WEEK 16

this week, your challenge is to... 

• try grocery shopping waste-free. 
• don't be intimidated, it's completely feasible!
• (1) bring a box filled with mason jars/containers to a bulk food store. 
• I went here!
• (2) when you walk in, ask the cashier to weigh your containers before filling them. 
• (3) fill each container up with whatever you need. 
• (4) when you get to the cash register, they will weigh each container and subtract it's original weight. 
• after calculating, we found that it ended up being cheaper than COSTCO!
• (5) then we walked next door to the farmer's market. 
• I went here!
• (6) we bought all of our fruits and veggies without any packaging.
• make sure to bring your own re-usable bags because otherwise they'll use plastic bags. 

WEEK 15

this week, your challenge is to... 

• shop second hand. 
• 3% of global CO2 emissions are associated with clothing (out-sourced production, shipping, washing, drying, etc.) 
• shopping second hand saves good clothing from piling up in a landfill. 
• plus, it lowers the demand for clothing production! 

here are some super cool (and affordable) thrift shops around montreal...

(1) NOVA 

(2) Armée du Salut

(3) Eva B

(4) Village des Valeurs

(5) Cul-de-Sac

(6) Annex Vintage

(7) Lost and Found

(8) Empire Exchange

*9) VarageSale

WEEK 14

this week, your challenge is to... 

• recycle styrofoam.
• although you cannot recycle styrofoam on your own (in my city at least), you can bring it to a municipal garage and they will recycle it for you.
• in the city of kirkland, you can deposit your styrofoam here!
• if you are unsure about your city's regulations, give them a phone call!
• for example, your town should have an information page like this one!

WEEK 13

this week, your challenge is to... 

• visit your local farmer's market.
• (1) handmade and homegrown food means less packaging.
• (2) shopping local is better for the environment. 
• (3) farmer's markets support local families and farmers. 
• (4) you will know where your food comes from. 
• (5) shopping local will save you a few dollars.
• (6) visiting communal events allows you to connect with your community.
• here are some great farmer's markets around Quebec. 
• if you are looking to REDUCE plastic packaging, you can check out this farm. 
• every week, you can select which fruits and veggies you would like.
• then, you can pick up the boxes of food from pick-up spots near you!
• the fresh, organic produce is delivered in returnable cardboard boxes.
• although some of the smaller produce is packaged, it certainly reduces the amount of plastic packaging that you would normally get from grocery stores. 
• you can recycle your plastic bags here once you are done with them. 

WEEK 12

this week, your challenge is to... 

• make your own cleaning products. 
• WHO? --> you!
• WHAT? --> dish soap, glass cleaner, wooden floor cleaner, greasy pot rescue, sink cleaner, sticky residue remover. 
• WHERE? --> at home. 
• WHEN? --> when you run out of your current supply, make these instead of buying new ones. 
• WHY? --> (1) to reduce waste. (2) to avoid harsh chemicals. (3) to save money. 
• HOW? --> Find all the recipes here!

WEEK 11

this week, your challenge is to... 

• start composting.
• (1) to minimize landfills.
• > residential waste is made up of 40% compostable materials!
• (2) to save money.
• > you'll no longer have to buy chemical fertilizers.  
• (3) to save resources. 
• > compost helps with water retention so you'll waste less water. 
• (4) to improve your soil. 
• > compost returns valuable nutrients to the soil. 
• (5) to reduce your environmental impact. 
• > decrease CO2 emissions caused by vehicles who transport waste. 
• > stop chemical fertilizers from running off into our rivers, lakes and streams. 
• > diminish groundwater pollution caused by buried organics (when they react with metals in landfills).

- Check out these basic tips to become more familiar with composting. 

- Look up your city's composting regulations to see if there is a program you can follow.
- Watch this video to learn how to compost on your own! 

WEEK 10

this week, your challenge is to... 

• reduce fast food. 
• (something to think about): in one visit to a fast food restaurant, your food will be wrapped in paper, shoved in a plastic bag/paper sack that is filled with paper napkins, plastic straws, plastic utensils, and condiments wrapped in plastic...
• FAST FOOD IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO WASTE FLOATING IN THE OCEAN. (49%!!!) 
• you don't need to completely eliminate fast food cold turkey...just try to lessen. 

WEEK 9

this week, your challenge is to... 

• make your own deodorant. 
• (1) to reduce disposable packaging.
• (2) to know exactly what you're putting on your body (no more weird chemicals).
• (3) to save a few dollars!

RECIPE:

- 2 tablespoons baking soda. 
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch. 
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil. 
- 5 drops of your favourite essential oil. 

--> Mix all ingredients in a bowl. 

--> Pour/Scoop mixture into a little jar or container. 

--> Cover and store in your bathroom cupboard. 

WEEK 8

this week, your challenge is to... 

• eliminate paper towels and napkins.
• choose to reuse dish towels and fabric napkins instead. 

read up on this article to learn about the environmental impacts of paper towels.

WEEK 7

this week, your challenge is to... 

• switch to using bamboo toothbrushes. 
• (1) over 4.7 billion plastic toothbrushes are dumped in landfills every year.

Make your household more environmentally conscious by buying a toothbrush like this one!

WEEK 6

this week, your challenge is to... 

• start making your own bread.
• (1) to reduce plastic packaging.
• (2) to know exactly what you're eating (no more weird chemicals).
• (3) to wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread!

RECIPE:

- 3 cups flour (I suggest unbleached). 

- 1/2 tsp. yeast. 

- 1 tsp. salt.

-1 1/2 cups water. 

--> Mix all ingredients in a bowl. 

--> Cover bowl and let sit overnight. 

--> (Next day) Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 

--> Transfer risen dough into a pot (I use a cast iron dutch oven).

--> Bake for 30 minutes covered.

--> Remove cover and bake for another 10 minutes. 

WEEK 5

this week, your challenge is to... 

• pack to-go meals with re-usable containers.
• if you must use a Ziploc bag, wash it afterwards and re-use it.

- Some stores will take your plastic bags and recycle them for you...Find the nearest store that can do that for you here!

- Check out what else you can recycle here!

WEEK 4

this week, your challenge is to...

• replace paper towels and napkins with rags and cloth napkins.
•  if your paper towels are unbleached, you can also compost them... 
• - discover tips & tricks for composting here!

WEEK 3

this week, your challenge is to... 

• never use a plastic bag again. 
• bring your own re-usable bags to the grocery store. 
• if you struggle to remember your bags...
• (1) keep them in your car/purse/backpack. 
• (2) hang them up in an obvious place.
• (3) use boxes at the store and recycle them afterwards.
• (4) carry your groceries out without a bag.

- learn how to (easily) make a bag out of an old shirt here!
- buy recyclable/re-usable produce bags here!

WEEK 2

this week, your challenge is to... 

• stop using plastic utensils and straws.
• as of now, always pack stainless steel silverware with you and sip straight from the cup. 

Check out The Last Plastic Straw for more information on how/why we need to stop using straws!

WEEK 1

this week, your challenge is to...

• buy a re-usable water bottle. 
• from now on, avoid disposable bottles at all costs. 

check out your city's website to clarify recycling regulations...
Example

why go waste-free?

• for yourself.
• save money.
• one re-usable item (water bottle) > numerous disposable items (plastic bottles). 
• to better your nutrition. 
• healthy, homemade meals > processed, pre-packaged foods.
• for the environment.
• reduce landfills. 
• fewer wrappings = less trash. 
• conserve resources. 
• fewer disposable packages = less energy for production, less fuel for transport.
• for others. 
• teach future (and current) generations about developing green habits.