Curiously Green is an exclusive Earth 911 series showcasing the adventures of individuals attempting to go green. This month Nyree from Peterborough, England, continues her New Year’s Resolution of a zero waste lifestyle.

My three month zero waste challenge is now over. And I am ecstatic!!! This has been one long, hard challenge!

At first I thought it was going to be quite easy. But after three months I am thoroughly fed up with the whole thing. Here’s a quick recap:

Nearly Zero Waste . . .

I am really pleased with myself for lasting three months and I feel I’ve achieved something really special. However at the end I did have a half bag full of trash—I didn’t live completely zero waste.

I have greatly reduced the waste I produce. I would usually have created at least one bag of waste a month. I also learned about living more efficiently, thinking about my impact on the environment, and inspiring others to think about their impact.

Now that the challenge has finished, there is no way I could buy something with lots of packaging; I would feel too guilty. The change is so marked that my shopping habits can be clearly split pre and post challenge!

Almost everything about our lifestyles is set up to produce waste. Non-recyclable packaging is used so widely that it is difficult to avoid. I changed what brands and products I bought, as well as where I shopped.

I battled through because I knew it was a temporary experiment, but I certainly couldn’t keep it up full time. It’s just too difficult! And I imagine it would be a million times harder for people with children.

What’s in the Waste?

My three month’s worth of waste was overwhelmingly food packaging. I shopped at farmer’s markets and independent shops and still couldn’t avoid it.

For fruit, vegetables, meat and bread it was easy: I just took my own containers with me. But for staples like pasta, rice, juices, cereals, chocolate and biscuits it was so much harder because independent shops/farmers don’t sell them.

There are also annoying things like the plastic wrappers from toilet rolls, tampon applicators, some plastic bottles (because my council isn’t set up to recycle them).

Another common item in my waste was plastic wrappers/useless freebies sent to me through the mail. At least with the other items I chose to buy them; with unsolicited mail I have no choice.

Final Thoughts

• I have met some amazing people who I admire for their low carbon lifestyles and understand how hard it is now; thanks for your support
• I seem to have started a mini-revolution amongst my family and friends who are now all trying the challenge
• The weight loss was a pleasant surprise, from cutting out the packaging-heavy fatty and sugary foods I used to indulge on!
• Last week I met someone who suggested that as a grand finale, I should take my bag of waste and hand it back to the supermarket. Well, she actually suggested that for some real drama I should turn up at the store naked and empty the waste on the floor before marching out. I’m afraid there is no way I am doing that, but if enough people want me to hand back the rubbish (fully clothed) then I will! Let me know your thoughts!

Nyree Ambarchian is the Marketing & Communications Officer for the Peterborough Environment City Trust in England.