Amid the chaos of an eight-day sanitation strike during the Fourth of July weekend, many Fairmount residents grappled with overflowing trash bins, but one family enjoyed a sense of relief and control over their waste management.
Kim Paymaster, a local resident, found herself focused on entertaining family and addressing home repairs instead of worrying about trash.
As her neighbors fretted over rubbish piling up, the Paymasters were not fazed, generating very little waste in their household.
“We usually take our trash out about every three to four weeks. I get upset when it’s three,” Paymaster remarked with humor.
This low-waste lifestyle stems from a deliberate choice to minimize trash generation through various sustainable practices.
Paymaster, along with other zero-waste advocates in the city, has cultivated habits that prioritize composting, recycling, and product reuse, effectively avoiding creating trash altogether.
They actively choose to bring their own containers and mugs to shops, and opt for eco-friendly purchases that come with minimal packaging.
While this approach requires some effort and extra expenses, they believe the resulting environmental benefits and cleanliness of their homes substantiate the investment.
“It’s very easy to look at your trash situation and just get very discouraged by it. I’ve implemented little things over a long period of time, and now it’s paying off for the eight days that we had this trash strike — which is great,” said Kristin Skyrm, a sustainability expert who resides in Fishtown.
Kim Paymaster’s journey into sustainability began during the pandemic, a time when residential waste levels surged and waste management systems faltered.
A deep dive into the flaws of the recycling system, including the grim realities of waste being shipped overseas, ignited her passion for waste reduction.
She connected with local groups like Circular Philadelphia and a plastic reduction initiative, further reinforcing her commitment to minimizing household waste.
Scott Kelly, an architect from Chestnut Hill and member of Circular Philadelphia, also reflected on transformative experiences that fostered his commitment to a low-waste lifestyle.
His awareness sharpened during extended trips where he witnessed the value of resource conservation firsthand.
He stated, “You become very conscious of all the resources you use, not just the materials.”
Circular Philadelphia, led by Nic Esposito, encourages recycling and reusable product use among its members.
Esposito praised local businesses like Ray’s Reusables, which allows consumers to fill glass jars with eco-friendly, low-packaging products, emphasizing the importance of waste not created.
Esposito has also founded Unless Kids, a company that helps reduce waste by renting out toys to families until their children outgrow them.
A highlight for many residents focused on sustainability has been Rabbit Recycling, known for accepting a wide range of recyclable items beyond what the city collects.
“It’s invaluable,” noted Paymaster, citing the convenience of having hard-to-recycle items like batteries and light bulbs disposed of properly.
Composting emerged as a crucial strategy during the trash strike, drastically reducing waste for many households.
Providers like Bennett Compost and Circle Compost offer services that allow residents to dispose of organic waste responsibly.
Skyrm pointed out that having compost services helped clear out biodegradable waste during the trash strike.
She stated, “Not having biodegradables like banana peels, coffee grounds, and moldy leftovers hanging around made it a snap to get through the strike.”
Esposito echoed this sentiment, noting the absence of unpleasant smells from garbage cans, which made the strike more manageable.
In contrast, Kelly highlighted the ease of managing grass clippings and food scraps in his backyard composter.
He emphasized that composting nurtures the soil, reiterating the ecological benefits of reducing landfill waste.
Despite their successes, zero-waste advocates recognize the challenges others face.
For families dealing with litter boxes or diapers, transitioning to waste-minimizing practices may seem daunting.
Financial costs associated with composting and recycling services can also present barriers.
However, advocates like Esposito believe that if more people adopted these practices, the environmental impacts could be significant both individually and for the city at large.
He criticized the city’s traditional waste management strategy, suggesting that innovative methods are necessary to complement basic trash pickup services.
“The trash strike served as a reminder that simply relying on curbside pickup doesn’t work,” Esposito noted.
Kelly urged the community to view the situation as an opportunity for awareness surrounding waste management.
“This trash strike could be a really good thing because we’re going to become more aware of our trash,” he said.
Residents are now encouraged to engage in discussions about reducing consumption, reusing materials, and enhancing their recycling habits, thereby addressing the issues of waste effectively.
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