The Mill City Times Interview: Audrey Liquard, Zero Waste Advocate
Monday, October 19, 2020 at 11:25AMArticle by Becky Fillinger
Audrey Liquard is an Assistant County Attorney in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. When she’s not making our community safer, she’s also a zero waste lifestyle proponent. In our interview, she teaches us more about this philosophy.
Audrey purchases items in bulk, using her own containers, as a means of cutting down on packaging waste.
Q: How did you become interested in a zero waste lifestyle?
A: I’ve always been an advocate for the planet and all its beings. I love the outdoors and all the gifts it gives us. The average American creates 4.5 pounds of trash PER DAY! Those numbers are not sustainable for our beautiful planet, its future, or generations to come. We can work to reduce that number by making small but meaningful changes.
I went to an environmental high school in Apple Valley, called the School of Environmental Studies at the Minnesota Zoo and learned a lot about trash: how we make it, where it goes, and how to reduce it. Reducing waste forces us to examine our choices, look closely at how things are produced, and ask questions of producers. We are in a powerful position as consumers. When we reduce our waste, our lives become simpler, and we are more in touch with our planet and our health. We realize all the connectedness. There are many resources today to show us how to reduce waste. Two of my favorites are Bea Johnson and Lauren Singer. Check them out!
Q: What does zero waste lifestyle mean to you?
A: To me, the zero waste lifestyle is a process that takes time to develop. Not everyone has to be “zero waste,” (I’m not), but everyone can be “less waste.” We can do that by looking at the actual trash we make and asking ourselves: Is there another place for this other than the trash? What sustainable option could I have used instead of this disposable item? Did I really need this? The ZWL makes us more aware of our daily choices and that awareness will show us remarkable things! Instead of mindlessly throwing things away, we realize that there is no “away,” and we see the world, and our choices, differently.
Q: How can our readers get started on a zero waste lifestyle?
A: Like I said above, start to examine your own trash and ask yourselves those questions. Most trash is created in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Small, simple changes make a big impact. Does your trash contain plastic produce bags? Try investing in reusable mesh bags instead. Does your trash contain packaging from food such as a pre-packaged bag of dried beans, or meat? Try bringing your own containers to the grocery store and filling them up in the bulk section. (You can weigh your own containers so that you don’t pay for the weight of them!) Co-ops are especially friendly towards this style of shopping. Is your recycling overflowing with paper grocery bags? Try bringing canvas bags. Tissue paper? I love using my cloth bandanas, they are much softer on the nose. Menstrual products? Try a Diva Cup and cloth pads. It depends how much waste you are hoping to reduce, but there truly is an alternative for everything we throw away! Get creative, and if you can’t think of it, just ask!
Note: You can also see Audrey’s tips on the MCN6 television show, Milling About with Brianna Rose, where she will share monthly tips on reducing unnecessary waste. Look for Audrey in Episode 4, set to air December 17.
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About Becky Fillinger
I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.
One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories.
