Sustainably Haley Is For Anyone Who Can’t Live Zero Waste

I think there are probably a lot of people like me out there — people who are living somewhere or in circumstances that make it difficult to live more sustainably but who want to lower their impact on the environment. That’s why I started this blog. I’ve been somewhat environmentally conscious for most of my life, but in the last 2 years I’ve really become more aware of my impact on the planet. I started to read zero waste blogs to try to get some ideas about how to make more sustainable choices in my own life. However, I found that many of the things they suggested just weren’t possible for me.

Not Everyone Can Live Zero Waste

For instance, the closest recycling drop-off to me is about a 2 hour drive away! Now, I still recycle and take it there when I am going anyways or passing through (I live in New Mexico which requires long trips for lots of things big-city folks take for granted!), but it still isn’t convenient.

Another thing they always recommended that I couldn’t do much of? Shopping at farmer’s markets and in bulk! Our farmer’s market only runs for about 3 months of the year and is pretty pitiful (and frankly, I’m also just not a morning person at all so the good stuff is already gone by the time I get there). We have one grocery store that has a small bulk section, but you can’t do a tare weight if you bring your own containers, so you end up paying for the weight of the bulk food AND your container if you bring your own. The bags & containers they supply for the bulk section are plastic.

I started to feel kind of bad about my efforts to make more sustainable choices in my life since it didn’t seem I could do many of the things those blogs suggested. I’d purchased a PHEV, but was feeling bad that I had to throw things away that someone else could have composted or that I had to buy something in packaging because I couldn’t shop in bulk. I was going green against the grain, but it still felt like it wasn’t enough. Eventually I realized that I was doing my best & that had to be enough or I’d just keep feeling bad about myself. I want to help others get to that same place.

But You Can Live More Sustainably

If you’re even conscious of your impact on the environment, you’re already ahead of some people! The environment needs as many people as possible to pitch in however they can to avert a climate disaster. You may not be able to compost or recycle, but you can let your elected officials know how you feel about important legislation that is tied to climate change. That work is just as important. I plan to highlight things like this that ANYONE can do to help the planet at no cost to them. I plan to do a recurring monthly post titled Take Action Tuesday to highlight local organizations that are fighting to make a difference in their areas.

This blog is for all of us who want to help the environment, leave it better than we found it, and reduce our carbon footprint, but for whom living zero waste just isn’t possible. It’s for everyone who lives somewhere or with someone that makes it difficult to make sustainable choices. Maybe you are still living with your parents & don’t have much control over the shopping (been there!). Maybe you, like me, live somewhere with — gasp! — no recycling. Maybe you just don’t have much extra money right now & think you can’t help the environment because you can’t afford the stuff you see advertised on Instagram (you can!). No matter what the reason is that makes you feel you aren’t doing enough or that what you are doing won’t make a difference, this blog is for you!

This blog is all about becoming conscious of the things we have control over that we can change to lessen our impact on the Earth without feeling guilty that we can’t do more. It’s about doing the best we can where we are right now. It’s about going green against the grain. I will never claim to be perfect or to know everything there is to know about sustainability. My hope is that we can all grow together & learn from each other. 

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