What would you do if you found out your recycling was a lie—and your kids would pay the price?
In this eye-opening episode of the Green Living Now podcast, we meet Jamie McKenzie, founder of Rise Up Refill, a trailblazing zero-waste refill shop in Waterbury, Vermont.
Jamie didn’t start out as a sustainability expert—in fact, she was a massage therapist who slowly uncovered the uncomfortable truth behind our plastic addiction, broken recycling systems, and toxic consumer culture.
Inside this conversation:
• The REAL reason recycling isn’t working
• What it really takes to go plastic-free (hint: it’s not just tote bags)
• How rewilding your backyard can save pollinators & biodiversity
• The 6 R’s that go beyond “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”
• Clothing swaps, community building, and launching a green biz from scratch
• Why Plastic-Free July might just change your life
Whether you're a sustainability newbie or a seasoned green living advocate, Jamie’s story offers both inspiration and practical tools to help you detox your home, body, and mindset—starting today.
▶️ Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:33 Jamie’s backstory: from massage to zero waste
02:40 How to go plastic-free (without going broke)
06:18 The Rise of Rise Up Refill
10:37 Plastic’s hidden health impacts
13:49 Why recycling isn’t enough
18:32 The power of local initiatives
20:47 What is rewilding and why it matters
23:24 Starting a low-waste business
32:15 Take the Plastic-Free July challenge
33:53 Jamie’s message for changemakers
Ready to reclaim your power in a throwaway world? Watch now and join the refill revolution.#PlasticFree #ZeroWaste #GreenLiving #SustainableLiving #RiseUpRefill #PlasticFreeJuly #EnvironmentalPodcast #greenlivingnow
Jamie McKenzie is the founder of Rise Up Refill, a zero-waste refill shop in Waterbury, Vermont. Originally from Freeport, Maine, Jamie moved to Vermont in 2008, where she lives with her husband, three children, and a small pack of rescue animals.With a background in Fine Art and a decade-long career as a Certified Massage Therapist,
Jamie’s path took a turn in 2018 when she learned about the global recycling crisis. This sparked a personal mission to reduce single-use plastics and live a more sustainable, values-aligned lifestyle.
Through hands-on solutions like making her own products and shopping in bulk with reusable containers, Jamie discovered the empowerment that comes with low-waste living.
That journey inspired her to create a local alternative to online “eco” subscriptions—and in March 2025, she opened Rise Up Refill to serve her community with accessible, truly sustainable home and body essentials.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal opinions and not medical advice. This content is for educational purposes only.
RESOURCES & FREE GIFTS
Start living cleaner today with these free resources:
👉 Your 5-Steps to Ditch Everyday Toxins Without the OverwhelmSimple shifts to detox your home, food & lifestylehttps://8c02-amy.systeme.io/2ee1189e
👉 How Toxic Is Your Pantry? Quiz
Find hidden toxins in your everyday food—and what to swaphttps://greenlivingnow.kit.com/04acf3b349
🌿 WORK WITH AMY
Explore her online courses & coaching:
https://www.greenlivingnow.comBook a free 20-minute Green Living Strategy Call:
🔗https://tidycal.com/m4lzp73/free-20-minute-unlock-your-toxin-free-life-strategy-call
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🌎 Website: https://www.greenlivingnow.com
📌 ABOUT AMY
I’m Amy Todisco Hartshorn, a Green Living Mentor, upcoming TEDx speaker, organic farmer, and host of the Green Living Now Podcast. For over 30 years, I’ve helped people detox their homes, food, and lifestyles—so they can feel better, think clearer, and live cleaner without the overwhelm.