There are certain standards that should never be compromised when a tattoo artist is setting up  for a tattoo. Single-use disposable items are key to avoiding cross contamination. There is no reason that anything (rinse bottle and machine aside) should be reused, and everything should have a protective disposable barrier. With that being said, it causes a lot of waste.

 

I really hate plastic. I think about it a lot when I'm setting up and breaking down after a tattoo.

 

I think about it sticking around on this earth longer than any tattoo I could create, or winding up stuck in the fence next to the 33 in Cheektowaga (that fence haunts me).

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With that being said, I started to look for more sustainable practices to eliminate what I can from overstaying its welcome in the local landfill. Some of the products I've been using are made from corn, other plant matter, recycled goods and paper. I won't compromise with quality, however. I've tried biodegradable needle cartridges and I just don't think they make for a very good tattoo - so they didn't make the cut.

Unfortunately, Western New York (and New York as a whole) doesn't have the most amazing, forward-thinking methods of garbage disposal as some other places do. Other cities have accessible sites which will take the biodegradable and compostable materials and appropriately discard of them in a way to efficiently break them down.

 

I have some worms that I purchased on Ebay. I'm thinking about making them some TikToks.

They eat fruits, veggies, and tattoo supplies. I happen to think it's pretty cute.

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Aside from the worms, the friendly neighborhood landfill is where most of my refuse ends up. While not ideal, these plastic alternatives still break down much quicker than their petroleum based counterparts. I'm always on the look out for better options, so if you have ideas, please let me know!