The first two days of the trashless period went off without a hitch. Quite honestly, I had hoped there would be a little more strain involved (the knowing angel on my right shoulder is telling me to be careful what I wish for here...)
It's not until leaving the daily routine - my own realm of control - that it gets a little more difficult, and I had my first taste of it last night. I went to a celebration of the Tibetan New Year, bringing a (trashless) growler of beer from the local brewery as my contribution to the party. (The bottle can be returned - cap and all - to the brewer for reuse; unlike most bottles of wine, there are no nit-picky pieces (like foil) that need to be thrown away.)
The party was a lively event with food, drink, music, dancing, and fun.
Music, dancing, and fun? No problem. Food and drink? Not necessarily a problem... until you consider all the disposable plates, cups, and utensils used to partake in them. I enjoyed a few traditional treats that could be eaten as finger food, and luckily I had a coffee cup with me that I used for drinks.
It did remind me, though, that sometimes there's some sensitivity required in balancing an effort like The Trash Project with general rules of social grace.
This was a large gathering of people and it felt appropriate to use my own mug, and also to opt out of most of the food. But what will I do in a situation where it feels rude or insensitive to bring my own utensils into somebody else's home, or to turn something down that's offered by a host?
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