As you know, if you’ve been here a while, I’ve been advocating for zero-waste or low-impact lifestyle for a few years now. From the start, I know it wouldn’t be easy. Often I stumble and find myself creating waste time and time again, but I persevere and am determined to do better next time. For the most part, I would say I’m doing rather well to keep with my determination—I choose reusable more, I sort my waste accordingly and I cut down on my plastic usage as much as I can. Not going to lie, it can sometimes feel like hard work, which is probably why most people are hesitant to try it. However, for me, it all pays off when I realise just how much waste I help reduce in the world.
Of course, here’s what I never realised—and I think this is a pretty common mindset among people in general: this is all pretty fine and dandy when I’m healthy and safe. But what happens when crisis hits?
Introduction to Crisis
It was April 2019 when I was first posed with the challenge of keeping this lifestyle as the world around me crumbled down—my grandmother just recently got admitted to the ICU. As I understood it, she suddenly developed a case of pneumonia. Our family took a train down to Surabaya, where she lived—with what little money we had. It was the first moment I realised that it takes great willpower to keep a sense of stability in life. When it feels like the ground is being pulled from under your feet, you no longer want to hold on to control in your life, let alone solve the world’s waste crisis. You’ve got a crisis of your own; who gives a damn about the ocean?
We ended up staying for about a week there then. There were a lot of plastic containers and disposable packagings being thrown around. Thankfully, I still had enough sanity to pack up some of my reusable kits—straws, cutlery, bottle—but, still, the waste produced at that time was much bigger than I would have liked. Needless to say, I felt doubly bad at the end of it.
A month later, on the first day of Ramadan, we received news that Grandma finally passed on. With the little money we had left, we went back to visit her grave. It was another moment of crisis; this time with more defeat than hope, really. But still that same sense of the ground being pulled from under you, that wish to relinquish control, that reduced care for what climate crisis the rest of the world might have cooked up—they remain the same. This time, having less need to be on guard and hold on to the little shred of hope left, I think we stayed for a shorter period this time, and thus, accumulated less waste. Obviously, it doesn’t make me feel better, but in hindsight, I’m glad of it.
Now, fast forward to the start of this month—March 2021—when I suddenly developed an illness. At first, it was a simple fever with some pain on my buttocks. After being misdiagnosed as haemorrhoid, there turns out to be a growing abscess on my bottom—it got quite serious that I needed surgery to make sure it won’t come back. For a greater part of 2 weeks, I was in major pain, having trouble getting a good night’s rest at night and unable to sit up or walk properly. In other words, it was pure and utter hell.
For the most part, I stayed at home, obviously, so the waste generated during this moment was still pretty much under control. However, between prescription medicine and care materials, the waste started to grow. At one point, I even needed to put diapers and menstrual pads on—having no energy nor time to wash reusable ones in between changing them, I had to opt for the disposable options. You must imagine how my heart broke at this, as I had switched to menstrual cup exactly to avoid accumulating such wastes. At the same time, I understood—and still do, as I’m still wearing them now—why these measures are necessary. I wish they weren’t, but my body right now can yet manage to go without them. I just wish they weren’t so harmful to the environment.
How to Cope
This is what I’ve been thinking about for the past 4 weeks. It breaks my heart that going full zero waste is not yet possible for most people living in urban environments. Perhaps even only those living in rural areas—making do without pre-packaged products and harvesting their own food and homely needs—can truly swear off plastic and other harmful substances. However, for the majority of people, they are still quite inevitable—especially in times of crisis. I’m still lucky; I’m getting better day by day and will soon be able to live normally and actively again—this crisis shall pass for me—but what about those who have to live with a crisis every waking day of their lives?
While I’ve never forced anyone to choose the low-impact lifestyle, I sometimes wonder why more people don’t. Yeah, most of them are able-bodied, have enough means and, therefore, are capable of making the better choice for the environment. But some of them might be fighting invisible battles with whatever crisis they have in their lives—be it mental health, physical health, poverty, abusive relationships, anything—unable to find the will or motivation to think about the world’s waste crisis. It is understandable and I don’t believe we should force them to do so.
Recently, I keep hearing more and more that personal efforts to cut down waste could prove to be futile, especially if corporations and factories remain pumping GHG emissions into the atmosphere or producing plastic materials. While I wouldn’t discount the effort we each make everyday of our lives, I’m also starting to believe this to be true. We shouldn’t have to find alternative ways of living with less waste—big corporations who are supposedly providing for us should make this lifestyle available for us all. Healthy or sick, rich or poor—none of us should have to be forced to endure the negative effect of climate crisis, especially when the ones doing the damage are those powerful institutions with no thought for the earth. Why should individuals suffer while those corporations are making profits from the damage?
Not for Everyone
I’ve always believed that the so-called “zero-waste” lifestyle is not for everyone. In fact, the term “zero waste” itself is such an unattainable concept for the majority of people. It is even more so for underprivileged people or those with special needs.
While I’ve always said that transitioning to this lifestyle can cost almost nothing, it surely doesn’t apply to everyone—you need to already have your basic needs met, for instance, to not spend any more money to go zero waste. It doesn’t apply to people who barely has enough space for the whole family, let alone for any waste-sorting. It also doesn’t apply to people who need to take medications on the daily—which obviously comes pre-packaged. These are things beyond our control; things that someone with greater power and resources should be thinking about, not individuals with barely enough to support themselves.
In short, I am learning to forgive myself the waste I accumulated, due to whatever situation that is beyond my control. At the same time, I will do my best to still do my part wherever and whenever I can, especially when I am equipped well enough to do so. A lot of us are lucky enough to make change, so why not give it a shot? Aside from that, I also keep my fury burning for those companies who refuse to do better and show up for the earth. Because, if I can do better, so can they.
As you know, if you’ve been here a while, I’ve been advocating for zero-waste or low-impact lifestyle for a few years now. From the start, I know it wouldn’t be easy. Often I stumble and find myself creating waste time and time again, but I persevere and am determined to do better next time. For the most part, I would say I’m doing rather well to keep with my determination—I choose reusable more, I sort my waste accordingly and I cut down on my plastic usage as much as I can. Not going to lie, it can sometimes feel like hard work, which is probably why most people are hesitant to try it. However, for me, it all pays off when I realise just how much waste I help reduce in the world.
Of course, here’s what I never realised—and I think this is a pretty common mindset among people in general: this is all pretty fine and dandy when I’m healthy and safe. But what happens when crisis hits?
Introduction to Crisis
It was April 2019 when I was first posed with the challenge of keeping this lifestyle as the world around me crumbled down—my grandmother just recently got admitted to the ICU. As I understood it, she suddenly developed a case of pneumonia. Our family took a train down to Surabaya, where she lived—with what little money we had. It was the first moment I realised that it takes great willpower to keep a sense of stability in life. When it feels like the ground is being pulled from under your feet, you no longer want to hold on to control in your life, let alone solve the world’s waste crisis. You’ve got a crisis of your own; who gives a damn about the ocean?
We ended up staying for about a week there then. There were a lot of plastic containers and disposable packagings being thrown around. Thankfully, I still had enough sanity to pack up some of my reusable kits—straws, cutlery, bottle—but, still, the waste produced at that time was much bigger than I would have liked. Needless to say, I felt doubly bad at the end of it.
A month later, on the first day of Ramadan, we received news that Grandma finally passed on. With the little money we had left, we went back to visit her grave. It was another moment of crisis; this time with more defeat than hope, really. But still that same sense of the ground being pulled from under you, that wish to relinquish control, that reduced care for what climate crisis the rest of the world might have cooked up—they remain the same. This time, having less need to be on guard and hold on to the little shred of hope left, I think we stayed for a shorter period this time, and thus, accumulated less waste. Obviously, it doesn’t make me feel better, but in hindsight, I’m glad of it.
Now, fast forward to the start of this month—March 2021—when I suddenly developed an illness. At first, it was a simple fever with some pain on my buttocks. After being misdiagnosed as haemorrhoid, there turns out to be a growing abscess on my bottom—it got quite serious that I needed surgery to make sure it won’t come back. For a greater part of 2 weeks, I was in major pain, having trouble getting a good night’s rest at night and unable to sit up or walk properly. In other words, it was pure and utter hell.
For the most part, I stayed at home, obviously, so the waste generated during this moment was still pretty much under control. However, between prescription medicine and care materials, the waste started to grow. At one point, I even needed to put diapers and menstrual pads on—having no energy nor time to wash reusable ones in between changing them, I had to opt for the disposable options. You must imagine how my heart broke at this, as I had switched to menstrual cup exactly to avoid accumulating such wastes. At the same time, I understood—and still do, as I’m still wearing them now—why these measures are necessary. I wish they weren’t, but my body right now can yet manage to go without them. I just wish they weren’t so harmful to the environment.
How to Cope
This is what I’ve been thinking about for the past 4 weeks. It breaks my heart that going full zero waste is not yet possible for most people living in urban environments. Perhaps even only those living in rural areas—making do without pre-packaged products and harvesting their own food and homely needs—can truly swear off plastic and other harmful substances. However, for the majority of people, they are still quite inevitable—especially in times of crisis. I’m still lucky; I’m getting better day by day and will soon be able to live normally and actively again—this crisis shall pass for me—but what about those who have to live with a crisis every waking day of their lives?
While I’ve never forced anyone to choose the low-impact lifestyle, I sometimes wonder why more people don’t. Yeah, most of them are able-bodied, have enough means and, therefore, are capable of making the better choice for the environment. But some of them might be fighting invisible battles with whatever crisis they have in their lives—be it mental health, physical health, poverty, abusive relationships, anything—unable to find the will or motivation to think about the world’s waste crisis. It is understandable and I don’t believe we should force them to do so.
Recently, I keep hearing more and more that personal efforts to cut down waste could prove to be futile, especially if corporations and factories remain pumping GHG emissions into the atmosphere or producing plastic materials. While I wouldn’t discount the effort we each make everyday of our lives, I’m also starting to believe this to be true. We shouldn’t have to find alternative ways of living with less waste—big corporations who are supposedly providing for us should make this lifestyle available for us all. Healthy or sick, rich or poor—none of us should have to be forced to endure the negative effect of climate crisis, especially when the ones doing the damage are those powerful institutions with no thought for the earth. Why should individuals suffer while those corporations are making profits from the damage?
Not for Everyone
I’ve always believed that the so-called “zero-waste” lifestyle is not for everyone. In fact, the term “zero waste” itself is such an unattainable concept for the majority of people. It is even more so for underprivileged people or those with special needs.
While I’ve always said that transitioning to this lifestyle can cost almost nothing, it surely doesn’t apply to everyone—you need to already have your basic needs met, for instance, to not spend any more money to go zero waste. It doesn’t apply to people who barely has enough space for the whole family, let alone for any waste-sorting. It also doesn’t apply to people who need to take medications on the daily—which obviously comes pre-packaged. These are things beyond our control; things that someone with greater power and resources should be thinking about, not individuals with barely enough to support themselves.
In short, I am learning to forgive myself the waste I accumulated, due to whatever situation that is beyond my control. At the same time, I will do my best to still do my part wherever and whenever I can, especially when I am equipped well enough to do so. A lot of us are lucky enough to make change, so why not give it a shot? Aside from that, I also keep my fury burning for those companies who refuse to do better and show up for the earth. Because, if I can do better, so can they.