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Sometimes our choices in life can be frustrating to people. And I know and accept that some of my choices have been frustrating to people in my life. Some people don't want to see alternatives because they don't want their lives changed in any way. Well, I wanted to take a moment to apologize. I'm sorry that I don't think about money first, but rather people, animals, and the planet. I'm sorry that I think about long term effects, not instant gratification. I'm sorry that I think about how my decisions will effect others around me. I'm sorry that I think so much. I'm sorry that I care about having a healthy planet for us to live on. I'm sorry that I care about future generations having a healthy planet to live on. I'm sorry that I smile at people when I see them because it's contagious. I'm sorry that I don't need the newest phone to make my life better. I'm sorry that I don't need a new car to give me status. I'm sorry that I don't need new things to make me happy. I'm sorry that I choose possessions and activities that are better for the planet. I'm sorry that I think recycling has been a failure as a solution for our waste problem. I'm sorry that secondhand is my favorite brand. I'm sorry that I avoid buying certain food because I don't want more packaging waste under our feet. I'm sorry that I choose a diet to positively impact the health of our planet, our animals, and myself. I'm sorry that I don't have an Amazon account and choose to support small businesses. I'm sorry that I don't take leaders seriously who deny climate change and don't fight for our one shared planet. I'm sorry that I'm compassionate and empathetic, which are not typically considered "masculine" traits. I'm sorry that I believe everyone on this planet is in this together. I'm sorry that I value honesty more than anything. I'm sorry that I wasn't being honest with any of the statements above. I'm not sorry about those things at all.

I'm happy to officially say that I'll be bringing The REUSE! Box Truck Tiny House to my alma mater,  Northeastern University . It will be our first event with the truck at NU and it will be featured at their Inaugural Sustainability Innovation Week. Back when I was a journalism student at the school in the late 90s, all I wanted to do was graduate. I had started a street promotions company early on with another student and actually graduated in 4 years, instead of 5. Never did I imagine the chain of events in the music industry and waste that would lead me back to the school. I've actually spoken at the school a couple of times over the years and was also part of an NU student film called, Plastic Linings . Northeastern faculty member and environmental activist Madhavi Venkatesan is featured in The Box Truck Film . And Northeastern actually came to see the Box Truck  and talk to Deek and I a while back. So, we're definitely looking forward to finally bringing our Reuse Roadshow to our old stomping grounds. Fun Fact #1: My co-builder of the REUSE! Box Truck, Derek "Deek" Diedricksen, also graduated from Northeastern the same year. We didn't meet until 15 years later, though. Fun Fact #2: The event is on March 11th (3/11), a holiday for a big fan of the band 311 like me. Note my hat in my NU Student ID and my dorm room below. This was my second year dorm room at Northeastern. I've parted ways with most of those 311 items, but I'll definitely be wearing my jersey to celebrate the day. Check out the Escape The Waste Calendar  for more info on our events and learn about booking your own.

Today, I'd like to announce one of our new partners: Song of the Robin Vegan Bed & Breakfast and Animal Sanctuary. Located near Albany, New York, Song of the Robin (formerly Red Robin Song) is an incredible escape not only for humans, but also animals. It's one of the only vegan bed & breakfasts in New England and a sanctuary for rescued farm animals and wildlife. Founder Lisa Robinson's goal is to educate the public about the many things they can do to make this a better world for animals, while striving to improve our planet and our own health. Set on 85 acres in the quiet town of New Lebanon, there are hiking trails, numerous ponds, and plenty of animals to see and interact with. And it's not just typical animals like goats and rabbits. There's actually a herd of yaks! If you're looking to stay inside, the guest house is a cozy getaway, where you can find plenty of space to write, read, or even play the stand up Pac-Man machine. And there is always coffee flowing! A typical scene at Song of the Robin. I first visited Song of the Robin in 2018, when Lisa hosted a film screening and tours of the box truck. Since then, the location has hosted numerous reuse events with me, some of which can be seen in The Box Truck Film. And in addition to rescued animals, there are a lot of rescued features around the sanctuary. Most recently, I worked with Deek to repurpose a rabbit house as a tiny house for people. All of this said, it really was time to make this relationship official! 🚚 🤝 🐷 The REUSE! Box Truck's favorite parking spot at Song of the Robin The Song of the Robin logo will be featured on the movie screen side of the box truck and will be seen by the thousands of people that tour the truck this year. We expect them to host some of the events too! Head over to the Guest House website to learn more and maybe book a visit! 🤝🤝🤝 If you or your organization is interested in partnering with the Escape The Waste team, we've got some spots left. Email me here.

Championing Sustainability for a Global Company in Singapore Last spring, I got a random message from a woman in Singapore about my YouTube Video, "World's Biggest Volkswagen Diecast Model Car Collection" . That woman was Nicole Golloso and she was an avid collector of Volkswagen Beetle toys and was interested in buying some of them. While I wasn't selling any of the cars at the time, we got talking about how they were gathered during a long term consulting job and massive house cleanout that I did. This naturally led to my work in sustainability, which led to Nicole sharing that she works with sustainability in her job for McCann Worldgroup, a global advertising agency with offices in 120 countries. Working for such a huge company across the globe, I thought Nicole would be a great person to talk to about how reuse solutions and the resulting benefits play a role in her life. 1. You're based in Singapore; somewhere I don't know too much about. I was wondering if used clothing and thrift stores are popular like they are in the U.S.? While I don’t think it’s as popular as it is in the U.S., there are actually a good number of thrift stores in Singapore. For clothes, you can find some of it by Haji Lane (an alley filled with shophouses that have been turned into commercial spaces) and Lucky Plaza (shopping centre by Orchard Road mostly known for having many Filipino stores). There is also a brand called ‘Refash’ which has branches around major shopping areas in Singapore where you can sell and buy pre-loved clothes. For furniture or house items, there are also plenty of second-hand and antique shops where you can find beautiful pieces for affordable prices. My favorite spots are Hock Siong and the Tan Boon Liat Building (a 15-story building of mostly furniture shops and showrooms). 2. Relatedly, I'm a big coffee drinker, so if I was to ever visit Singapore, I would head straight for a coffee shop. Are coffee shops in Singapore similar, where most people get coffee in single use, disposable cups? And are reuse options available? Sadly, it’s not yet widely practiced in Singapore. If I’m not mistaken, Starbucks is the only well-known coffee shop that has an all-year round program that encourages this wherein you get 50 cents off your drink if you bring your own cup. Nicole speaks about sustainability at a conference in Malaysia. 3. As a Director of Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a large company, does sustainability get involved in your work? Yes it does. I am one of the Sustainability Champions that represent APAC in our Global Sustainability Community. Apart from actively taking part in sustainability-related discussions, I am also responsible for rolling out sustainability programs, implementing changes in our practices & processes to reduce our carbon footprint, and facilitating training courses (e.g Green Claims, Recycling, etc.) in the markets that I handle. Some of the notable things we’ve done in Singapore include: Putting recycling bins around our office for paper, cans and plastics, and partnering with organizations that turns those into new products (e.g. coasters, carabiners, etc.) Having a compost bin for our food waste Purchasing Second Hand Furniture from thrift and antique stores for all our meeting rooms when we did our office renovations last year Using recyclable materials for costumes and props that we make for our different office parties, and reusing/repurposing office decorations for cultural events. Some of the coasters at Nicole's office made with discarded materials from her office. 4. So, while I'm certainly a solutions guy, we do have to address the problems. Where do you see the most waste in your daily life? Packaging of different food and household items for sure. 5. In your personal experience, how do you think recycling has worked and NOT worked as a solution to waste? One of my biggest challenges is doing the recycling on my own due to constraints in schedule, space etc. Thus, when I set aside items which I don’t want to waste or I’m hoping to recycle such as paper bags, clothes, linens, etc., it just ends up piling up in my condo for nothing. This is why I’m so glad that that there are collection boxes/ bins around Singapore (1 of which is a 5-min walk from my condo) where you can drop off apparels, textiles, household items, electronics etc.. so they can do the recycling for you. (Check this article out: https://mustsharenews.com/textile-recycling-bins/amp/ ) One of the meeting rooms at Nicole's office. Everything in that room, except for the carpet, are second hand and/or restored furniture. 6. How do you think the Philippines could step up the solutions to the waste problem? Have you seen or heard of anything anywhere else? I think education should be a big part of it. The private and public sectors must lead educational campaigns on recycling, segregation, proper waste management etc. with emphasis on its negative short and long term effects. Enforcement policies related to waste management must also be strengthened on an institutional, local and national level. Communities must be engaged actively and probably also incentivized in a way that it could also impact other aspects of their lives in the long run (e.g. supporting or establishing more social enterprises that can provide more jobs) 7. It's funny. I always tell people that reusing is nothing new. It’s been going on long before we were here. Do you have any memories of your parents or grandparents reusing in unique ways? My grandmother is a very fashionable woman with a unique style, and something I remember her doing a lot is repurposing extra textiles or clothes that she has to make it into bags, shoes and accessories. Also, something that’s common in a Filipino household is reusing all sorts of containers to store food. [Nicole is originally from the Philippines] A popular choice? Ice cream tubs to store fish/meat in the freezer. 8. Do you have any notable stories about saving money on something because you bought it used instead of new? It’s not a secret that Singapore is a very expensive country to live in. Apart from items being pricey, services also cost a lot. So when I moved to Singapore, I was so fortunate to have been able to buy a lot of the old furniture of the previous tenant of my condo. I only paid SGD 800 ($590 USD) for the following items which were barely used: Haylee Queen sized Mattress with headboard (Typical Cost: $600-800) 2-seater sofa (Typical cost ($200-500) 4-seater Ikea dining table (Cost: $629) Ikea coffee table (Cost: $69) Kitchen rack, shoe rack and bed side table (Est. Cost: $100-150) Nicole sits in her condo with the furniture that she bought from the previous tenant. That made for an easier move! 9. Have you ever taken anything out of the recycling bin or trash to reuse somehow or maybe found something on the side of the road? Not really ‘cause it’s not a typical practice in the Philippines and in Singapore nor did I have a huge space in my apartment in LA before even if I wanted to. It’s more my sister and brother-in-law who have done this a few times in both Colorado and Wisconsin, mostly furniture. 10. And lastly, what’s the best thing that you ever got used and why? Got a photo? On a practical note, it’s my first car which was a Silver Honda Civic 2007 because it was reliable and it served its purpose. On a personal note, it would be the 12 Volkswagen Beetle toys I got in Frankfurt, Germany from a Barista I randomly met in a hole-in-a-wall cafe😅. I’m a VW Beetle Toy Collector and these are things that genuinely make me happy. When Nicole travels, she brings a vintage Volkswagen Beetle toy to make her photos a little more unique. To learn more about Nicole and her work , you can visit her LinkedIn page here. To order a One of a Kind REUSE! T-Shirt like Nicole is wearing in her profile photo, head over to the can STAY VOCAL One of a Kind Gallery .

In the early 90s, I was in a rough place in my mind, trying to figure out who I was and where I was going. And to be honest, my future didn't look great. I was a skateboarder from a small town and I felt like an outcast in my community and even in my family. But when I heard the band 311 for the first time, their lyrical positivity changed something in me. Over time, their music, their live shows, and their community helped changed my outlook and led me down a path that I never thought I'd go. A nd later, being lucky enough to work for them helped inspire me to create my own work for positive change. If it wasn't for these 30+ years of experiences, I surely wouldn't have the outlook that I have, nor would I be doing what I do. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the official 311 archivists: the 311 Odyssey Podcast . It was certainly a fun time sharing my history with the band, stories and visuals that I don't typically share, and how my life has come full circle with the band. I think 311 fans will love it and others will appreciate the journey. Enjoy.

Today, I'd like to announce one of our new partners: The Capable Carpenter. The Capable Carpenter (AKA Chris Strathy) has over 20 years of building experience. He's worked in in marine construction, design, renovation, remodeling, modular, and outdoor living. But in recent years, Chris fell in love with the tiny house movement, which is how we first me. He and I were both showcasing our houses at a tiny house festival in North Carolina. Chris' projects range from complete home renovations to van build outs. And like Deek and I, Chris has a passion for reuse and salvage. He actually has plans to combine that passion with his building expertise to develop a tiny house community. As he says it, he wants to "help everyone go tiny in a huge way." Chris actually helped build shelves in the cab of The REUSE! Box Truck and he's featured in The Box Truck Film. So, it was time to make this relationship official! 🚚 🤝 🔨 Chris' "Pro Tips" section in The Box Truck Film The Capable Carpenter logo will be featured on the movie screen side of the box truck and will be seen by the thousands of people that tour the truck this year. Hopefully Chris will be at some of the events too! Head over to thecapablecarpenter.com to learn more about the great work Chris is doing. 🤝🤝🤝 If you or your organization is interested in partnering with the Escape The Waste team, we've got some spots left. Email me here.

Yes, our country and our world are in distress. There are a lot of problems that we face on a daily basis. But with these problems, come solutions and I'm someone who focuses on the solutions. And one small solution is simply sharing the good out there. While it won't fix major problems, it will help with that grey cloud above. We've become so wrapped up in sharing the bad, that we forget about the good. And there is so much good out there worth sharing; in small towns, in big cities... everywhere. If you don't agree, I have a challenge for you. Pop whatever bubble you live in, travel to some new places, visit some coffee shops or restaurants or bars. Talk to employees or other customers and ask what's good in their community. And if you can't physically travel, do a little internet traveling and search for good news in other communities. Seriously, there IS good everywhere. I spend time in a lot of different communities and see some good every day. And the more we talk about and share those things, the more that good will spread. Just like bad news and negativity, good news and positivity are contagious. That's how it works. Have you ever had someone look directly at you and smile and then not smiled back? It's pretty hard. Good News Worth Sharing: During the month of December, I was offering a free reuse shirt to everyone who stopped by the STAY VOCAL booth at events. This photo is of an especially rewarding experience. After picking out a couple of shirts, these two women told me that they work for a homeless shelter in Providence and that there's always a shortage of Men's shirts. That felt great. These days, I tend to avoid listening to or watching the news. It seems that all sides and all forms of media thrive more and more on the sensationalism and negativity. And for someone like me who tries to stay positive, it can be tough. And I know that I can't just avoid bad news, especially when it comes to waste and the planet. But I have to continue sharing good news and trying to make and share my own good news. This tactic has worked for me and I think that's something that we could all benefit from. No, sharing good news is not going to make the bad news go away. And I'm not trying to be clueless to the world around me. But the more we dwell on the negatives of the past, the more we dwell on the problems of our present, the less time we focus on creating positive solutions for our future. We are all born with a voice and how we use it is our choice. And the more of us who use it for positive change, the more we can make that positive change happen. Cheers. 🤝🤝🤝 What good news for our planet have you heard? ⬇️ Comment Below ⬇️ Here's a website devoted to good news regarding our planet . Suggested Listening: "Mountain Top" by 311

Me enjoying the LA streets captured by my friend Brian Samuelson As someone who used to live in Los Angeles and has spent a decent amount of time there over the years, what's happening with these fires is truly saddening me. I'm having a tough time focusing on other things. I have so many thoughts. And so many words. But I want to keep this brief. I don't know who is still on the fence about climate change, but please step back and just LOOK. It's real. Do you want it to be in your neighborhood next? But we can and NEED to start making changes this second. The less stuff we make, the less pollution we make Less pollution = Less climate change And no matter how much you try to deny it, your existence is a "We" not a "Me." We're connected citizens of a shared planet. We need to work together to preserve this great planet to live on and ensure a future for generations to come. Lastly, if you or anyone you know is considering a fundraiser, PLEASE do not make T-Shirts. It's such a common idea. I get it. But it takes 700+ gallons of water to make just 1 cotton T-Shirt . And the last thing we need in our future is more T-Shirts. We as a planet, and especially residents of Los Angeles, could surely use the water instead. Sending all of my friends in the Los Angeles area all of the positive vibes that I can. 🤝 ~~~+++~~~ 🤝 Hiking up a trail behind the Hollywood Sign From the screening of the REUSE! Documentary in the Eagle Rock district. Stopping by the Van Nuys house I lived in from 2001-2002 Me with with one of my favorite parts of LA: my friend Chris Candy

So, if you're reading this, you're probably like me and fed up with waste. You're tired of disposables, you're annoyed that recycling hasn't worked , and you want to take action. But maybe you don't know where to start? It definitely can be overwhelming. We all need education, information, and guidance in some way. And we can't do it alone. Fortunately, there are endless ways to get involved and there are solutions that can work for everyone. So, I'd like to take a look at a few of the ways that we can learn about problems, learn about solutions, and learn about ways to easily take action on a local, national, and global scale. Green America Magazine, another great resource. Like with everything I do, I want to show how we can still have fun and get the things that we need (and want), while keeping the planet in mind. There are countless reuse solutions for our daily needs and wants to help people escape the waste of resources, opportunities, time, and money. This final step is such an important one too, as one of the most important votes that we cast is the way we spend our money. So when it comes to issues with our shared planet, many of us don't really know all that we need to know. I remember the first time that I learned it takes 713 gallons of water to make just 1 cotton T-Shirt. Thankfully, National Geographic made this video . But where do we get the information? Social Media is just too distracting and not always believable these days, but traditional journalism will always have a place. Here in Southern New England, we're fortunate to have a dedicated environmental and social justice news organization with ecoRI News . As their mission states, they create a more informed public through their reporting and provide individuals with the information they need to be better stewards of their environment. EcoRI journalists are out in the community seeking things out and recognize the importance of local news. And like our media here, they're not soley focused on the "doom and gloom." They address the problems of course, but they also share solutions and ways for people to take action. Maybe not surprisingly, but one of my favorite EcoRI articles is about an artist who creates giant sculptures from scrap wood and other discarded materials. And now I'm reminded that I still need to go see these in person! In addition to their news, EcoRI also hosts local events to get their community involved and provide solutions to the problems they talk about. In September, they have their annual Zero-Waste Birthday bash. Back in 2017, we actualy released a STAY VOCAL / EcoRI collaboration shirt at the event. In December, EcoRI holds their annual Regifting event, which is a favorite of mine. A few years back, I got one of my most memorable repurposed gifts for someone there. The antique ironing board that I regifted to a family member as a coffee table. To sign up for the EcoRi News newsletter, click here . So, not everyone is in New England of course. Coincidentally, I'm actually not there right now. Well, around 15 years ago, while most likely sitting at a coffee shop in Chico, California, I first watched the short film, The Story of Stuff . It addressed the problems about our consumption-crazed culture, but in a fun way with cartoons that anybody could understand. I loved it. I probably shared it too many times. This was at a time when I had only recently switched STAY VOCAL to a reuse clothing brand and it helped hammer the nails in further on me not producing new items. And it was more writing on the wall as to what my true calling was and that I needed to focus on reuse. Since that time, Story of Stuff has released a library of animated shorts and documentaries that chart a path to a more just and sustainable future. And in many cases, reuse is a direct message. They have focused on things like bottled water, electronics, and recycling. All of their videos continue the same manner of a fun, not all "doom and gloom" look at problems. The Story of Stuff videos are certainly not just for information. Their goal is to inspire and encourage civic engagement. They are big on campaigns, like fighting plastic and their "Bring Back Refill" campaign. M ost recently, they did an investigative report on Coke and found that they actually have a somewhat secret reuse campaign going on in one U.S City. It begs to ask, "Why isn't this happening everywhere?" I got to visit the Story of Stuff Offices in Berkeley when I was in California for some of my film screenings a while back. Alright, so we know about the problems and we know that reuse is a solution. But we all need and want things in life. Enter one of the oldest online resale sites that is still massively helpful today: eBay . I've been using eBay since 1998. I still remember first looking at the website in the Northeastern University computer lab. And if you're reading this, I would venture to guess that you know of eBay too and have probably purchased something on there at one point. But what is surprising to me is how many people didn't realize how easy it is to find used versions of almost anything and everything you would need or want. And that almost always equals a good amount of money saved. After a meeting at eBay to discuss the limited edition STAY VOCAL shirt only available on their old eco website, World of Good by eBay. Whenever you're searching for anything on eBay, you can easily choose a filtered search and under "Condition," choose "Used" or "Open Box." Over the years, I've bought everything from my favorite pairs of skateboard sneakers to specific jeans to pre-owned laptops and phones that come with warranties. I don't have the exact data, but the money I've saved is surely in the thousands.  And there have only been a few occasions where I couldn't find what I needed. Whenever you need or want anything, just can just check for a used option first. Not only will you save money and resources, you're mostly likely supporting one of the thousands and thousands of independent sellers or small businesses on eBay. All kinds of wins. So, if you've ever asked yourself, what can I do as one person? As I stated in my recent video about my reusable cup streak , YOU can do A LOT with reuse solutions. It might not be immediate, but it definitely makes an impact. Step 1. Educate yourself about the problems. Step 2. Educate yourself about the solutions. Step 3. Implement the solutions into your life wherever and whenever you can. And if a whole bunch of us are doing this, imagine the possibilities... What reuse organizations are your favorite? ⬇️ Comment Below ⬇️ For more information, head over to our Resources Page.

Every year, I take a day to reflect on the previous year, look at what worked, what didn't work, and plan for the new year. And as I look over the past 10 years or so of doing this in scrap paper form, I have to laugh. But I also get frustrated at myself when I see a common theme appearing all over the place. "Stop scrolling." "Less Screens." "Just post and go." Last year, I deleted all of my Twitter accounts. I also drastically slowed down my use of Facebook. And this year, it's time to take it further. When it comes to my work with reuse, I help people escape the waste of resources and money. In this case, I need to help myself escape wasted time. Especially in recent years, social media has just simply become a waste of my time. Like many, I get caught scrolling when I need to be looking up. And the rewards are just not worth it. I first started using social media back in the MySpace days and was an early user on Facebook. It was a great tool for my brand STAY VOCAL for a while. But as time has gone on, I've become increasingly disenchanted by the majority of social media platforms. A lot of it has just become a cesspool of negativity and not the surroundings that I want to be in. Our voices get lost and our attention spans do too. And most of us surely don't "need" it as much as we think we do. With so much of my work now around in-person and virtual events, I definitely don't need social media as much. Nor do I want it. And that feels good. I'm also excited to have officially launched my consulting services , where I'll be scheduling more in-person and virtual meetings. I just saw someone briefly at a coffee shop that I haven't seen in at least a year. And I had a way more positive interaction and learned more about her life in those few minutes than I did with all the social media combined. Likes and posts will never replace hugs and conversation. I know we're all busy, but we can all MAKE the time. From my Facebook Page on September 4, 2018 For the past couple of weeks, I've only posted a bare minimum and not gone on the apps for "entertainment." And I have to say, the experiment feels really good. I honestly feel like my memory and recall have even been affected. I'm not seeing as many images, videos and words flashing in front of me. My brain doesn't have to intake all of that. And at the same time, I've spent more time catching up with friends, family and colleagues in real life. A highlight of 2024 was meeting Nirvaan at Song of the Robin in New York. He's a 13-year old animal activist and budding professional chef and doesn't even have a phone. I'm not going to make an immediate exit from my social media accounts, but I'm certainly going to keep it to a bare minimum. Instead of just posting to get some content up there, I'm going to post when relevant. I don't want social media to be the content. But I'll use social media to link to the content (for the time being). When I look back on my 20 years or so of social media, it hasn't all been bad. I've been able to connect with thousands of people around the world; many of whom I've met and become real life friends with. But I feel like I have lost so much more. We only have so much time on this planet. Do we want to spend it getting sucked into gossip, trivia, fun facts, untruths, and what famous people are doing? I don't. I want to use my time here to focus on my friends, my family, my community and on taking action and making an impact. As I have said many times in the past, the more digitally connected we've become to every one and every thing, the less connected we become to the people we are closest to and the people who mean the most to us. All of this said, if you're looking to stay connected with me, the Escape The Waste website is where I'll be posting the most. You can also sign up for my newsletter here or just email me . I'll also be using Linked In more regularly, as that space just feels different and not wasteful (for now). And if we know each other in real life, I hope to see you soon. Happy New Year. Cheers. 🤝 Do you ever think about how the more digitally connected we become, the less truly connected we become? I was just having a conversation with my friend at the coffee shop about this. We learn so much about people's day to day, but we lose so much of who people really are. For over 10 years, I have found great value in social media; mainly for my work. But when it comes to friendships, nothing will ever beat out a real life interaction. And when we have no other means to connect, there will never be a greater use for our phone than to talk to someone we care about. From my Facebook page on February 26, 2019 ⬇️ Comment Below ⬇️

Have you ever asked yourself what you can do as one person to help cut down on waste and pollution and to help with climate change? Watch this: To learn more about our events, movies, and other ways for YOU to get involved and take action, peruse our website . I also now offer consulting services for small businesses, organizations and individuals. Special thanks to Deek for the custom art. https://www.instagram.com/deekdiedricksenart ⬇️ Comment Below ⬇️

Paving a Plastic-Free Green Road on Cape Cod When a friend of mine told me that someone nearby on Cape Cod had a mobile refillery inside an old mini-school bus, I knew that we had to meet. And since first meeting Jess Georges in 2019, we've not only become good friends, but collaborators as well. When it comes to reuse, Jess is someone who truly gets it. She and I have teamed up on multiple shirts, patches and a lot more. Because as you'll see, Jess sees her role as an educator too. 1. So, you run a shop called Green Road Refill. For those who have not had the pleasure of visiting your shop, tell us about it. Green Road Refill’s brick and mortar shop is nestled into the heart of Brewster on Cape Cod. Our little shop is dedicated to reducing our communities plastic footprint, while also supporting mostly woman owned small businesses. In addition to refilling over 40 plant based products, we offer locally made and fair trade gifts and refillable soy candles too! Our shop brings positivity and opportunity to take action in reducing waste. Jess and her original mobile refillery, Bettie Bus 2. What was your inspiration for starting the shop? I launched Green road Refill in the Spring of 2018 out of an old school bus that I found on Craigslist. The idea came to me in a dream. I have always had some anxiety over the state of our planet and in the dream, I had created a place where customers and I could take action to improve things. Bettie Bus was painted bright Green and inside was inspired by the Lorax with a Truffula Tree mural above the dash and my favorite quote from the book, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better. It's not.” We had to retire Bettie during Covid and built Sally Sud Shed on top of an old boat trailer we had in our driveway. In 2021, we opened the shop, but Sally and I still travel around June-December to festivals and farmers markets around the Cape spreading that Lorax Message. Sally Sud Shed in action 3. Which benefits of reuse do you think your customers enjoy the most? It’s all about the bottles baby! Our customers bring in all sorts. We love to see dish soap coming out of a sriracha bottle. Whether it’s a mason jar or your old shampoo tube, as long it can hold liquid, it works for us! Refillers “tack a cap” (colorful, un-recyclable caps like the ones you find on milk jugs) onto a cork board for each bottle reused and then when that’s full I get up on a ladder and tack them into our drop ceiling. It’s getting pretty groovy up there! 4. So, while I'm certainly a solutions guy, we do have to address the problems. Where do you see the most waste in your daily life? I hate grocery shopping. That's where I see the most waste. I have the benefit of going to a couple of farmers markets a week, but even there, organic vegetables can be packaged in plastic. I sell reusable produce bags and I’m always trying to push those. I am excited that we have our first refillable food market right down the road from us in Dennis where I get a lot of my food.  I have even partnered with the owner Meghann of the Glass Jar Market and we have a little Green Road Refill section in her beautiful store. A look at Green Road Refill. Note the caps on the ceiling! 5. In your personal experience, how do you think recycling has worked and NOT worked as a solution to waste? Oh man, recycling is so hard. I have done a lot of research and I am still confused and feel lied to. My customers are always asking me questions about it and unfortunately I don’t have many answers. I know that we have all been “wish-cycling “ for decades and that it has never been the solution to waste. The reduce, reuse, recycle slogan really needs to be changed - my first T- Shirt with STAY VOCAL was all about that. The only recycle that I feel is true would be the up-cycle of recycle. Above our shop door is the phrase, "Progress over Perfection." We try to have hope. I bring what plastic my family can’t reuse to the dump, throw it down the chute labeled, "# 1-7" and hope for the best. 6. How do you think the U.S. could step up the solutions to our waste problem? Have you seen or heard of anything anywhere else? I am inspired by local municipal bans and restrictions. It’s not easy convincing our neighbors that they should give up single use bottled water and plastic take out containers, but it’s a start. National organizations like Beyond Plastics have supported national legislation as well. The Break free from Plastic Pollution Acts proposed to congress almost every year haven’t to be even brought to the floor for discussion. At this time the responsibility has really been put on the consumer and not on the corporations - where it should be. Me, Nancy Downes from Oceana and Jess. This was at an event that Jess hosted at her shop to support Massachusetts legislation to reduce the state's plastic footprint. 7. Do you have any notable stories about saving money on something because you bought it used instead of new? I have kids; 10 and 19 years old It’s been hard being a low waste parent. Our culture doesn’t naturally nurture with less and I have been the Debbie Downer of our family. Whether it’s no balloons at parties or trying to keep them from consuming trends like fidget toys or everything else that is marketed to them. I will say that I have stuck in there, setting the example, making them ask, "What will happen to this when I'm done with it?" My proudest victory which saves us all a whole lot of money is thrifting. We have a bunch of great places on the cape and we do it as a family: back to school, changing of seasons, etc. It’s fun to give them a budget and see what they can do with it. 8. Have you ever taken anything out of the recycling bin or trash to reuse somehow or maybe found something on the side of the road? All of the time! When I lived in New York and Philadelphia, we would make garbage night into a night out. I have always lived with artists and man did we find some cool stuff. I would say my vintage aluminum Christmas Tree was a favorite! To this day I am reaching into trash to pick things out, like bottles I can use at the shop or something that I can do something crafty with. (I do some upcycled art preschool programming). I have no shame reaching in. 9. And lastly, what’s the best thing that you ever got used and why? Got a photo? Well, while I am sitting here in the shop and I’m looking around, almost everything is reused. I'd have to say these antique shutters that you gave me and my husband and I built into shelves for our Green Road Refill goodies are pretty great! I saved these 200+ year old shutters from the landfill. Jess and her husband, Justin, turned into them into a great display unit. To learn more about Jess's work and visit her shop on Cape Cod, you can follow the Green Road here. To make custom reuse T-Shirts like Jess is wearing in her profile photo, you can learn more about STAY VOCAL collaboratorions here.