My Gen X uncle made me question my whole zero waste thing

Last Saturday at my cousin's BBQ in Austin, my 52 year old uncle watched me tape a banana peel back together and said 'you're not saving the planet, you're just hoarding trash with extra steps'. He grew up in the 80s when recycling bins barely existed and tossed everything without a second thought. It hit weird because he's right that my compost pile sits half frozen 5 months of the year, but does that mean my effort is pointless or just misdirected? Anyone else get confronted like that by an older relative and actually second guess their habits?

2 comments

2 Comments

king.andrew2d ago

Honestly your uncle has a point. A frozen compost pile and taped banana peels are more about making you feel good than actually changing anything in the real world.

hugo_schmidt2d ago

Friend of mine taped bananas for a year and nothing changed, cold truth.