Let’s talk about the zero waste.
It has been discussed and campaigned a couple of months now. And more people are embracing it as well as giving out their opinion about it. It’s one of the moves geared towards conservation of mother nature.
Have you heard of Lauren Singer, a regular New Yorker who could fit her four years waste in a jar. She a true definition of almost zero waste.
How does she do it?
Her own words, “I do compost and recycle but only as a last resort — I try to avoid packaging at all costs”
She is quite impressive, right? And shows that it’s possible to reduce our waste when we decide to.
Is zero waste possible?
Am yet to totally agree with it since at some point we will encounter some unavoidable waste. And it takes time and discipline to give up habits. So to me I guess, it should be almost zero waste. As opposed to zero waste.
So what’s the idea here?
Whether zero waste or almost zero waste, ways to get there are similar. And they include:
Refraining from use of one use plastic stuff.
That includes plastic bags, disposable utensils, among others. This one is almost catered for by most countries. As ban on the one use plastic is being enacted to these countries.
Practising recycling and reusing stuff
Instead of being quick to dispose anything we might think it’s a waste. We should now start thinking about refusing or recycling them for other purposes. This will help reduce reusable/recycles that end up in dumpsites too early and half used.
Using reusable packaging and storage
Most packages are made of plastic, same as the storage containers. By using glass wares, we are able to eliminate plastics from our fridge. This also include carrying our lunches to work from home. Hence avoiding buying the lunches packed in plastic packages.
Using reusable coffee mugs and bottles
It’s time to divorce the disposable coffee cups and one use plastic water bottles. Invest in a good mug and water bottle that can be reused on daily basis.
Do we really need drinking straws?
I don’t think so. Next time you visit cafe or bar, and they offer you the drinking straws. Politely decline and just drink your refreshment straight from your glass. You will have saved mother nature big time.
Food management
It’s surprising how much food is wasted all over the world. Yet we have places where people are dying of starvation.
While shopping for food, buy what you will have consumed before they expire and end up being thrown away.
Only serve what you can manage to clean from your plate.
Those simple steps will help wasting food.
My take
I think zero waste will be a great help towards conservation. It will also empower us economically , as they will be no unnecessary wastage.
It may not happen overnight and yes its not a walk in the park. But needs practice and devotion. And most important, it will pay off in the long run.
It’s time we all embrace it, teach it to others and share our success/fail stories so as to inspire others as well as ourselves.
I have decided to fully observe it, will share how the journey unfolds. And hope more join this practice.
I agree with you. As individuals we can take steps toward lessening our impact on the environment.
New York City is considering a law to ban plastic drinking straws However paralyzed People and People who have limited use of their hands still need sturdy straws as they are not capable of picking up cups or drinking glasses.
That’s a great move. I saw some really good improvised straws that can be reused. I guess that can be used by those unable to picking cups and drinking glasses.
Adaptive technology is a good thing. We can save the environment and help People with disabilities.
Very true.
I am working on this subject …..
Kind regards,
That’s great, lets do it
I recycle and compost, yet I see many more ways to reduce impact on nature. Single use plastic bags, are banned where, I live in Washington. And other cities nearby might be following.
Thank you for your post.
That’s an awesome practise your are doing. Every effort taken towards zero waste and pollution is a great step forward towards a healthy planet.
We have taken baby steps towards recycling. We have started waste segregation and composting in our community. I have been consciously trying to avoid plastic as much as possible.
While I would eagerly await the entire planet to be going zero waste some day, in India it still seems to be a long wait for us to achieve that.
Plastic had deeply penetrated our livelihoods, so it may take a while to get everyone in board. But where there is will, solutions are always reached. Good job you are doing. Continue spreading the word and it will definitely pay off.
Interesting article. In my home we recycle and use reusable washable bags, but at the end of the day I think it’s a personal choice. You and your readers may enjoy this post on the topic.
https://reallifeofanmsw.com/2018/04/22/the-war-on-plastic/
Thank you very much. Sure it starts from individual perspective then you can be able to engage the rest
i recently started using beeswax wraps instead of saran wrap, foil or zip loc bags. it is like putting a rind on your food, and keeps cheese, lemons, onions and even bread fresh longer. they can be used for a whole year. Ciao, Cristina
That’s an environmental friendly option. Good job Cristina.
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I certainly favor recycling. However, as I understand matters, recycling centers do not have means of fully recycling many items or anywhere to dispose of the remaining waste. China is no longer accepting the recycling overflow from the US. This means, to make a real dent, we must return to using the substitutes which pre-dated plastics. Sadly, I doubt that is a realistic option, at least not one a large portion of the population will pursue.
True. But by being able to understand how important and urgent it is to eliminate plastic pollution, maybe that will us embrace the changes needed.