Learn more about how food is wasted and what we can do about it. We will cover the basics on when and why food is wasted at home as well as practical tips to start today.

• Tuesday, February 16 from 6 to 7 p.m.
• Friday, February 19 from noon to 1 p.m.

Please RSVP on the Facebook events for February 16 or February 19 or by emailing your liaison. You can find the full schedule of workshops on our participant webpage.

As much as we might like to live in a “zero waste bubble,” our lives and interactions with others extend outside of it. For each action we take to prevent waste that makes us proud, there is another that might leave us feeling isolated and odd.

There will be situations where you feel like you need to explain yourself, but you can make it through these challenging interactions with a little mental preparation and practice. Just know that advocating for changes, having uncomfortable conversations, and modeling actions helps to create new social norms that will make zero waste actions more common.

Preparing for pushback

Sometimes when you are in the beginning stages of examining your waste and making changes to your daily habits, you may run into a stumbling or uncomfortable interaction.

The following situations may seem familiar:

• When shopping at a store and stating you don’t need a bag, you hear, “Are you sure?” or a surprised “Oh!” as you watch the cashier pause and think about taking your item out of the bag they just placed it in.
• Before you can ask for no utensils or straws while ordering food to-go, the person handing over your food has already placed them with your order. Your request is met with a strange look, and it feels like the moment has passed.
• Showing up at a small gathering (pre-COVID-19) and using your reusable container at a drink dispenser, you friend says, “We have cups for that, you don’t need to use your own” or “Oh you’re saving the earth” in a tone that conveys you are acting oddly or offending their hosting choices.

The questioning and doubtful looks from friends, family or store employees could easily make you back down from the action you were trying to take, even if you might regret it later. Sometimes the lower waste option is going against what is expected, so take a moment to prepare yourself mentally for potential pushback or surprised reactions.

Just remember that by talking about your actions and why you think it's important, you are helping to develop new norms. Using reusable bags at the grocery store used to feel strange and awkward, but now it's common to be asked if you need a bag or if you brought your own.

For some people, there’s a certain thrill in taking subversive, rebellious acts. For others, stepping outside of societal norms can leave them feeling uncertain, self-conscious and less likely to take that action again.

Until we get to a society that treats waste as abnormal and not the people who try to prevent it, there will be discomfort. Things that significantly reduce waste, like not buying another water bottle when you already have one, buying clothing secondhand, or bringing your own containers to the grocery store, still seem out of the ordinary for many people.

Fortunately, “being green” has become both more fashionable and more mainstream. Take advantage of the awareness that is growing and use this Zero Waste Challenge community to build your comfort and confidence while we change the norm together.

With close family and friends, take the time to explain the logic behind your actions to build your self-confidence and a shared understanding. Those friends and family might also adopt similar behavior changes, and then you’ll no longer feel so alone!

For strangers and interactions that happen quickly, a short response will do. It seems silly, but practicing phrases like, “No bag please, I brought my own” or, “No thanks! I don’t need it” can build your automatic reflex to get what you want without a second thought.

Over time the actions that feel awkward will get easier. We can do big things when we act together! See our tips for having conversations on zero waste for more ideas.