Ahead of Earth Day, Linda Stroh presents Zero Waste Workshop at the Lincoln Park District

 

[April 17, 2023] 

On Saturday, April 15th, the Lincoln Park District hosted a Zero Waste Workshop led by Linda Stroh.

To begin the workshop Stroh provided some information about how much is thrown away daily. Stroh said the average is 4.9 pounds of trash per person per day, which is about double what it was thirty years ago. A family of four produces an alarming 788 pounds of trash per year.

The questions Stroh posed were where did all this trash come from and how can we reduce it? Stroh said we can reduce the trash and reduce our stress. Less stuff equals less stress.

Our earth is in a crisis mode and Stroh said unfortunately it is not being treated as a crisis. Humans have done a lot of damage and need to reduce habits back to a sustainable way of living.

A registered nurse, Stroh grew up on a farm and her family was self-sustainable without really trying. Her family had chickens, cows and a garden. They canned, sewed crafts and clothes, and had milk delivered in returnable glass bottles.

Stroh’s family burned their small amount of paper trash, and it seemed as though nothing came in plastic. Their glass soda bottles were also returnable. Without too much thought, Stroh said their life generated no waste that ended up in the landfill. They did not even have trash pickup.

In the book Active Hope by Joanna Macy, she said each person should use only one word to end this sentence: When I consider the condition of the world, I think things are getting … Stroh asked attendees to provide a word. Answers ranged from “worse” to “horrible” to “polluted.”

During the last 20 years, the plastic industry has increased production at historical rates. Stroh said breast cancer rates have also increased in the United States in the past 20 years.

Stroh then shared several facts about plastic found on the plastic pollution coalition website.

For instance, plastic is toxic to produce, and the byproduct fumes are toxic. Plastic is toxic to use as it continually leaches out harmful, unhealthy hormones and chemicals. Plastic creates toxic pollution at every stage of its existence: manufacture, use and disposal. Stroh said plastic does not have to be heated to be dangerous. Just storing or having your food, cosmetics and everyday items in plastic is unhealthy. She listed a number of toxins present in plastic.

In the environment, plastic breaks down into small particles that attract toxic chemicals. These particles are ingested by wildlife on land and in the ocean, contaminating the food chain.

Plastic also affects human health because the harmful chemicals it leaches are present in the bloodstream of almost every one of us, including newborns. Stroh said the chemicals found in plastic are responsible for the increase in cancers, asthma, memory loss, endocrine and hormone disruption, fertility concerns and many more diseases.

The main source of plastic pollution is disposable plastics. The consumption of disposable plastics like bags, bottles, straws, utensils, polystyrene cups, film, food packaging and more has spiraled out of control.

Plastic can only be recycled about one or two times and then Stroh said it is destined for the landfill. Recycling plastics is not the answer because recycling adds more pollutants to the environment and keeps the cycle of plastic going.

As a consumer, Stroh said you should refuse all the plastic you can. Because plastic never biodegrades, after many years, it turns into microplastics that we are now breathing. Plastic is going into our soil and water and into our food supply and wildlife. The remains last forever. Every bit of plastic created still exists.



Photos from recycling facility show the mess. The products there can never be kept out of the soil and grass.

Around the world, 2,179 trash incinerators burn mostly plastics. There are 75 such incinerators located in the U.S. Stroh said these incinerators are spewing toxic dioxins into the air which enter our food chain. Like mercury, dioxins accumulate in the body and never leave causing various health problems.

A newspaper article last year included information from the United Nations saying that the earth is on track to being an unlivable world. Three paragraphs talk about the rising disaster the world is facing. The article was way towards the back Stroh felt it should be on the front page in big bold letters. She we need to address this problem so much more than we are instead of making it a side note.

Author Kate Nelson in her book I Quit Plastics said for a small bit of convenience, we must consider the long-term effects of our choices.

Thinking back to how she stored items when she was younger, Stroh said there are ways to make purchases to avoid waste. These include paper, glass, metal, baskets and cardboard, which can all be used to store items.

When you make a purchase, Stroh said you need to think about not only the product itself, but also the packaging it came in. Consider what trash it will create and leave behind in the world.

Factories release toxins into the world, so Stroh said we need to reduce our purchases.

Product packaging uses up an enormous amount of valuable and limited resources.

From her research, Stroh said scientists predict we have only 19 years before we have used up our clean water. We have used up more resources in the last 50 years than in any other time. Stroh said our earthly resources have reached dangerous levels of overuse. We must stop and be thankful for those resources and minimize our disruption of them.



Next, Stroh offered some tips using five R’s that she said she be considers for every purchase she makes. The five R’s include Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot.

1. Refuse what you do not need.
   
   Stroh said some ways to do that are to refuse plastic straws, frozen packaged goods and canned goods.
   
   She carries metal straws and refuses to buy plastic or paper products.
   
   As you shop, ask if you really need the item.

2. Reduce what you do not need.
   
   Stroh went through her clothes closet and removed anything containing synthetic fabrics.
   
   Simplify by reducing your purchase of unhealthy items at the grocery store.
   
   Flush the toilet less often to conserve water.

3. Reuse what you consume.
   
   One way Stroh does that is by making her own laundry soap.
   
   She also uses a rain barrel to water the garden, uses old rags for cleaning and mows with a battery powered lawn mower, which does not need gas.

4. Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse.
   
   Stroh said this is far down on the list because your recyclables should be reduced drastically. She feels too much emphasis is given to recycling plastics and it is unsustainable. Sadly, most of what is in recycling bins are plastics. Glass and metal can be recycled an unlimited number of times. Batteries can be recycled too. Stroh said TerraCycle is a nationwide recycling program that works with businesses to help eliminate waste.

5. Rot by composting the rest of what is biodegradable.
   
   Stroh said something biodegradable is [made of] material capable of being decomposed by bacteria and other living organisms. Do not put biodegradable items in the trash, which Stroh said creates methane gases. Stroh tosses biodegradable items into the garden to help enrich the soil. Food, wood, plants, cotton and paper are all biodegradable products. One place Stroh said takes composted items for a small fee is The Ecology Action Center in Normal.

Stroh then provided several other ideas to help eliminate waste.

For example, Stroh said, when possible, you should try to purchase items that are sustainable and organic.

Organic products and produce are grown without the use of chemicals and fertilizers. However, when these products are packaged in plastic, Stroh said it defeats the purpose.

It is better if everyday items are package-free, plastic-free and biodegradable. There are biodegradable plastic bags, but Stroh said it is a gimmick to make the company and consumer feel good about purchasing their products. For the bag to biodegrade, the bag and everything in must contain completely compostable items and be taken to a composting facility.

There are ways you can avoid using plastic bags.

When you are shopping, lettuce can be put in a cloth bag or pillowcase.

Carrying your own cloth bags for dry products like nuts and rice is one way to reduce the use of plastic. Stroh carries a glass dish to the store and buys her meat and seafood at the deli.

Items like mayonnaise and ketchup can be bought in glass containers.



To store items, Stroh said it is good to use glass jars with glass lids. For wrapping fruit, Stroh uses Beeswrap, which is made from cotton coated with beeswax. Sandwiches can be put in Beeswrap baggies.

Try to get companies to change their packaging. Stroh said soon restaurants will not be allowed to use Styrofoam containers. If you are going to a restaurant, she said to take your own glass containers when possible.

Only buy what you need for a few meals. Do not shop and store so many items. She said you should try to buy fresh. Having a garden is a good idea too. To have less waste and costs, Stroh said it is best to keep recipes down to five items or less.

Instead of paper napkins or Kleenex, Stroh uses cloth napkins or handkerchiefs.

Glass plates can be used to cover the top of a bowl.

There are dish soaps that come in bar form. Dishes can be cleaned using coconut dish scrubbing pads that eventually biodegrade.

Cleaning products can be made using just a few items. For example, window glass cleaner can be made using rubbing alcohol, water and white vinegar. All-purpose cleaner can be made by mixing one part distilled vinegar with three parts water. Stroh makes all her cleaning products and avoids buying them at the store.

For washing and drying clothes, Stroh uses an all-in-one washer and dryer. Once the wash cycle is done, she just takes everything out, pulls the items apart and fluffs them, then starts the dryer cycle. It takes about 2 ½ hours to dry a load of towels, but the combination washer and dryer takes up less space.

Laundry soap can be made using washing soda, borax powder, baking soda and a bar of finally grated natural castile soap.

In the bathroom, Stroh uses an organic heavy cotton shower curtain. Many shower curtains are plastic and therefore toxic.

Thin washcloths can be used as reusable toilet paper that can be washed.

Baking soda, white vinegar, peroxide or half a lemon can be used to clean the toilet and sink.

Toothpaste can be made using baking soda, fine sea salt and melted coconut oil. There are also toothpaste bars you can rub your brush with and dental floss made from corn or charcoal.

To remove make-up, reusable cotton rounds can be used.

When going out in the sun, use natural sunscreen made from Zinc. Body butter can be made by mixing refined shea butter, coconut oil and sweet almond or jojoba oil.

The one in one out rule is something Stroh follows. She said do not stock up on items. Make your own deodorant and use a shampoo bar. Instead of plastic razors, use metal or electric razors.

In the bedroom, many people have foam mattresses. Stroh said these mattresses, polyester mattress covers and non-organic cotton sheets all release toxins. To be safer, Stroh said you should try to use organic mattresses and sheets.

For flooring, Stroh said choose wood, wool, cotton or other natural fibers for carpeting and rugs.

Choose natural fibers like cotton for window coverings. You can also get paper blinds at some stores.

Avoid synthetic fiber like polyester in clothing because it is not biodegradable. Stroh said these fibers also tend to irritate the skin.

Dermatology offices often have a three to four month waiting period. Stroh said that is not surprising due to all the patients with skin issues because of exposure to irritants like fragrances in shampoo, conditioner, soap, shaving cream and deodorant. Other irritants are in the detergents and substances we wash clothes and non-organic sheets and towels in.

To Stroh, it is easy to understand why your body is on toxic chemical overload if you are living the average lifestyle.

Try to stick with natural fibers such as mohair, cashmere, silk, wool, cotton, linen hemp and bamboo, which Stroh said are biodegradable and better for the environment.

Buy better and buy less. Make purchases that mix and match. Avoiding buying items that have to be dry cleaned.

Consider making purchases two times a year. For household and clothes shopping, Stroh said to shop in the spring and fall.

Not everyone in your household may be on board, but Stroh said you should remain vigilant in your quest to make a healthier planet.

In order to find out what choices she had for avoiding plastics, using less packaging and buying safer products, Stroh has done hours of research.

As you work to be more environmentally friendly, Stroh said it is important to research companies carefully and make sure their claims are true.

In concluding the workshop, Stroh said it is important to tell others about the changes you are making and why you are making them. Pass it on to educate people.

What Stroh wants people to attain is a beautiful, plastic-free lifestyle. Though there is a lot of information to take in, Stroh said she would like to see those in the class start or continue the journey to detox their life. It is an ongoing process.

We need to continue to learn more ways to return to a sustainable life. It is not possible to be one hundred percent plastic free, garbage free or healthy, but Stroh said it is possible to drastically reduce the amount of unneeded stuff and chemicals in our lives. By doing that, Stroh said you may be able to cut forty percent off your annual spending.

As Bea Johnson said in Zero Waste Home, “we can learn skills to build a sustainable future, we could all consume less and live more. Let’s work towards a future of zero waste. Our health would improve. Cancer, diabetes and asthma rates would drop as we reduce our consumption of synthetic and junk food and own fewer dusting collecting possessions.”

To end the workshop, Stroh shared a quote from Joanna Macy’s book Active Hope In this book, Macy said, “crisis becomes turning point when it provokes us to reach out to others” [and] “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.”

Those in the class were then asked to share what they were inspired to do to make changes. Using fewer bottles, wasting less, and making cleaning and personal care products were some of the answers.

[Angela Reiners]

Resources:
Books
Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
I Quit Plastic and You Can Too by Kate Nelson
Living Without Plastic by Allen & Wong

Websites:
http://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide
Ciel.org/plasticandclimate The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet
Peopleplanetfirst.org
Plasticpollutioncoalition.org
Foodpackagingforum.org
Zerowastechef.org
EWG.org EWG’s Guide to Avoiding PFAS Chemicals.