I know that I too am guilty of portraying sustainable living as fun and easy, to encourage more people to try. But this zero-waste challenge helped me understand that a more honest and inclusive approach is necessary to create real change. This problem isn't black and white... zero-waste versus litterbugs. Changes can be both simple and hard. There has to be a balance of cheering others to do better, with an acknowledgment our privilege to make positive changes accessible for everyone.

The Good (the things most can easily do)

1. Plastic water bottles. Arm yourself with a reusable water bottle whenever you leave the house. They are cheap, and filling them up is free. They quickly pay for themselves with the savings you keep from buying bottled water and save so much plastic from entering the waste stream. Click here to see the reusable bottle I use daily.

2. Plastic Bags can be easily avoided by carrying around a small reusable bag or two with you every day. They take up hardly any room in your purse or backpack and can be left in your car if you’re a driver. Since plastic bags are not recyclable and kill countless animals in the wild PLEASE OPT OUT. Buy reusable produce bags here, and reusable compactable totes here.

3. Straws. You don’t need one I promise. Straws are free to avoid, so everyone can participate in this one too! If you have a disability that requires one, I’m not talking to you. Get reusable straws here if you're able to and really need them I did a whole post on why straws suck. Read it by clicking the link before this.

4. Utensils. Opt out of plastic cutlery already, please. Like my reusable bags, I have a set that stays in my backpack with me. Get your own, affordable cutlery set here. Or bring your metal ones from home.

6. To-Go Coffee Cups. Yup. These are super easy to avoid by asking for your coffee to stay. Cafés will give you a glass cup, so no landfill waste for your 10-minute drink experience. If you want to have your coffee on the run, there are so many different options available. You really could find one for free if you wanted to… like an old glass jar or a thrift store mason jar. If you want something leak-proof that’s not too expensive, check out the travel mug I use here.

The Bad (the things aren't easily avoided by most)

1. Produce stickers, rubber bands, and twist ties are found on almost all produce (even at the food co-ops I visited). None are recyclable or compostable, so to keep them out of the trash you have to reuse them. Or become a hoarder of ties, rubber bands, and stickers. Oh, my!

2. Junk mail. I honestly get the most junk mail from the environmental charities I support, which doesn't make any sense to me. Regardless, stopping junk mail requires hours of phone calls to each individual mailer requesting that the mailing of promotional information stop. Mail that included bubble wrap, photographs, and waxed or plastic-coated paper is not recyclable, so why is all of this junk allowed to be sent?

3. Snack wrappers. Snacks on the go are almost always wrapped in plastic or other, non-recyclable packaging. This keeps our food fresh longer but creates so much landfill waste. There has to be a better option.

4. Receipts. Not sure how these can be avoided, because even if you don't ask for a copy for yourself, it is almost always printed anyway, and thrown away by the clerk. Receipts also are not recyclable in some cases due to the thermal paper they are printed on.

5. Food container seals. Anything pre-made in America is almost always packaged in plastic, and subsequently sealed with a plastic wrap to ensure the food wasn't tampered with. Even if the food container is itself recyclable, the plastic seal is not.

Using our privilege to create a truly inclusive movement:

1. Vote in local, general, and primary elections for representatives who care about the environment and listen to your calls for regulations on waste. By the time we get to presidential candidates, it's often too late for our voices to be heard. If you live in NYC like me, check out voting dates by district here. Primary Congressional elections are on June 26, 2018 for NY!

2. "Extended Producer Responsibility". Click the link to the left to read more about it, and ask your representatives to support it.

3. Ask your representatives to push for steeper regulations on single-use plastics.

4. Order composting bins for your building and neighborhood. If you live in NYC, only some neighborhoods have access to compost bins. From my experience, living in a lower income and high minority neighborhood, access wasn't available until people started demanding it. We have to show that ALL areas deserve this service. Not just privileged ones. Check out DSNY to order your compost bin.

5. Ask your favorite food and beverage brands what they are doing to limit down-stream waste from their products. Write them an email or a letter. If you have a social medial presences, do these call outs publicly. Even if you don't like a brand and see their trash everywhere (i.e. Starbucks, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Nestle, etc...) call them out too!

6. Support charities pushing for regulation changes in favor of a cleaner planet. Some of my favorite are Green Peace, NRDC, Lonely Whale, and Oceana.

7. Have conversations outside of the eco-bubble. Yes, I mean talk with people who don't already live "sustainable life." Listen. Hear what they care about. What would make it easier for them to participate. We have to stop singing each others praises while everyone else hasn't had a word in.