all right so somebody recently asked me how I became so green and I really had
how I became so green and I really had
how I became so green and I really had to stop and think about that for a
to stop and think about that for a
to stop and think about that for a moment because I couldn’t pinpoint a
moment because I couldn’t pinpoint a
moment because I couldn’t pinpoint a specific event or a specific experience
specific event or a specific experience
specific event or a specific experience that contributed to me living the
that contributed to me living the
that contributed to me living the lifestyle that I am but I do know one
lifestyle that I am but I do know one
lifestyle that I am but I do know one thing when my friends were dressing up
thing when my friends were dressing up
thing when my friends were dressing up as Tinkerbell for Halloween I was
as Tinkerbell for Halloween I was
as Tinkerbell for Halloween I was dressing up as a recycling bin so I know
dressing up as a recycling bin so I know
dressing up as a recycling bin so I know that it started at a young age I’ve
that it started at a young age I’ve
that it started at a young age I’ve always been concerned about the
always been concerned about the
always been concerned about the environment and I’ve often been called
environment and I’ve often been called
environment and I’ve often been called an environmental bulldog and I wasn’t
an environmental bulldog and I wasn’t
an environmental bulldog and I wasn’t shy to share my opinion and I wasn’t shy
shy to share my opinion and I wasn’t shy
shy to share my opinion and I wasn’t shy to challenge a professor who had printed
to challenge a professor who had printed
to challenge a professor who had printed our course outline on single-sided paper
our course outline on single-sided paper
our course outline on single-sided paper for example but I knew that I needed to
for example but I knew that I needed to
for example but I knew that I needed to be doing a bit more I knew that I needed
be doing a bit more I knew that I needed
be doing a bit more I knew that I needed to not just be talking the talk
to not just be talking the talk
to not just be talking the talk I needed to be walking the talk so I
I needed to be walking the talk so I
I needed to be walking the talk so I started with small actions like bringing
started with small actions like bringing
started with small actions like bringing a reusable water bottle everywhere I
a reusable water bottle everywhere I
a reusable water bottle everywhere I went or bringing a reasonable coffee cup
went or bringing a reasonable coffee cup
went or bringing a reasonable coffee cup and there was
oh okay I got to really put my arm out
oh okay I got to really put my arm out okay there we go um but there actually
okay there we go um but there actually
okay there we go um but there actually was one moment where in time where I was
was one moment where in time where I was
was one moment where in time where I was forced to think about how I could live a
forced to think about how I could live a
forced to think about how I could live a greener life and that was the summer of
greener life and that was the summer of
greener life and that was the summer of 2009 and some of you may remember I can
2009 and some of you may remember I can
2009 and some of you may remember I can still remember the smell the garbage
still remember the smell the garbage
still remember the smell the garbage strike the Toronto garbage strike which
strike the Toronto garbage strike which
strike the Toronto garbage strike which lasted 36 days 36 days in the dead heat
lasted 36 days 36 days in the dead heat
lasted 36 days 36 days in the dead heat of summer and like many Torontonians I
of summer and like many Torontonians I
of summer and like many Torontonians I was forced to look at and to analyze the
was forced to look at and to analyze the
was forced to look at and to analyze the garbage that I was producing and in that
garbage that I was producing and in that
garbage that I was producing and in that moment I decided that I could and should
moment I decided that I could and should
moment I decided that I could and should do more because I could also see the
do more because I could also see the
do more because I could also see the garbage that was collecting at my local
garbage that was collecting at my local
garbage that was collecting at my local park I could see it and I could smell it
park I could see it and I could smell it
park I could see it and I could smell it so that’s a picture of Christy Pitts and
so that’s a picture of Christy Pitts and
so that’s a picture of Christy Pitts and so I decided to do some research and I
so I decided to do some research and I
so I decided to do some research and I found out that Canadians produce the
found out that Canadians produce the
found out that Canadians produce the most amount of garbage out of any
most amount of garbage out of any
most amount of garbage out of any country in the world so in 2009 there
country in the world so in 2009 there
country in the world so in 2009 there was a study and it showed that the
was a study and it showed that the
was a study and it showed that the average Canadian produce 777 kilograms
average Canadian produce 777 kilograms
average Canadian produce 777 kilograms of waste per year so for those of you
of waste per year so for those of you
of waste per year so for those of you that still think in Imperial that is
that still think in Imperial that is
that still think in Imperial that is more than 1,700 pounds of garbage per
more than 1,700 pounds of garbage per
more than 1,700 pounds of garbage per person per year so that is huge and that
person per year so that is huge and that
person per year so that is huge and that those statistics actually kind of bummed
those statistics actually kind of bummed
those statistics actually kind of bummed me out and I decided to reach out to a
me out and I decided to reach out to a
me out and I decided to reach out to a friend that was pretty active in the
friend that was pretty active in the
friend that was pretty active in the environmental movement and what she said
environmental movement and what she said
environmental movement and what she said to me was I’m actually really glad that
to me was I’m actually really glad that
to me was I’m actually really glad that you reached out to me because you were
you reached out to me because you were
you reached out to me because you were the main or one of the main
the main or one of the main
the main or one of the main catalyst for pushing me into the
catalyst for pushing me into the
catalyst for pushing me into the environmental movement I thought to
environmental movement I thought to
environmental movement I thought to myself me my small actions actually
myself me my small actions actually
myself me my small actions actually contributed to somebody making positive
contributed to somebody making positive
contributed to somebody making positive change in their life somebody joining
change in their life somebody joining
change in their life somebody joining the environmental movement and that was
the environmental movement and that was
the environmental movement and that was the exact motivation that I needed to
the exact motivation that I needed to
the exact motivation that I needed to push me to take steps toward a zero
push me to take steps toward a zero
push me to take steps toward a zero waste lifestyle so the first thing that
waste lifestyle so the first thing that
waste lifestyle so the first thing that I did was do research on what people
I did was do research on what people
I did was do research on what people were already doing how they had
were already doing how they had
were already doing how they had transformed their lives to have a zero
transformed their lives to have a zero
transformed their lives to have a zero waste lifestyle and I came across baya
waste lifestyle and I came across baya
waste lifestyle and I came across baya Johnson and her family of four they live
Johnson and her family of four they live
Johnson and her family of four they live in California and they produce one mason
in California and they produce one mason
in California and they produce one mason jar of garbage a year one mason jar for
jar of garbage a year one mason jar for
jar of garbage a year one mason jar for people that’s it
people that’s it
people that’s it and boy was I inspired so baya also
and boy was I inspired so baya also
and boy was I inspired so baya also wrote a book called zero waste home and
wrote a book called zero waste home and
wrote a book called zero waste home and in that book she talks about the five
in that book she talks about the five
in that book she talks about the five R’s and you might be thinking five I
R’s and you might be thinking five I
R’s and you might be thinking five I only know three well baya includes two
only know three well baya includes two
only know three well baya includes two others and those five R’s are refuse
others and those five R’s are refuse
others and those five R’s are refuse what you don’t need reduce what you do
what you don’t need reduce what you do
what you don’t need reduce what you do need reuse what you actually consume
need reuse what you actually consume
need reuse what you actually consume recycle what you can’t refuse reducer
recycle what you can’t refuse reducer
recycle what you can’t refuse reducer reuse and finally wrought so compost the
reuse and finally wrought so compost the
reuse and finally wrought so compost the rest and these five RS have really
rest and these five RS have really
rest and these five RS have really helped me to reduce the waste that I
helped me to reduce the waste that I
helped me to reduce the waste that I produce so the first are the first are
produce so the first are the first are
produce so the first are the first are aids refuse refuse what you do not need
aids refuse refuse what you do not need
aids refuse refuse what you do not need and this is about learning how to say no
and this is about learning how to say no
and this is about learning how to say no thank you I don’t need that so I was at
thank you I don’t need that so I was at
thank you I don’t need that so I was at an educational conference about a month
an educational conference about a month
an educational conference about a month ago and when I registered I received a
ago and when I registered I received a
ago and when I registered I received a goodie bag or a swag bag and my initial
goodie bag or a swag bag and my initial
goodie bag or a swag bag and my initial reaction was to take that bag and be
reaction was to take that bag and be
reaction was to take that bag and be like ooh free stuff and then I
like ooh free stuff and then I
like ooh free stuff and then I water back to my hotel room and I looked
water back to my hotel room and I looked
water back to my hotel room and I looked inside and I realized I didn’t need any
inside and I realized I didn’t need any
inside and I realized I didn’t need any of it I didn’t even need the bag so I
of it I didn’t even need the bag so I
of it I didn’t even need the bag so I had to remind myself that I needed to
had to remind myself that I needed to
had to remind myself that I needed to say no thank you
say no thank you
say no thank you which is exactly what I did when I
which is exactly what I did when I
which is exactly what I did when I brought it back to the registration
brought it back to the registration
brought it back to the registration table so the easiest way to refuse is to
table so the easiest way to refuse is to
table so the easiest way to refuse is to refuse single-use plastic that is
refuse single-use plastic that is
refuse single-use plastic that is plastic we use only once that often
plastic we use only once that often
plastic we use only once that often isn’t recyclable or doesn’t get recycled
isn’t recyclable or doesn’t get recycled
isn’t recyclable or doesn’t get recycled and isn’t biodegradable often so that
and isn’t biodegradable often so that
and isn’t biodegradable often so that includes plastic bags plastic cups
includes plastic bags plastic cups
includes plastic bags plastic cups plastic lids cutlery and straws so that
plastic lids cutlery and straws so that
plastic lids cutlery and straws so that is somewhere that you can start and it
is somewhere that you can start and it
is somewhere that you can start and it does take a little bit of planning so
does take a little bit of planning so
does take a little bit of planning so for me when I leave my house I always
for me when I leave my house I always
for me when I leave my house I always have my zero waste kit waiting which
have my zero waste kit waiting which
have my zero waste kit waiting which includes a cloth shopping bag reusable
includes a cloth shopping bag reusable
includes a cloth shopping bag reusable water bottle or coffee mug
water bottle or coffee mug
water bottle or coffee mug bamboo cutlery a glass straw a cloth
bamboo cutlery a glass straw a cloth
bamboo cutlery a glass straw a cloth napkin and a mason jar or a container
napkin and a mason jar or a container
napkin and a mason jar or a container which is actually really convenient when
which is actually really convenient when
which is actually really convenient when you go to restaurants because then you
you go to restaurants because then you
you go to restaurants because then you get to keep all the leftovers so it
get to keep all the leftovers so it
get to keep all the leftovers so it really encourage you to think about how
really encourage you to think about how
really encourage you to think about how you can say no thank you
you can say no thank you
you can say no thank you because every flyer and every pen and
because every flyer and every pen and
because every flyer and every pen and every single use straw that you use or
every single use straw that you use or
every single use straw that you use or you accept creates a demand for more so
you accept creates a demand for more so
you accept creates a demand for more so I recommend that when you’re at a
I recommend that when you’re at a
I recommend that when you’re at a restaurant and you’re ordering a drink
restaurant and you’re ordering a drink
restaurant and you’re ordering a drink you just need to say no straw please or
you just need to say no straw please or
you just need to say no straw please or when you go to a coffee shop and you
when you go to a coffee shop and you
when you go to a coffee shop and you know you’re going to hang out with your
know you’re going to hang out with your
know you’re going to hang out with your friends and you know you’re going to sit
friends and you know you’re going to sit
friends and you know you’re going to sit down just remember to say for here
down just remember to say for here
down just remember to say for here please and those actions can decrease
please and those actions can decrease
please and those actions can decrease significantly the amount of waste that
significantly the amount of waste that
significantly the amount of waste that you produce the second R is reduced and
you produce the second R is reduced and
you produce the second R is reduced and this is about reducing what you do need
this is about reducing what you do need
this is about reducing what you do need it
it
it is about simplifying your life it is
is about simplifying your life it is
is about simplifying your life it is about quality versus quantity it is
about quality versus quantity it is
about quality versus quantity it is about experiences versus stuff and it
about experiences versus stuff and it
about experiences versus stuff and it actually makes cleaning so much easier
actually makes cleaning so much easier
actually makes cleaning so much easier because you have so much less to dust
because you have so much less to dust
because you have so much less to dust and organize but it’s also about
and organize but it’s also about
and organize but it’s also about reducing em and being an informed
reducing em and being an informed
reducing em and being an informed consumer so what that means is when you
consumer so what that means is when you
consumer so what that means is when you purchase things that you can’t refuse
purchase things that you can’t refuse
purchase things that you can’t refuse that you actually think about the
that you actually think about the
that you actually think about the packaging involved so for example I no
packaging involved so for example I no
packaging involved so for example I no longer buy stamps in a booklet I buy
longer buy stamps in a booklet I buy
longer buy stamps in a booklet I buy stamps in a roll to reduce the packaging
stamps in a roll to reduce the packaging
stamps in a roll to reduce the packaging I buy soap without packaging and plastic
I buy soap without packaging and plastic
I buy soap without packaging and plastic because that plastic is often not even
because that plastic is often not even
because that plastic is often not even recyclable I also make all my own
recyclable I also make all my own
recyclable I also make all my own toiletries so that includes toothpaste
toiletries so that includes toothpaste
toiletries so that includes toothpaste that includes lip balm that includes
that includes lip balm that includes
that includes lip balm that includes moisturizer that includes facial toner
moisturizer that includes facial toner
moisturizer that includes facial toner and I reuse the containers and I buy the
and I reuse the containers and I buy the
and I reuse the containers and I buy the products in bulk to also reduce
products in bulk to also reduce
products in bulk to also reduce packaging and I have stopped using
packaging and I have stopped using
packaging and I have stopped using plastic toothbrushes I use a bamboo
plastic toothbrushes I use a bamboo
plastic toothbrushes I use a bamboo toothbrush which you can compost because
toothbrush which you can compost because
toothbrush which you can compost because I cringe to think about the fact that
I cringe to think about the fact that
I cringe to think about the fact that every single plastic toothbrush that I
every single plastic toothbrush that I
every single plastic toothbrush that I have used in my life is still on this
have used in my life is still on this
have used in my life is still on this planet so the next star is reuse so
planet so the next star is reuse so
planet so the next star is reuse so reuse what you do consume and the best
reuse what you do consume and the best
reuse what you do consume and the best way I think to reuse is to shop in bulk
way I think to reuse is to shop in bulk
way I think to reuse is to shop in bulk and when I say shop in bulk I don’t mean
and when I say shop in bulk I don’t mean
and when I say shop in bulk I don’t mean going to the grocery store and buying 5
going to the grocery store and buying 5
going to the grocery store and buying 5 tubs of mayonnaise and not being able to
tubs of mayonnaise and not being able to
tubs of mayonnaise and not being able to use them before they expire when I say
use them before they expire when I say
use them before they expire when I say shop in bulk I mean you bring your own
shop in bulk I mean you bring your own
shop in bulk I mean you bring your own reusable mason jar your own reusable
reusable mason jar your own reusable
reusable mason jar your own reusable container your own cloth bag to the
container your own cloth bag to the
container your own cloth bag to the store to buy your products and they’re
store to buy your products and they’re
store to buy your products and they’re actually quite a lot of bulk stores in
actually quite a lot of bulk stores in
actually quite a lot of bulk stores in Toronto that have been allowing people
Toronto that have been allowing people
Toronto that have been allowing people to do this for a low
to do this for a low
to do this for a low long time but the exciting news in the
long time but the exciting news in the
long time but the exciting news in the zero-waste world is that bulk barn the
zero-waste world is that bulk barn the
zero-waste world is that bulk barn the biggest bulk store retail store in the
biggest bulk store retail store in the
biggest bulk store retail store in the country has just introduced a reasonable
country has just introduced a reasonable
country has just introduced a reasonable container program in all of its stores
container program in all of its stores
container program in all of its stores so this was a huge win for the zero
so this was a huge win for the zero
so this was a huge win for the zero waste movement so you can pretty much
waste movement so you can pretty much
waste movement so you can pretty much buy everything you need in bulk so that
buy everything you need in bulk so that
buy everything you need in bulk so that includes pasta not grains sugar flour
includes pasta not grains sugar flour
includes pasta not grains sugar flour and maple syrup which I was really
and maple syrup which I was really
and maple syrup which I was really excited when I found that one and even
excited when I found that one and even
excited when I found that one and even your favorite junk food can all be found
your favorite junk food can all be found
your favorite junk food can all be found in bulk so there is one more thing that
in bulk so there is one more thing that
in bulk so there is one more thing that I want to talk about in terms of reusing
I want to talk about in terms of reusing
I want to talk about in terms of reusing and I don’t know if you remember that
and I don’t know if you remember that
and I don’t know if you remember that recycling costume that I showed you at
recycling costume that I showed you at
recycling costume that I showed you at the beginning of the talk well I
the beginning of the talk well I
the beginning of the talk well I actually reused that costume the
actually reused that costume the
actually reused that costume the following year and made a new costume so
following year and made a new costume so
following year and made a new costume so we’re using at its finest
we’re using at its finest
we’re using at its finest so the fourth R is recycled and it’s
so the fourth R is recycled and it’s
so the fourth R is recycled and it’s really important to recycle what you
really important to recycle what you
really important to recycle what you cannot refuse reduce or reuse to do
cannot refuse reduce or reuse to do
cannot refuse reduce or reuse to do those three RS before you actually
those three RS before you actually
those three RS before you actually recycle and when you do that there is
recycle and when you do that there is
recycle and when you do that there is very little left to recycle and that’s a
very little left to recycle and that’s a
very little left to recycle and that’s a good thing so yes recycling does reduce
good thing so yes recycling does reduce
good thing so yes recycling does reduce the amount of energy we have to use and
the amount of energy we have to use and
the amount of energy we have to use and it does reduce the natural resources
it does reduce the natural resources
it does reduce the natural resources that we have to source but it can’t be
that we have to source but it can’t be
that we have to source but it can’t be the only answer it can’t be the way that
the only answer it can’t be the way that
the only answer it can’t be the way that you are living a green lifestyle so I
you are living a green lifestyle so I
you are living a green lifestyle so I really encourage you to think about
really encourage you to think about
really encourage you to think about those 3 R’s before you recycle for
those 3 R’s before you recycle for
those 3 R’s before you recycle for example instead of recycling batteries
example instead of recycling batteries
example instead of recycling batteries think about how you can buy rechargeable
think about how you can buy rechargeable
think about how you can buy rechargeable batteries or buy a product that doesn’t
batteries or buy a product that doesn’t
batteries or buy a product that doesn’t even need a battery in the first place
even need a battery in the first place
even need a battery in the first place or when you go to the coffee shop bring
or when you go to the coffee shop bring
or when you go to the coffee shop bring your reusable mug so you don’t have to
your reusable mug so you don’t have to
your reusable mug so you don’t have to figure out how to actually
figure out how to actually
figure out how to actually recycle a coffee cup on the UFT campus
recycle a coffee cup on the UFT campus
recycle a coffee cup on the UFT campus as as you can see each thing has to go
as as you can see each thing has to go
as as you can see each thing has to go in a separate bin and actually it’s a
in a separate bin and actually it’s a
in a separate bin and actually it’s a luxury that we can recycle coffee cups
luxury that we can recycle coffee cups
luxury that we can recycle coffee cups on campus because in the rest of Toronto
on campus because in the rest of Toronto
on campus because in the rest of Toronto you can’t even recycle a coffee cup and
you can’t even recycle a coffee cup and
you can’t even recycle a coffee cup and the final are is rot okay so that is
the final are is rot okay so that is
the final are is rot okay so that is compost and basically it is the
compost and basically it is the
compost and basically it is the recycling of all of the organic material
recycling of all of the organic material
recycling of all of the organic material that you use and in Toronto we’re really
that you use and in Toronto we’re really
that you use and in Toronto we’re really lucky that we have a citywide green bin
lucky that we have a citywide green bin
lucky that we have a citywide green bin program because a third of our garbage
program because a third of our garbage
program because a third of our garbage and a third of our waste is actually
and a third of our waste is actually
and a third of our waste is actually organic and should be kept out of the
organic and should be kept out of the
organic and should be kept out of the landfills so I actually have my own
landfills so I actually have my own
landfills so I actually have my own backyard compost because I really like
backyard compost because I really like
backyard compost because I really like the process of adding all of my organic
the process of adding all of my organic
the process of adding all of my organic wastes in and seeing it decompose and
wastes in and seeing it decompose and
wastes in and seeing it decompose and then eventually adding this nutrient
then eventually adding this nutrient
then eventually adding this nutrient rinse rich soil back into my garden so
rinse rich soil back into my garden so
rinse rich soil back into my garden so those are the five R’s and I really
those are the five R’s and I really
those are the five R’s and I really encourage you to start thinking about
encourage you to start thinking about
encourage you to start thinking about those as you’re living your life but
those as you’re living your life but
those as you’re living your life but there’s one more thing I want to talk
there’s one more thing I want to talk
there’s one more thing I want to talk about and that is getting outside that
about and that is getting outside that
about and that is getting outside that is spending time in nature that’s
is spending time in nature that’s
is spending time in nature that’s falling in love with nature because that
falling in love with nature because that
falling in love with nature because that is going to remind you about why those
is going to remind you about why those
is going to remind you about why those five R’s are actually important why
five R’s are actually important why
five R’s are actually important why living a green lifestyle we’re living a
living a green lifestyle we’re living a
living a green lifestyle we’re living a zero-waste lifestyle is important so if
zero-waste lifestyle is important so if
zero-waste lifestyle is important so if you’re looking for more tips about how
you’re looking for more tips about how
you’re looking for more tips about how to live a green or zero-waste lifestyle
to live a green or zero-waste lifestyle
to live a green or zero-waste lifestyle check out my vlog 50 shades of green
check out my vlog 50 shades of green
check out my vlog 50 shades of green Toronto giving you tips for whatever
Toronto giving you tips for whatever
Toronto giving you tips for whatever shade of green you want to be and I want
shade of green you want to be and I want
shade of green you want to be and I want to leave you with a challenge and that
to leave you with a challenge and that
to leave you with a challenge and that is to take a step one small step one
is to take a step one small step one
is to take a step one small step one small green or one small zero-waste step
small green or one small zero-waste step
small green or one small zero-waste step and eventually that step is going to
and eventually that step is going to
and eventually that step is going to turn
turn
turn to a sustainable habit and then I
to a sustainable habit and then I
to a sustainable habit and then I encourage you to take a nother step and
encourage you to take a nother step and
encourage you to take a nother step and eventually you will be walking the talk
eventually you will be walking the talk
eventually you will be walking the talk you will be living your values and in
you will be living your values and in
you will be living your values and in order for us to have a sustainable
order for us to have a sustainable
order for us to have a sustainable future we all need to be living a
future we all need to be living a
future we all need to be living a greener lifestyle and that is the way
greener lifestyle and that is the way
greener lifestyle and that is the way that transformation is going to happen
that transformation is going to happen
that transformation is going to happen thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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