Whether you call it “trash” or “waste,” what we throw away matters. A lot. Because our landfills generate methane and carbon dioxide, potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. They also generate volatile organic compounds, dust and particulate matter that contribute to air pollution.
Trash is comprised of things we buy – food, clothes, office supplies, carpet and especially the packaging for all of it. Much of our trash represents inefficiencies, linear thinking and practices, and habits.
I’m here to help you get as close as possible to zero, through foundational waste audits, reviews of your purchasing practices and specifications, and assessments of logistics and operations. – Jennifer Pinkerton
Zero Waste Audits
Expose inefficiencies, target reuse, purchase smart, dispose responsibly. I can help your business find ways to be more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective.
Zero Waste Event Planning
We will work together, planning in advance, to identify collaborators, adjust wasteful practices, source alternative products and, importantly, shift human behavior.
Program Development
Establishing a recycling collection, zero waste or environmentally preferable purchasing program? Having an experienced eye review your programs can be very useful.
I will bring to your business my expertise in recycling, zero waste, policy, plastics, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and marketing/outreach developed over decades in the solid waste industry working with governments, nonprofits and the private sector.
Here are a few examples of how my decades of experience resulted in reduced costs and lowered waste generation:
To reduce the number of consumer-style batteries that needed to be managed through its hazardous waste program, and to help ensure that used batteries were not being disposed as trash, a government directed its employees to use rechargeable batteries. But nothing happened. Here’s why: The government’s purchasing unit did not have a contract for rechargeable batteries, so they had to be ordered through an “off-contract” process that usually took 3 months. In addition, there was no contract for battery chargers, and management had not decided the “how” of charging. Who would be responsible? The solution was a one-page City Council memo I drafted that directed Purchasing to add chargers to its office supply contract, managers to purchase one charger/office and assign an employee to manage the charging process.
A government office was throwing away barely-used file folders and other supplies – a waste of resources and money. As with many things, the “why” was key and the solution easy. There was no place to stock used but still-usable office supplies. A used storage cabinet from Salvage operations that displayed a simple sign provided a home for these items.
Fleet managers at a large utility company balked at using re-refined motor oil in their vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks and other equipment, even though their employer required the use of recycled products, including motor oil. I knew that a peer-to peer approach would be the most valuable, so I invited three people to meet with the managers. A representative from the America Petroleum Institute, which certifies motor oil, to explain the certification process and attest that re-refined motor oil was superior to non-recycled oil in many ways; a utility attorney who refuted the claim that use of re-refined motor oil invalidated vehicle warranties; and a fleet manager from another large utility, who described the lengthy testing process used by his employer to verify the oil worked well.
A government agency generated thousands of used tires of all types annually. Fleet managers refused to purchase retreaded tires or to have its own used tires retreaded, claiming they were unsafe, as demonstrated by “strips” of tires seen on freeways. Retreading entails replacing worn treads. As with motor oil, I invited experts to meet the managers: A representative from the State of California, which has one of the state’s largest fleet and regularly had its passenger tires retreaded without impacts to vehicle handling or any additional accidents. A utility company representative discussed retreading of tires for large and heavy-duty vehicles. A retreading company owner provided information about the retreading process and quality assurance program, along with a tour of his facility. He also advised that airplane tires are retreaded. Retreading is significantly less expensive than new tire purchases, extends the life of tires and the generation of waste tires.
HALL OF SHAME
unnecessary / egregiously excessive plastic packaging and products
The wrong scoop
No more plastic scoops! Just tell us the serving size already. We can measure.
What to do about it?
Two options: Send a letter to the manufacturer. They don’t need to add unnecessary plastic items to their products, continuing our reliance on fossil fuels and exacerbating climate change for people too lazy to find a teaspoon in their drawer. You’ll find downloadable letters in the Sound Off section of this website (coming soon). Ask retailers if there are equivalent products without the scoop. If enough people ask, retailers will pass that message along to their suppliers.
This Stinks!
Packaging is about branding and protecting the product. But this is ridiculous. The actual deodorant is protected by the exterior case and it sits below the top of the case. No way is it going to get smushed during transit.
What to do about it?
Consider brands with less wasteful and recyclable packaging. A quick search found Soap & Salve, which uses paperboard tubes, while Ecoroots.com offers a “pit paste” packaged in glass jars that can be reused. I’ve ordered both and will let you know what I think.
Get creative: Make your own with baking soda & cornstarch or baking soda & coconut oil (great project for kids).
Not so sweet
I appreciated the gift (who doesn’t love chocolate). But TWO plastic inserts to protect foil-wrapped chocolates is beyond good.
What to do about it?
Tell the manufacturer to get real using a downloadable letter from this website (Sound Off section, coming soon) that you customize. Buy the good stuff: Individual truffles and bonbons.