Going zero waste but still eat meat?
Don’t beat yourself up and do your best every time.
Meat is a problem when you examine your waste. I know we should all reduce consumption of it for the planet, period. Our family has always had several vegetarian meals each week, but we still eat meat and fish. And for someone striving for zero waste, buying meat is hard just logistically.
Ok, ok, you could just skip it. I’d be ok with that personally, but I’m not going to advocate strict veganism – though that’s very healthy for the planet and humans – because I have two teenagers who play sports and are still growing. I know that many vegans out there would propose I can create a balanced diet for them (yes, I know and good on you if you do!), but my kids still want meat sometimes.
But back to reducing waste on a small scale, in a household that does eat meat.
The zero waste way to buy meat and poultry, of course, is to bring your own clean container and have your butcher or grocery meat counter tare the container and only charge you for your meat.
The butcher shop is most likely to be helpful, but feeding big kids can get expensive. For now, I want to avoid all the plastic at the grocery store. I’m striving for best, but I need other options. Progress, not perfection.
Here’s what I’ve found as better options, though I appreciate they’re still not the best:
- Buy direct. If you live in an area where a ranch may offer a “buy large quantity” option (my aunt in rural Alberta used to buy a portioned-out half side of beef and freeze it), or a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme for meat, talk to them about your low-waste packaging needs and their options. We also eat some fish. Here in Vancouver, Canada, I belong to a Community Supported Fishery (that delivers across the country, actually), but the cuts are frozen at sea in plastic. I’ll have to work on getting around that waste with them and recycle it properly for now. Only the fresh stuff (mussels in season!) can I control the packaging when I arrive to pick it up.
- Order in advance. This is most likely done through a butcher shop. If you’ve had a conversation about your needs and ordered a few items, the shop can prep your meat in a quiet time for them and use only butcher paper, at your request. Check your municipal compost/organics rules or compost it yourself.
- Bulk. The other bulk. I mean buy the large package of ground beef, or chicken breasts, or fish. Then divide at home into your containers. And least you have only one foam or plastic tray to recycle (see below) and I know there’s the plastic wrap, but wash and recycle that too.
- Wash and recycle. However you purchase meat or poultry, if it has packaging, ensure that the materials of the packaging are the most compostable and/or recyclable options you can find. My local curbside recycling collection doesn’t accept styrofoam meat “plates” but the local drop-off does. Wash the materials you have and take them to the depot when you’re taking anything else. If you’re accepting these, don’t just toss them in the garbage as too hard to clean and accept it as a ‘lesson’ — at least recycle them.
You can try another store or bring your containers as you build them up in time. Options will improve in time as grocers are more amenable to our needs. The more people ask, the more they’ll get the message.
Remember, anything you are doing more thoughtfully than you were before is a win. This is a journey.
The point is to do what’s manageable for you now and move forward from there.
Does anyone have other tips for those who enjoy meats but want to make better low-waste choices?
