Hi, I’m Cassidy from San Diego, California. I moved to Dublin one and a half years ago via a working holiday visa. Currently, I’m studying International Business and working in higher education.
What sparked your interest in sustainable living and where did you start?
My interest in sustainable living started in high school, when a friend introduced me to second-hand shopping. However, it wasn’t until attending college that this interest started to ramp up. I had friends who studied Sustainability and helped run an annual week-long series of educational and entertaining events that encourage, celebrate, and advocate for sustainability. It was on my college campus where I had participated in my first clothing swap and received my first set of snack bags and reusable bamboo cutlery that I use to this day. Truthfully, I wouldn’t be this “far along” if it wasn’t for COVID lockdowns while I was in between living in San Diego and London. Life and consumption naturally slowed down and gave me the time and mental space to re-evaluate my values. My screen time increased as I was actively on Olio. The app allowed me to connect with like-minded people and taught me to share more and waste less!
What is a sustainable change you have made in your own life?
After attending the 4-week Sustainable Living programme, specifically A Climate Friendly Kitchen, I was inspired to figure out a way to separate food waste in my new apartment block. After 6 months of back-and-forth emails with my management company and sharing section 2.9 (b) of Dublin City Council’s 2018 Waste Bye Laws, I am proud to say my community and I now have access to a brown bin.
Are you tackling any sustainable changes at the moment you’d like to share or are planning to?
I am constantly in a state of learning how to properly dispose objects whether I am in Dublin or San Diego. It is tedious but the satisfaction of knowing some used objects could be turned into something new makes it all worthwhile. However, I fully acknowledge my privilege of having the space and time to set up designated collection areas at home and to physically dispose various objects around both cities.
The following list gives you an idea of what I have disposed or plan to dispose in Dublin and San Diego: used ink cartridges, socks, electronics, light bulbs, batteries, keys, plastic bags, and glass bottles. As I had disposal incentives in San Diego for beauty, health and wellness products, and aluminium cans and plastic bottles, I was delighted by the launch of both Recycle at Boots and Deposit Return schemes in Ireland.
What would you like to see in a sustainable future? What could make living sustainably easier?
I’d like to see borrowing normalised more. The free sport and leisure equipment locker system in Eamonn Ceannt Park is a fantastic example. I read online that the Dublin Food Co-Op hosted a pop-up Library of Things in 2017. I would love to see more pop-ups or even better permanent lending libraries in Dublin today. This could make living sustainably easier as it’s not practical to buy tools for things you use once in a blue moon, such as an Instax camera for a birthday party. Additionally, more outdoor seating in the future can’t hurt.
If one of your friends told you they wanted to start living more sustainably, what would be your top tip to get started?
Unsubscribe from or refuse marketing emails!
What keeps you motivated?
My IRL and online communities and travels motivate me to keep seeking ways to improve.
And For a bit of fun what was your first concert or your first CD/Tape/Record you owned?
I was an avid fan of Disney Channel: my first concert was Hillary Duff in 2005 with my mom and older sister and my first CD was either a Disney soundtrack or compilation. Honestly, I can go on and on about music. The first tape I owned was Guardians of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 and was gifted by a thoughtful friend.
Cassidy's favourite Irish sustainable spots:
Tang café. I’m there for brunch almost every Saturday. The food is great, but the service is even better (my partner actually works there and is helping me type this).But in all seriousness, Tang café really cares for its people and the land it inhabits. Last year, Tang funded a Polytunnel that has the potential to grow 70,000 native tree saplings a year at the Hometree HQ in Ennistymon, Co. Claire. On St. Patrick’s Day, I had the opportunity to tag along with the Tang team to help plant native tree saplings and install the aforementioned Polytunnel.
Where is a special place for you to reconnect with nature?
I love reconnecting with nature by the beach. At the moment, my favourite spot in Dublin is Seapoint.
Thank you Cassidy!
