Zero Waste Trash Talk Maris Masellis, Michael Britt,

Nashville's Crema Coffee business model is how we wish all businesses would operate.  In our interview with Rachel Lehman we find out that Crema was one of the first Zero Waste businesses in Nashville and how they keep innovating to reduce waste and make the coffee world a better place.  In addition to developing compostable coffee packaging, Crema implements costly innovations like electric delivery vehicles, reusable wholesale delivery crates and pays living wages for employees and growers.  

Would you sneak a plastic bag monster costume into your State's Legislature and wear it to meet with lawmakers?  This is just one of the interesting things we found out in this inspirational interview with Sadie and Zach, the organizers behind Zero Waste Chattanooga.  We discuss their Zero Waste journey and how they educate their community about environmental issues.  Sadie has a great take on "Remedy Messaging" as it relates to recycling.  She sites studies that show people are more prone to waste when they think there is a remedy like recycling. Listen in to find out if we should think about changing how we talk about environmental issues to better influence behavioral change.

With world wide Covid-19 deaths in the millions, political upheaval, social unrest and a tumultuous economy, continuing the conversation about sustainability sometimes feels like some kind of privileged guilty pleasure. Michael and Maris discuss the struggles of the past year and the importance of talking about sustainability in order to engage listeners and unify our environmental efforts to slow down the impending climate catastrophe.

Do you feel like you're the only one recycling, composting your food scraps and getting dirty looks from cashiers for bringing your own bags?  Finding and supporting your local environmental organizations can be a great way to stay connected and leverage your environmental actions. ZWTT is active locally with Tennessee Environmental Council. Join us as we chat with CEO Jeff Barrie about the 50 year history of TEC and what their plans are for the future.

Have you thought about sustainable gift giving?  How do you personalize a gift experience when sending an electronic gift card?  Why do we even give gifts? Maris and Michael have a conversation about how to approach gift giving as Zero Waste practitioners.

How do you "pull a Maris"?  Is there a waiter in East Nashville with a zero waste chopstick injury from Jess?  How does Michael offset air conditioning for furry Akitas?  Life is full of trade offs for what's good for us, the environment and our pocketbooks.  Zero Waste isn't just trying to fit all of your trash into a mason jar.  It's about conserving and reusing resources. The Trash Talk hosts share some of the things they do on a daily basis to lower consumption and produce less waste.