my challenge, and I think I already messed up. It started out fairly well. I brought a tangerine to school as a snack, so I knew that I would need some container to carry it home for composting. Check. For lunch, I went to my favorite Bangladeshi restaurant for the all-you-can lunch buffet. I figured there's no packaging to throw away, and I could make sure to eat everything on my plate. [aside] Now I know that there has to be packaging involved in the preparation of their food, but I think it would be minimized since the food is fresh and made from scratch. I'm honestly not quite sure how to deal with restaurants yet for this challenge.

Anyway, a slice of lime came with my drink, and the server took it away on the plate. So I couldn't take it home to compost. I did, however, keep the rind from my orange slice. For dinner, I had an egg sandwich on homemade bread.

Introduction

So, what exactly do I mean by watching my waste? Well, as eaters in the American food system, many of our choices about food are also choices about waste. Packaged convenience foods and fast food ultimately mean more trash for the landfill. Not to mention all of the perfectly good food we throw away because we bought too much or filled our plates too full. 

As part of my Masters project, I want to understand the personal strategies involved in reducing food-related waste, so that I can see where technology might play a supportive role. So for 30 days, I will try to reduce my food-related waste and examine some of the tradeoffs and implications involved in the decision making. I'm planning to include anything that has to do with food: shopping, eating, and cleaning up after. Here's the basic plan:

1. Use food before it goes bad.

2. Start a compost heap for any food scraps that are compostable.

3. Avoid excess packaging (e.g. individually wrapped items).

4. Avoid packaging that can't be reused, recycled, or composted.

5. Bring my own containers in case of leftovers at restaurants.

6. Bring my own containers to purchase items by weight at the store (have to look into this one to see if the stores allow it.)

Well, that's a start anyway. I know I'll be learning through the whole process. Wish me luck!