Opt-Out October: Falling Out of Love with Plastic

Opt-Out October was started by a small group of environmental badasses on Kauai. Formed around the concept of kicking disposable plastic’s buttasana, the group is encouraging folks to begin where they are, work towards eliminating wasteful plastics from their diets, and becoming more mindful about purchases and interactions with their trash. The challenge:

• Rule No. 1: TRY, really, really try, not to buy any plastic.*
• Rule No. 2: Challenge a friend!
• Rule No. 3: Share! The good, the bad, and the ugly.

*Opt-Out October had several addendums to add to Rule No. 1 as we all know the day will come that we accidentally end up with plastic we didn’t want or need…their full list of rules and sub-rules can be seen here!

Opt-Out of Disposability

It’s been a minute since I participated in a challenge like Opt-Out October and going into the fall season, I felt like a plastic-diet/restart might be good for my body, home, and planet. Frankly, I feel like the entire planet should be doing this, what with all the takeout we’ve all been consuming these last several months, but I digress…

Four days into Opt-Out October and here are my big wins:

1. Picking up a dish soap refill and hand made bar soap at a zero waste shop in Penticton, BC + reusing an old dish soap bottle
2. Buying apples without a plastic bag
3. Using reusable chopsticks instead of disposable chopsticks
4. Finding locally-made gelato for a get-together with friends in a package that is commercially compostable (like, actually) – at another nearby zero-waste shop!
5. Hooray! A coffee shop that let us BYOMug! Just like the good ‘ole days.

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And here is where I’ve discovered some areas for improvement:

1. Eating out. Delicious…but still a struggle. On this particular day, at this particular restaurant, there was no option for us to bring our own containers (BYOC) or to sit-in with reusable bowls/cutlery. Pre-COVID, this establishment was happy to serve us in our own bowls. I am keeping my fingers crossed that, like Ahhhnahld, BYOC will be back. 😉
2. Feminine products – thoughts below.
3. Thank-you-for-dining-with-us candy. The service was so great and our waiter was so good, that when he dropped a few after-dinner treats on the table, I didn’t even think before popping one into my mouth. AGH.

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As I mentioned previously, this isn’t the first time I’ve done this kind of challenge but this time around I’m keenly aware of how important mindfulness of our daily habits and patterns are in making this kind of thing stick. The more we are on autopilot, the more we consume, and specifically the more MINDLESSLY we consume.

Opt-Out October asks: Do I really need it?

When I went to purchase the dish soap refill, I almost bought a new metal pump top that would screw onto the jar but then I stopped myself. I knew waiting for me at home was an empty (plastic) dish soap bottle. It’s not pretty but it’s still in good shape and why not reuse it?

I saw myself getting caught in the “this thing must look pretty on my counter” mind trap and it was hard to pull myself out. But, I did. Sure, the pump top is reusable and made of mostly metal (vs plastic) but doesn’t the old adage go… (and what many of the zero waste bloggers have been saying for years)…use what you already have?

And have we forgotten the OG Rs? “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?” I’ve REDUCED my consumption of plastic dish soap bottles by REUSING the bottle I have and when it falls apart, I’ll RECYCLE it and REPLACE with a higher quality product.

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Getting Squeamish

I have never talked about feminine products or cycles on this blog, but I’m going to now ever so briefly to connect the dots between awareness of our bodies and the ability to plan ahead.

It’s like this: the more you are self-aware and truly mindful and not rushing through every moment, the more you are able to pause, really SEE things, and consider alternate thoughts or actions. So, the logic follows that if you are a-tune to what’s happening in your body (which requires slowing down, listening to cues, and investigating them) you can course correct more effectively.

For those who experience monthly cycles, the logic follows that if you know when yours happens, you can plan accordingly…and if possible (and if it’s your bag)…you can eliminate disposable feminine care products entirely and transition with confidence to reusable options. Ok, that’s all, the end. 😇

Opt into the Local Movement (when you do need something)

What I most love about the movement towards zero waste is that at the same time that it’s promoting using less (and, and, and…) it’s also encouraging supporting the local movement. A two-fer! 😀

There are now SO MANY small businesses jumping in with both feet to provide low waste options! Just in the last 48 hours, I was able to support 6+ different small businesses, all based in BC and most of them hyper local to me.

I see so much of this happening more and more. COVID was just a catalyst for this to really explode and maybe that’s the best silver lining to all this chaos. People are proud of their purchases when they buy local and want to show them off. Local is unique. I can’t say the same about big box stores. And, I certainly can’t say the same for the corporations sucking our planet dry of its petroleum, to be spun into more, new plastic.

The planet doesn’t need more plastic. It needs us to Opt-Out of the system that is trashing it!