Zero Waste: Getting Started with these 6 easy steps
Want to cut down on the amount of trash that you produce but don’t know where to begin? Well, don’t worry we have got your back. So let’s get right into it.
What is Zero-Waste and is it possible to be completely Zero-waste?
To put it simply Zero-Waste aims to send nothing to landfills or the ocean. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a menace to each and every species on this planet. It seems daunting when you hear Zero, but it actually isn’t because what matters here is not perfection but making a conscious and a better choice.
We would cover more in deep about Zero-Waste in another post but what we gonna share and learn here is just about enough to get you going.
So here are the 6 easy steps you can start following from today to get started with Zero Waste.
First Off…
1)Use Reusable Bags
An average lifespan of a single-use plastic bag falls between 12-20mins and we throw away a whopping 1 trillion bags every year. These plastic bags take over hundreds or even thousands of year to break down. Now it’s about time that we switch to reusable bags, like a canvas tote and reusable produce bag which renders a great way of shopping where it’s not just matter of convenience but also the quality of life. So try these Reusable bags out and save our the planet’s valuable renewable resources.
2) Use a Reusable Bottles
Did you know it takes 3 times the amount of water to produce a plastic bottle than it does to fill it? It takes over 1,000 years for it to decompose and only 20% of the bottles that we buy are recycled but 80% of it ends up in landfill leaching pollutants into our soil and water. So take a pledge never to use any more single-use plastic bottles and instead opt for a reusable one.
3) Reusable Straw
Plastic Straws have become one of the major threat to the marine life. The number of plastic straws disposed of is estimated to be around 500 million a day! These straws are amongst the top 10 items found in the ocean. They take more than 200 years to break down. They are causing a huge damage to our environment and choking our seas. Why use such straws when we have sustainable and reusable alternatives like Stainless Steel straws and Bamboo Straws. These last up to a significant period of time and offers a better way of drinking.
4) BYO – Bring Your Own
“Bring Your Own” talks about or sums up the one half of this Zero-Waste lifestyle. As we go about our day, we come across a lot of products wrapped and carried in plastics especially while grocery shopping. But instead, you can bring your own reusable bags, produce bags and refrain from the use of any kind of plastic. Instead of buying packaged food, buy them in bulk with your reusable bags. BYO can be applied anywhere you think that there’s even the slightest possibility that you can get by with things without creating much or any trash.
5) Try Composting
Let’s talk dirty, composting is nature’s way of recycling where what you’ve got is not waste. You can easily segregate your waste and the fresh compost that you will get after composting can be used in your garden or can be provided to nearest composting facilities or you can donate your scraps to your community garden. Composting offers a wide perspective of how nature actually functions and how to protect our nature we should be a part of that cycle. So next time when you’ve got bin full trash to dump, think for a min and ask yourself if what you’ve got is really trash?
6) Switch to Bamboo toothbrush
Get a load of this, that in India we throw away more than 150 million plastic toothbrushes every month. These are a plastic soup of chemicals as they are derived from petroleum-based plastics. They take over 400 years to decompose, that means of all the plastic you would have used till now not only survives but unknowingly are causing serious damage to our environment. Switch to Bamboo toothbrush which is bio-degradable and comes with features which are healthier and safer for you and your planet.
So now it’s only a matter of making the right choice, taking small baby steps towards a lifestyle which is sustainable and healthier, which doesn’t come at a cost of damaging nature and its species, which proudly makes you wanna say that “I am Earth Conscious”.
Following 1,2,4 and 5 will start 3 and 6 after o get my order