zerowastenycmeetup

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Micro-activism & food waste

At last night’s meetup, we talked about micro-activism -- the idea of tackling huge waste problems by: 

1. committing to small, habitual, manageable, actions in your household

2. taking small, concrete steps to spread this solution in your community 

Micro-activism is a quieter form of activism than attending a demonstration or rally. It harnesses the power of small daily habits and gestures.

How can we solve the food waste problem through micro-activism?

Let’s look at food waste. About 35% of food is wasted and food takes up huge amounts of landfill space.

At last night’s meetup, we looked at the app Too Good to Go (TGTG), which lets restaurants sell edible food they’d otherwise throw away. (In other words, food that won’t keep fresh overnight but is perfectly fine to eat today.)*

We can apply the four-step micro-activism framework as follows:

1. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM + A SPECIFIC SOLUTION

Here, the problem is food waste. Any restaurant, no matter how well-managed, is going to have some surplus food at the end of the day. 

Under the micro-activism framework, we focus on one specific, manageable solution. Our first step is to download the Too Good to Go app, create an account, get familiar with it, and schedule a time to use it.

Did you do it? Congrats -- you just engaged in micro-activism.

2. INTEGRATE THE BEHAVIOR

The next step is to incorporate the solution into your lifestyle. We can commit to using TGTG on a daily/weekly basis, knowing that our habitual use is keeping food out of landfills.

Did you place your first order yet? Well done -- you just performed micro-activism.

3. SPREAD THE SOLUTION

Now it’s time to take this solution outside of your own life and seed it into your community. There are several ways to do this:

- TALK TO THE SOLUTION PROVIDER. Provide constructive feedback to the makers of the TGTG app. Email them through their website, suggesting ways to improve. Provide a helpful review on Google Play or the App Store. 

Remember, this is micro-activism in action -- you’re giving this app important feedback, which helps them pursue their mission to fight food waste. 

- TELL FRIENDS & FAMILY. Text the app to friends & family; tell them why it’s worth using.

- TELL YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS ABOUT IT. Email or talk to your local restaurants, explaining how it helps them sell surplus food they’d otherwise trash. 

Did you do any of the above? Great -- that’s more micro-activism to your credit.

4. ASSESS THE CHANGE YOU’VE MADE

After taking all these steps, what are the real-world results? What measurable change have you made in the food waste problem? 

One simple way to determine this is to count how many times you’ve used the app in a certain timeframe. If a given meal weights a dozen ounces or so, its pretty easy to calculate how many pounds of food you’ve kept out of landfills!

Applying micro-activism to other waste problems 

Is the four-step micro-activism framework helpful to you? How could you apply it to other areas of your life where you’re struggling to eliminate waste? 

Maybe it’s coming up with a plan to have a zero-plastic bathroom. Or devising a strategy to recycle or donate every unwanted item in your household. Or eliminating packaging from your grocery routine for good. 

Leave a constructive comment below!

*I am not an employee of, or an investor in, this app.

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Trends & Themes

CULTURE

You can't shop your way to a sustainable lifestyle, writes Grist. The first rule of sustainable consumption isn't buying the right stuff -- It's about buying less overall.  

FOOD

Oat milk brand OatUp has secured carbon neutral status. Moonshot is also producing "climate-friendly" snacks through regenerative agriculture.  

WASTE + OPS:

The company Cascade Engineering is saving $250K annually by eliminating trash from its operations. 

POLICY

The Save Our Seas Act 2.0 has passed the House + Senate; Trump is expected to sign it. Advocates say it provides much-needed funding for recycling infrastructure. Detractors say it does little to reduce the use of plastic, 11 million metric tons of which pollute oceans each year.

OTHER READS

Reducing food waste is one of the top "sustainable lifestyle" recommendations in the UN's Emissions Gap Report.

Don't lecture people with eco-friendly tips -- instead, show what you're doing and make climate change communication "fun, cool, and sexy," behavioral research suggests.

A Dutch grocery store has revised prices to reflect the true ecological costs of modern food production. 

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We can do better - creating a more diverse zero-waste movement

Dear ZeroWasteNYC community, This group was created to support each other in the pursuit of a zero-waste lifestyle. We've shared our commitment to zero-waste living through film screenings, book clubs, workshops, recycling facility tours, community composting activities and more. During these events, we've discussed waste as an ecological problem that contributes to climate change, degrades marine and terrestrial environments, and harms wildlife.

What we haven't discussed enough is waste as a social justice problem. In the U.S., race is the single biggest factor determining whether you live near a hazardous waste facility. When it comes to climate change, research shows that people of color in the U.S., including Hispanics and African Americans, are more concerned about it than White people -- perhaps because they are disproportionately impacted by it.

Then there's the fact that the zero-waste lifestyle comes easier to those with privilege. Often, it takes extra time and money to bear the inconveniences of living zero-waste -- to avoid single-use packaging, to find the grocery store with the bulk bins, to take plastic wrapping to a specialty recycler, to buy local instead of from Amazon, to make your own soap or yogurt or hummus instead of buying it...and on and on. How can we make zero-waste options accessible to everyone? What changes in the realm of policy, business, and education are required? To answer these questions, we need multiple, diverse perspectives. Barring that, "zero-waste" will remain a niche movement that falls short of creating lasting social and cultural change.

As a first step, I'm reading the words of black environmentalists, climate scientists and activists and compiling other readings on race and environmentalism here.

And I want your input. Please share other resources, events, discussions, and guest speakers that would help us realize a more diverse zero-waste community. You can share your ideas directly via email (by replying to this message) or by posting on our Facebook page or Instagram account.

I love this community and look forward to making it stronger, more diverse and more effective in the months and years ahead. Thank you for everything you do.

-Sandra

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Readings on environmentalism + race

Washington Post: I’m a black climate expert. Racism derails our efforts to save the planet

“I think of one black friend of mine who wanted to be an astronomer, but gave up that dream because organizing for social justice was more pressing. Consider the discoveries not made, the books not written, the ecosystems not protected, the art not created, the gardens not tended.”

Behavioral Scientist: Who Cares about the Environment? 

“The groups that are the most concerned about environmental problems, and are disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution and degradation, are also perceived as the least concerned.”

Heated: The climate movement's silence

“The environmental movement’s unwillingness to strongly advocate for racial justice is also likely a big reason why Black people are severely underrepresented in mainstream environmental groups; are less likely to identify as “environmentalists;” and less likely to participate in outdoor recreation, despite consistently reporting higher concern for the environment and the climate than white people.”

drmarkhyman.com: Speaking Up About The Things That Matter: Hidden Forms of Racism

“Our food system is a deadly weapon used against the poor and minorities. The food industry even specifically targets them, and then we’re told diet and disease comes down to personal choice. Nonsense. Foods are engineered to be addictive and the systemic racism of our culture and food system make these fake, disease-promoting foods the most accessible options.”

Mashable: How to make sure racial justice is part of climate activism

“Where the mainstream environmental movement once sidelined justice demands from communities of color, activists like Hollard have adopted a human focus in their activism, pushing the larger climate change movement to recognize how a warming world has already adversely impacted people of color, Indigenous folks, and low-income communities.”

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication: Which racial/ethnic groups care most about climate change?

“We find that Hispanics/Latinos (69%) and African Americans (57%) are more likely to be Alarmed or Concerned about global warming than are Whites (49%). In contrast, Whites are more likely to be Doubtful or Dismissive (27%) than are Hispanics/Latinos (11%) or African Americans (12%).”

General readings

Performative Allyship is Deadly

An ally is someone from a nonmarginalized group who uses their privilege to advocate for a marginalized group. They transfer the benefits of their privilege to those who lack it. Performative allyship, on the other hand, is when someone from that same nonmarginalized group professes support and solidarity with a marginalized group in a way that either isn’t helpful or that actively harms that group. Performative allyship usually involves the “ally” receiving some kind of reward — on social media, it’s that virtual pat on the back for being a “good person” or “on the right side.” 

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Posted @withrepost • @zerowastenycworkshop Get ready for another workshop, zero wasters! Join us at @brooklyncommons on Thursday December 5th for ways to stay on top your #zerowaste game throughout the holiday season. Get your tickets at the link in @zerowastenycworkshop bio. . . #zerowastenyc #zerowastelife #workshop #workshopseries #livinggreen #sustainability #ecofriendly #ecotips #green #goinggreen #climatechange #makeadifference #bethechange #banplastic #plasticfree #earth #minimalist #recycle #nyc #brooklyn #zerowaste #zerowastenyc #holidayseason #holidays https://www.instagram.com/p/B4l3zJ5ncBr/?igshid=izymitjha9wr

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If food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the world after China and the US, according to 2011 estimates by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. In the anaerobic conditions of a landfill, food emits the greenhouse gas methane. Plus, the production and distribution of food requires tons of GHG-emitting resources. Given that 30%-40% of food in the US is wasted, that amounts to a lot of emissions for naught. 😞 Enter composting — it’s such an easy and enjoyable way to lower one’s food-waste footprint. I drop my food scraps off at two #greenmarkets in NYC: the 57th St. Greenmarket (pictured here) and Union Square. And there are dozens more to choose from. 🍏 Later this month, @zerowastenycworkshop will be holding a workshop on food waste. Sign up at link in bio if you’re interested - look for the food waste workshop. (at Greenmarket Farmers Market - 57th Street) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Q6yaTHOTP/?igshid=156hlxozk5nqd

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We’re hosting another @zerowastenycworkshop in partnership with the outstanding @clean_bushwick_initiative 💚 Learn about the #zerowaste #lifestyle with @sandramnoonan & @zerowastechick 🌎 https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Mt2WiHzoq/?igshid=5ajomvlauhky

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Watch this guy. Amer @futuremeetspresent is the mastermind behind @marketplaceofthefuture the closing event for #climateweeknyc . This event imagines a future where coffee cups are edible, single-use items are found in museums, not landfills, and circular business models are the norm. Can’t wait for next year’s marketplace. And thanks to all the @zerowastenyc_meetup members who volunteered at this event! 💚 (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B27L330n-cu/?igshid=qierf5g6nwln

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I’m starstruck! 🤩 Met and chatted with @tom_szaky @loopstore_us @zerowaste_east just now. Tom is a visionary pioneer of the #circulareconomy and is changing the rules of the game when it comes to single-use packaging. @zerowastechick and I told him a little about @zerowastenycworkshop and @zerowastenyc_meetup and he told us a little about @loopstore_us expansion plans in NYC. If you haven’t tried Loop yet, what are you waiting for? 🌎 #loop #circulareconomy #reducesingleuse https://www.instagram.com/p/B2zR4YKnfcM/?igshid=kmrsblqawzd2

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Looks pretty but it’s not...this installation is made of 44,000 plastic bags — the number of bags used in New York state every minute. Artist: Basia Goszczynska. Location: @arcadiaearth 🌎 ⁣ ⁣ #breakfreefromplastic #plastic #plasticfree #plasticfreeforthesea (at Arcadia Earth Pop Up New York, NY) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ctEaVn76V/?igshid=11hhsqj43gxk2

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In 2017, China banned imports of most plastic waste from other countries. This ended a decades-long practice of countries like the US exporting 70% of their plastic waste to the Asian market. China's new policy will displace about 111 million metric tons of plastic waste by 2030. ⁣ ⁣ Here in New York, the SIMS Municipal Recycling Facility @simsmuni had stopped selling recyclables to the China market before 2017, so they still had plenty of buyers for our trash. This was not the case for other municipalities. China's withdrawal from the market has caused prices of recyclables to plunge, and in other towns and cities, recycling facilities have had to curtail their operations. After all, recycling is a business, and if the economics don't work, recycling stops.⁣ ⁣ (Moreover, consider this: The price of making packaging from recycled trash is *higher* than making it from virgin plastic — fossil fuels are relatively cheap these days. So it's cheaper for companies to make brand-new plastic.) ⁣ ⁣ The pile pictured here represents not even a day's worth of NYC's recycling discards. The pile never disappears -- the sanitation trucks come daily and keep adding to the mountain. ⁣ ⁣ For all of these reasons and more, recycling is not enough. As they say: Refuse. Reduce. Reuse...and then Recycle. ⁣ ⁣ #reduce #reuse #refuse #recycle #zerowaste #zerowastenyc #breakfreefromplastics #trash #recycling (at Sims Municipal Recycling Facility) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XvC0SHQaJ/?igshid=228y5pzlc42r

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Recovered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: a crate from the 1990s, a Nintendo Gameboy piece, and various hard plastic fragments (see the pink hearts at top right?) ⁣ ⁣ The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, containing an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic weighing an estimated 80,000 tons. ⁣ ⁣ Photo credit: @theoceancleanup ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #plasticocean #plasticisforever #breakfreefromplastic https://www.instagram.com/p/B2VKr-gHOGH/?igshid=18qv9fbd7pe0s

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Volunteer at Marketplace of the Future

Marketplace of the Future has been chosen as the official closing event for Climate Week NYC. This event will showcase 40+ start-ups that operate with sustainable supply chains, give-back models, and social benefit at their core. There will be live jazz, zero-waste food and drinks, and of course, climate change camaraderie.

To learn about volunteer opportunities, click here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Tpz1WVRgHrCjxxda6RpNF09irTMfdSVF

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A sample of plastic items recovered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive collection of floating man-made debris in the North Pacific. Check out the toothbrush and costume mask (Catwoman?). What else do you see? Experts estimate that 5 trillion pieces of plastic currently litter the ocean. (Photo credit: @natgeo ) ⁣ ⁣ #plasticocean #oceanplastic #breakfreefromplastic https://www.instagram.com/p/B2P77zWHkSi/?igshid=1ru5ezgteu44m

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Zero Waste Workshop for New Yorkers

Hosted our first ever ZeroWaste Workshop tonight! Here are some resources related to the event:

-Follow ZeroWasteNYC on Instagram at @zerowastenyc_meetup

-Join ZeroWasteNYC at https://www.meetup.com/Zero-Waste-NYC/

Thank you to our sponsors Just Salad, Food For All App, Farm to People, Bee’s Wrap, and Foundation for New York’s Strongest!

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Thank you to the amazing Nicole Grossberg @zerowastechick for your partnership and vision in pulling off our first ever #zerowasteworkshop! Thanks also to our attendees (what a great crowd!) and our sponsors @strongestnyc @farmtopeople @justsalad @beeswrap, and our event space @civichall 🙏 . Will post link to tonight’s slides in bio soon. 🌎 ⁣ ⁣ #zerowastenyc #wastefreecity #breakfreefromplastic #zerowasteworkshop (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ArSu1HDO3/?igshid=e31s08qfbzdo

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Feel free to download and share this instagram image for our upcoming Zero Waste Workshop!