THE ZW CHALLENGE

GETTING DOWN RIS STYLE

THE RULES OF THEZW (ZERO WASTE) CHALLENGE ARE SIMPLE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY MATERIAL THAT PASSES THROUGH YOUR HANDS. IF IT GOES INTO THE LANDFILL THEN ITS 2PTS, IF IT GOES INTO THE RECYCLING BIN ITS 1 PT, AND IF IT IS COMPOSTABLE…AND YOU PUT IT IN THE COMPOSTING BIN, THEN IT IS ZERO POINTS. 

TO CLARIFY, IF YOU PUT A RECYCLABLE OR COMPOSTABLE ITEM IN THE TRASHCAN, THEN ITS TWO POINTS.  THE GAME IS PLAYED GOLF STYLE…THE LEAST ABOUT OF POINTS WINS.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME IS TO GENERATE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TRASH OVER A 3-WEEK PERIOD. THAT’S 21-DAYS…YOU CAN DO IT.

 IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING A LOVED-ONE OR DEAR FRIEND INTO THE MIX…AND PLAY THIS CHALLENGE WITH THEM. ASK ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO PLAY, FOR THAT MATTER. THE MORE THE MERRIER.  CREATE A GRAND PRICE THAT IS REALLY VALUABLE TO THE GROUP.  YOU MUST SET THE STAKES HIGH…SO THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVEN TO WIN AND PARTICIPATE.

EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THEIR OWN SCORE, AND PLAY BY THE HONOR SYSTEM.  A GREAT WAY TO TRACK POINTS IS THE ZW CHALLENGE TRACKER SPREADSHEET.  THIS SPREADSHEET CAN BE POSTED ON DROPBOX OR GOOGLE DOCS SO THAT EVERYONE PARTICIPATING CAN UPDATE THEIR SCORES AND SEE EVERYONE’S PROGRESS REAL-TIME.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IS RECYCLABLE AND WHAT IS COMMERCIALLY COMPOSTABLE HERE.

EXAMPLES OF 2 PT ITEMS

All materials bound for landfill

  • ·        Produce stickers
  • ·        Cellophane wrappers
  • ·        Granola bar wrappers, or snack packaging
  • ·       Almost all flexible-film packaging you’ll find at the grocery store
  • ·        Stand-up pouches
  • ·        Plastic utensils
  • ·        STRAWS!
  • ·        Styrofoam
  • ·        To-go coffee and soda cups
  • ·       Receipts

EXAMPLES OF 1 PT ITEMS

All recyclable materials that can be processed by your local recycling facility

  • ·        Plastic water bottles and containers (Check to see if it has recycling symbol 1, 2, 4, OR 5 on the container, otherwise…its two-points and trash)
  • ·        Aluminium Cans
  • ·        Glass bottles and jars
  • ·        Paper cups
  • ·        Paper
  • ·        Cereal cartons

 

EXAMPLES OF 0 PT ITEMS

 All materials that are compostable and placed in compost bin

  • ·        All food scraps (for backyard compost do not include meat, but for curb-side composting meat may be included)
  • ·        Napkins and greasy paper products
  • ·        Plants and plant fiber
  • ·        Compostable single-use cups, containers, straws and utensils (Must say “Certified compostable” on the item)

TIPS

  • ·        Contact your local waste management company to find out which items are recyclable or compostable through your curb-side pick-ups or drop-off locations. If either recycling or composting is not available in your area…give them hell.
  • ·        If your city doesn’t provide curb-side compost pick up, either start your own in your back yard, or find a local composter in your area.
  • ·        Build your own ZW kit including: metal/wooden utensils, glass jar with lid, cloth napkins, cloth sacks for bulk produce, reusable grocery bag, metal/glass straw, etc. LEARN MORE ABOUT BUILDING YOUR OWN ZWKIT, OR BUY THE RIS ZWKIT
  • ·        Keep all the trash you create (items that cannot be recycled and composted), and store it in a large jar or other container until the end of the challenge.  This will give you perspective of how much waste you create over time.
  • ·        Take pictures of the waste you create every day and post in on Instagram or twitter, tag it with #myZWchallenge and #recyclingissexy