My 2019 Pledge to the Earth
This year I’m planning on dramatically reducing my landfill and soft plastic recycling, but let’s be clear - I’m not aiming to be able to fit 12 months’ worth of my rubbish into a mason jar.
While I am always totally amazed, and a little awe struck by those who do the mason jar thing, for where I am right now in MY journey, I consider it an unrealistic goal for two main reasons:
Both the mason jar collectors I actively follow have smaller families than me. One I believe is single and the other has a husband and a dog. I’m one member of a five-person household. There’s me, my husband, our boys (15 & 12) and our daughter (9). Kids make it harder… not impossible... but harder. Miss 9 will now refuse to accept the free balloons that various places and events hand out, but she still struggles to say no to the goodie bags filled with individually wrapped lollies and junky plastic toys at friend’s birthday parties.
Everyone in their household is 100% totally on board. Now, don’t get me wrong, my family is very supportive of my save the planet mission, and have accepted all the changes in our house with not too much complaining, but truth be told it is MY thing and while they are more on board than they used to be, well, let’s just say they’re probably not quite as ummm ‘passionate‘ about it as I am. (Yet… 😉)
To give you a better understanding, let me give you an example…
If I leave my water bottle or my reusable coffee cup at home and I get thirsty while I’m out and about... well, I just suck it up and go without. In my head a little voice says tough luck princess... you’re poor planning isn’t an excuse to destroy the planet!
My family on the other hand – if I’m not with them – wouldn’t go without. They would buy the single use plastic water bottle. Two of them would bring it home to put in the recycling bin or the containers for change box and as much as I hate to admit it and I cringe as I say it… the other two would toss it in the next available bin they see.
Raising awareness is a huge part of instigating change. So this year I will weigh my rubbish every week before it goes into the bin and I will insert a conversation about that around the dinner table that night! That’s the raising awareness and encouraging them to do better part within my own family. I’ve also created a Facebook group – HC&G – 2019 Rubbish Weigh In where I will post my weekly results. I encourage you join the group and follow along… even better jump on board and do the challenge too!! Small changes… big impact!