About

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In February 2015, artist-entrepreneur Mailyne, flipped her life completely by deciding to get rid of her garbage can and reduce her waste and consumption. She implements her personal choice to live zero waste into her business, her art and her every day life.

Mailyne has hosted workshops, performed live art performances to raise awareness about global waste, and gives Zero Waste and Waste Reduction presentations to public schools and various organizations in Ottawa both publicly and through video. She is an advocate of food waste prevention, volunteering with Foodsharing Ottawa and is a Mother of one.

She owns a multimedia and creative arts company called DLG (Dream Love Grow) Media and is the Executive Director of a non-profit she co-founded called A.R.T. In Action. She started this blog as a way to document her zero waste journey.

Not sure where to start? How about the beginning.
Read how and why this journey began HERE.

Zero Waste Resources – Ottawa first started as a blog project called A Dream Lived Greener. These are the blog archives of me documenting my zero waste journey.

Some features:

From Exploring Alternatives – as I was completing my one year zero waste challenge
Featured on Vie Nomade
Featured in Ottawa Family Living Magazine
Featured in the Ottawa Citizen

21 thoughts on “About”

  2. Hi Mailyne! Thanks a lot for your awesome blog! I’m visiting Ottawa this weekend with friends and wondering if you know zero waste restaurants/take away in the city for the weekend and close to the train station (we’re coming from Toronto) so we could have a zero waste snack by bringing our containers. I always ask but knowing the zero waste places is always easier :). Thanks a lot!

    1. Hi Marie,
      Sorry I never replied sooner. I’m not sure close by the train but downtown, Brothers Restaurant is very zero waste with cloth napkins, no straws and portioned well that you don’t waste. Honey Town is in Somerset and is a dessert place that is excellent and the only thing you have to avoid is the napkin. If you want a bulk store grocery store that allows containers, try Herb and Spice on Bank St. or Natural Food Pantry on York St. Whole Foods near Lansdowne Park on Bank St. too. I also found that if you want fast food that The Pita Pit is wonderful for letting you use your own container. I’ll try to come up with some more if I can, but as with any place ask first and don’t be discouraged. Hope that helps a little.

      1. Hi Mailyne,
        Thanks a lot! No worries I’ve managed to reduce my waste as much as possible. I keep your adresses for next time!

    1. Hi! Thank you for contacting me! Where about are you? You might f find the garbage crisis there to be overwhelming but there are many opportunities to be be waste free at the merkados – bring your own bags! And please say hi to the ocean for me.

  5. Mailyne 🙂 thank you for your inspiration. I watched a video of you talking about your zero-waste life and realised how little effort I make in reducing waste. I love that you have also gone Vegan but that you are favouring a less judgemental path. We are all on a journey and need to support each other with love as much as possible. Ive checked my cities recycling system now to be sure what they can actually recycle (Brisbane, Australia), something Ive been meaning to do for a while, downloaded some great info from them and they even have an award winning phone ap that tells me exactly what can and cant be recycled. Im going to re-organise our compost bin so its actually creating healthy compost 🙂 and start a vege garden, rather than a dumping ground for food. Most importantly I will start focusing on reducing the waste via my purchasing decisions. Im really excited and know this is long overdue. What do you do with lightbulbs? ie which type do u use and does your city recycle them? love & blessings for your commitment to a simple life 🙂

    1. Hi Gabriel, I’m so excited to hear about your journey 🙂 I’m sure you will inspire others there close to you. For light bulbs, I honestly haven’t had to change many and my apartment management manages them. LED’s were what were installed, but there are a few around that are still incandescent, which are actually considered to be better. CFL lights are a hazardous waste and places like Canadian Tire, Lowe’s and Ikea take them back. LED lights though, our city states that they must be thrown out.

  6. How do you make your
    *Toothpaste
    *Deodorant
    *Shampoo/conditioner
    I would love to know how to live a more minimalist lifestyle.

    You inspire me 🙂

    1. Thank you Hannah.

      Here are some links.

      Toothpaste: http://www.adreamlivedgreener.ca/blog/2016/6/11/zero-waste-chocolate-toothpaste?rq=toothpaste

      Deodorant (I am doing an updated version soon): https://adreamlivedgreener.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/home-made-deodorant-dish-soap/

      Shampoo: I use a shampoo bar and no conditioner. Either this: http://www.adreamlivedgreener.ca/shop/red-clay-vegan-shampoo-bar

      Or our soap nuts: http://www.adreamlivedgreener.ca/shop/soapnuts

  7. Hi Mailyne! Thank you for all that you do! Do you have any social media where I can follow you on?

    Thanks =)

  8. Hi Mailyne! Came across a video about you and now your blog, so happy to come across! 😀 I admire you for your choice and thank you for sharing it with the world! I enjoyed the feeling of centred-ness and grounded-ness, which you emanate ❤ Sorry, if it's too direct, I have been watching a lot of vlogs and a lot of people seem neurotic and it's tiring…
    I've already started making some changes to my lifestyle, but it's difficult with some aspects, living in the Nordic region, which is rather strange because we have very high quality of life level. But I guess there is still a lot of ignorance or laziness in people. Then there is also monopoly on food stores here, so it's really hard for organic farmers or stores to get into the market, and the prices for that are super high… I would love it if we had store with no packaging, like you have in the states.
    I really want to change my lifestyle on many levels and it's wonderful to find other people for inspirations and to share tips with! Thanks again and good luck with everything! 😀
    Natasha

    1. Natasha,

      Thank you for writing me – this was beautiful to read and much needed. I appreciate you taking the time to remind me of why I chose to do what I do, and what many others are choosing as well. It is interesting to know that you witness huge socially economic differences where you live, but you continue anyway. I wish you all the best on your journey 🙂

  9. Mailyne,

    I just came across your blog after seeing your video on the Waste Reduction Week Canada website. It’s so refreshing to find some Canadian inspiration and products to look into! I’m a university student in the Toronto area and am currently prepping my home/ lifestyle to be zero waste starting in October. I’m excited to take on this new challenge! Thank you for doing what you do!

    -Laura

    1. Hi Laura! Thank you for taking the time to write me and for letting me know my video was on the Waste Reduction Week Canada website. I know the challenge can be daunting, but I’m happy you’re taking it on. Remember not to be hard on yourself and to do only what you can to the most that it will make you happiest. Good luck!

      Love,
      Mai

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