Keeping it Green | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Keeping it Green

One NYU alum's journey to a waste-free world.

35
Keeping it Green
Pexels

As kids, taking out the trash was arguably one of the worst chores. Lugging the swollen bags outside was, and still is, a tedious and often smelly job. But for environmentalist Lauren Singer, it is no job at all. That is because all the trash she has produced in the past several years can fit inside a single mason jar.

Singer has made it her mission to live a zero-waste lifestyle. That means no trash, period. While taking her environmental studies capstone course in her senior year at New York University, Singer grew frustrated at a fellow classmate who would bring her lunch to class every day in disposable plastic containers. However, she realized when preparing a meal at her apartment one day, everything in her fridge was wrapped in plastic.

“I felt like such a hypocrite,” Singer said.

So, she decided to do something about it. Slowly, Singer rid herself of products with wasteful packaging and transitioned to making her own after being inspired by Bea Johnson, a California mother whose blog, “Zero Waste Home”, details how she lives a waste-free lifestyle. Now Singer makes everything from her own toothpaste to laundry detergent.

Singer also created her own blog, “Trash is for Tossers”, that seeks to educate people on how to make their own eco-friendly household products and lessen their waste output.

“People were asking me the same questions over and over again about my lifestyle,” she explained, “so I started to blog about my lifestyle to answer those questions.”

Eventually, Singer decided to take her waste-free initiative one step further by starting her own company, The Simply Co., which produces a line of organic, toxin-free cleaning products, all in an effort to make a greener lifestyle more accessible to the average time-constrained American.

After receiving over $41,000 in donations on Kickstarter in November 2014, $30,000 dollars over her original goal, Singer’s laundry detergent, made only with baking soda, washing soda, and organic, vegan castile soap, is now available for purchase on the company's website, retailing for $20 for a 50-load box.

After testing recipes for her cleaning products for several years, Singer is hopeful others will not only use her products, but also share in her dream to produce less landfill waste and help the earth breathe a little easier.

“If you believe in something, live it,” Singer said, “It’s worked well for me.”

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190262
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14933
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457889
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26647
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments