An individual reflection on climate steps and actions to combat our contributing to plastic pollution
Happy New Year and Happy Lunar New Year!
Like many, I am grateful for so much presently in my life, yet I can freeze-up attempting to look-ahead, dreading the looming climate chaos we face as a planet. Listening to the discussion about dread and a nagging sense of doom (including about climate change) by the presenters of the More than a Feeling podcast mini-series on National Public Radio, I took heart from their advice. In the show, Psychologist Ali Mattu notes, “The purpose of dread is to prepare you,…help you think about what might happen. It’s to help you take actions you can right now.” In an attempt to face my fears and act in the present, I am engaging with Climate Steps and its ideas for action.
In preparation, I first brainstormed my uses of fossil fuels and waste/pollution generation, etc. My transportation footprint is already reduced, as I tele-work except for the two days when I take a bus and subway to the office. Our home energy use is relatively efficient, but we’re working on improving further. Our rowhouse is insulated by party walls with our neighbors and is shared with a community of six other adults, so our energy usage per person is significantly less than if we lived in a standalone, single-family home. A decade ago we had an energy audit done and made many of the changes recommended. We replaced and insulated the roof, replaced water-heaters, upgraded to a programmable thermostat, and put in low-flow fixtures. We’re going to make time to read our efficiency report again, looking for outstanding opportunities, and incorporate them into a household climate action plan. We are also looking into hiring an energy auditor for an updated assessment.
Plastics are produced from fossil fuels, releasing toxins and greenhouse gases while in use and as waste long-after. We work hard to compost or recycle as much of our waste as possible, feeling like it is a tangible way to reduce our climate impact. However, I just listened to an All Things Considered investigation: Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse. A key takeaway from environmental advocates interviewed is to dramatically reduce production and reliance on plastics, whether officially ‘recyclable’ or not. A few weeks ago I told my spouse I want us to do better about reducing our plastic footprint as part of our next climate steps, but I didn’t have details. Looking through the CSteps’ Personal Planning Tools, I saw the blank template and the plastics theme action plan example and decided to jump in.
A blank action plan, but see the page for how to fill out!
Coming up with specific, plastic-centered actions felt hard at first, but I looked at the example plan and thought about my own home and community. I remembered my city (Washington, DC) is in the process of finalizing our Zero Waste plan, has published a revised draft framework in November 2022, and just closed a public comment period at the end of December (I hear commenting and giving testimony at hearings is a great climate step!). I read an article about it that describes impressive policy recommendations, like restrictions towards eliminating single-use plastic consumption by 2034, having waste collectors and processors operating for the government report material statistics, and expanding extended producer-responsibility programs for hard-to-recycle materials. The prospect of curbside composting is exciting and I am hoping it can expand, once the pilot goes well. I am also hopeful for reduced waste due to proposed building compost and recycling mandates. However, local environmentalists also shared their critiques. As noted in the article, Susan Schorr, the chair of the Zero Waste Committee of Sierra Club’s DC Chapter, said the city’s plan has a focus on waste diversion, but it has taken so long to launch, “that the world is moving on to embrace another goal, which is waste prevention,” and the city needs increased attention to infrastructure for reuse such as wash facilities and return kiosks.
So what will I do to fight plastic waste? Filling in the CSteps template, here is an example of a climate step I am going to do:
1A and B. Who/Goal. As an individual, I will refuse single-use plastic when and where it is possible. While I have started some things, I will get organized and recommit to carrying my own reusable bags, containers, and utensils, and refusing disposables whenever possible. 
1C. What is needed? Investment in reusable gear, a place to store it, a bottlebrush, and a set-up for washing at work. Some people may need funds for buying containers, but I already have some items and I will post a request to my neighbors who might have things they’re not using (our local BuyNothing group is very active). I will write a nice ‘wanted’ post for our neighborhood Facebook group and can use it as an opportunity to share a brief message about my plastics reduction action.
1D. Schedule. For most actions my timeframe is the whole year but for simpler actions I have set initial targets in a month or handful of months. For this particular action I am giving myself until the middle of next month to collect and organize items I need and set up routines, though the end of the year is my overall deadline for refusing disposable plastics, since this is an ongoing activity.
1E. Expected Climate Change Impact. This will help me at least slightly reduce my individual demand for production of plastics from fossil fuels. In a ripple effect I may help raise awareness of opportunities to do the same amongst the neighbors I contact in my local buy-nothing group. I also hope to reduce my contribution to plastic waste. By joining those publicly using reusable products I hopefully will make it feel routine for bystanders and help shift norms.
Another, community-level action I saw on the plastics example plan was to ask my favorite take-out restaurant to upgrade their containers to compostable materials. I borrowed that for my plan because the plastic containers used by a nearby fabulous vegetarian Indian restaurant is the only thing I don’t love about their take-out. I will need to research options that would work for the type of items on their menu, then put together a flyer they could pass along to their management.
Following from the “compostable items” example action, I decided I should make sure my shared housing group uses a composting service that can handle compostable take-out containers. This will require buy-in from our group to participate, and funds, at least for the next year or two until the city is able to roll-out its curbside municipal composting service. Also, I will have to make sure we have an updated ‘cheat-sheet’ displayed at the compost bins and give an overview to the new housemate arriving in a couple weeks.
So here’s the plan:
S.E.’s Climate Steps Plan Against Plastic Pollution
I submitted it to Climate Steps as my steps plan to share – you can find it here: https://climatesteps.org/personal-planning-tools/, under the Shared plans section.
Getting overwhelmed can lead to avoidance. I found using this simple and accessible planning tool helped me think through tangible specific tasks and for climate steps this year. Spelling out expected climate impacts feels helpful to drive follow-through as I am naming the ‘why’ for each planned action. I will set a reminder in my digital calendar to go over my plan in half a year and see how I’ve done. Thank you for reading along as I explore and find my voice on these issues.
Cheers to activating our voices and hands in the new year!
References:
[1] https://www.npr.org/2022/11/22/1138759124/transform-the-way-you-deal-with-dread
[2] https://www.tenpercent.com/mtaf-podcast-episodes/welcome-to-dread-project
[3] https://climatesteps.org/climate-steps/social-community/community-shared-spaces/
[4] https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Plastic-and-Climate-Executive-Summary-2019.pdf
[5] https://climatesteps.org/2019/07/06/plastic-climate-change-part-1/
[6] https://climatesteps.org/personal-planning-tools/
[7] https://zerowaste.dc.gov/zwdcplan
[8] https://climatesteps.org/climate-steps/politics/testifying-and-commenting/
[9] https://www.wastedive.com/news/dc-zero-waste-plan-curbside-compost-pilot/637836/
[10] https://www.sierraclub.org/dc
[11] https://buynothingproject.org/