kaili cochran
Words by Kaili Cochran
“If food waste were a country it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.” This is what Kevin Anderson, senior coordinator of Ogier Gardens at the University of North Florida, shared with me during a composting workshop he led. It’s a statistic that sticks with me whenever the topic of eco-friendly or zero-waste living comes up.
Waste has become such a regular part of our lives that we often don’t think twice about it. Even something as simple as not finishing all the food on our plates contributes to the problem.
With Earth Day approaching April 22, there is an increase in conversation surrounding the topics of reducing waste and saving the planet.
But why should Earth Day only come once a year? As I looked into how Jacksonville contributes to eco-friendly efforts, I found several local businesses that are working toward sustainability every day.
Take Eco Eclectic, for example. Founded by Sara Fagen, it is an eco-friendly shop that promotes the use of recycled material in everyday items. Offering anything from detergents and dish soaps to thrifted clothing, Eco Eclectic also offers “refill” stations to promote a more sustainable way of refilling your favorite products. The bottles Fagen sells her refill products in are even made from recycled plastics.
Then there’s Cultivate Jax which houses multiple small businesses. This shop sells handmade artwork, jewelry, bags and more. Almost everything in this shop goes toward the planet whether it’s recycled, handmade, or gardening and sustainability products.
Other businesses such as Plato’s Closet or Beam Thrift are helping with waste because they are focused on reusing products to the fullest.
At Plato’s Closet, you can bring in gently used clothing, shoes and purses and they will be re-sold to customers. At Beam Thrift, you can find second-hand furniture, books, home decor, and jewelry.
There are a good handful of stores I haven’t mentioned that also take precautions to promote a healthier planet. But even so, you don’t have to shop at these locations to make a difference. Making small adjustments to your daily routine can help reduce waste.
For example, switching from plastic to reusable bags when shopping, carrying a large bottle to refill, and donating or passing along clothes and household items before throwing them away.
Earth Day may be a reminder, but the real challenge is making eco-friendly choices part of our everyday lives.
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Reducing Waste: Benefits and Facts
- Reusable water bottles, shopping bags and composting help reduce emissions and save costs.
- If you are traveling and your destination is within walking or biking distance, you not only help the planet (each gallon of gas spews 19 pounds of carbon dioxide in the air) but riding a bike or walking, you also save money on gas.
- Plastic bags can take between 500-1,000 years to decompose. They make up 10% of garbage, polluting U.S. beaches.
- Roughly 80% of items buried in landfills could be recycled instead.
- The average office employee throws away over 300 pounds of recyclable paper each year.
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