Beginning a zero waste journey is one of the best and fulfilling decisions especially for the environment and also for the body. Living a zero waste means minimizing waste through eating less, reusing, recycling and replacing them with eco-friendly products. The process can be quite intimidating at first, and for good reason, if you are new to the process. Here are seven basic steps that we will outline in this guide to help you begin your zero waste journey without much stress.
1. Start Small and Set Realistic Goals
Of course the idea of being 100% waste-free is quite unrealistic and if that is what is expected and the average person fails to achieve it completely then perhaps the message is wrong. Zero-waste, again, is not something that could or should be achieved suddenly, at least not in big and huge organizations. Therefore, begin with little things and aim at regular progress. If you attempt to apply them in one go, you can easily end up feeling irritated and demotivated.
Being more conscious about waste start with identifying your major wasteful categories and then adopting single change. For instance, you might begin by avoiding that pointless use of plastic products; begin using bags that can be washed instead of new plastic bags and avoid using new plastic containers and so on. Small subsequent changes over the course of years can then be made to adjust to new goals; others may be added to the chain, such as other savings on consumables, reduction of food waste, composting and making your own cleaning products.
2. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: The Golden Rule
The mantra of zero waste is simple: reduce, reuse, and recycle. These three steps make up the framework of a zero waste life, and this knowledge will help you make choices.
Reduce:
Begin by cutting on your consumption of products that are not essential in your life. Consider before you buy things. Sometimes it is useful to ask oneself whether one genuinely requires it or whether it is simply necessary for a certain period? Another element of waste minimisation is also being conscious of packaging. For example, when purchasing food items, do not buy those products that are packed in plastic and where possible buy in large quantities. Cutting down on the number of possessions we require and thus cutting down on the amount of spending that they need.
Reuse:
Why discard materials that can still be utilised when everyone knows how to look for a new use for items?. You can use old jars for storage purposes: closets, use cloth as a substitute for paper towels, or glass bottles for your homemade soft drinks. Recycling not only helps conserve the environment, but also can help to save money too.
Recycle:
Recycling comes in as the last best option (even though it still consumes energy and resources) but is an important element of the zero waste regime. Brush up on your regional recycling policies, and pay attention to ensure that no contamination occurs by include only the precise type of items to the recycling bins.
3. Embrace Reusables Over Disposables
Among the biggest problems around us we can single out that the usage of disposables is one of the biggest sources of unnecessary waste. From plastic straws to disposable coffee cups and plastic carrier bags, the use of items that can be disposed of easily totals to a lot. By changing out these items for reusable ones, you can cut back your waste in the process in a very big way.
Here are a few easy switches you can make:
Reusable bags: It is very important that people should ensure that they carry their shopping reusable bags everywhere they go shopping. If the worst comes to it though many shops have reusable bags at a considerably low price.
Reusable water bottles: Buy a good quality BPA free metal or glass water bottle to reduce the amount of plastic bottles being used.
Reusable coffee cups: If you consume coffee regularly, then use your own travelling mugs or flasks while having coffee instead of styro cups and lids.
Reusable utensils and straws: A pair of reusable cutlery and a straw is all you need for take-away foods or if you are dining out.
These are some of the small shifts that might not look like much, but collectively, they can make a really big impact for the environment.
4. Opt for Natural and Eco-Friendly Products
As people switching to zero waste, people should make a point of using items that are degradable or recyclable without harming the environment. Most conventional products contain chemicals and are packed in non-recyclable material – an addition to the garbage and pollution.
Use products that are Eco-friendly in other words, use those products which can be either natural or biodegradable or which are used in composting. Here are some examples:
- Cleaning supplies: To clean your home without using extremely harsh chemicals, it is recommended that you become your own chemist by using ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon. There are also products which are natural cleaning products wrapped in recyclable material.
- Personal care products: Finally, use bars of soap instead of the bottled shower gels. Replace things like shampoos with shampoo bars, toothbrushes with bamboo ones, and absorbent materials such as cotton balls with reusable ones for makeup wipes.
- Food storage: Replace plastic wrap with beeswax wraps or silicone bags when storing food instead of using plastic wrap or sandwich bags. It’s good also the glass jars, stainless steel containers and cloth bags since they do not harm the Nature at all.
These green products mean that you will be employing fewer toxic products and waste products into the environment hence leading to a change of lifestyle.
Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Trash Bags
5. Compost Your Food Waste
Food waste is a common problem and significant number of households dispose their waste in the landfills and biodegradable waste can take several years to decompose in the landfills. But instead of disposing your remains of your meals, try composting. Composting is multi-functional in that it reduces waste and gives you valuable fertile soil for planting.
However, that does not mean that those residing in an apartment cannot practice composting, this can be done using an indoor composting bin. If you have a yard to designate an area this is where you set up a compost pile. The beauty of composting is that you need to put into the bin both greens which are the nitrogen-rich foods like the fruit and vegetable peelings and the browns which are the carbon generous including the fallen leaves or paper.
As you compost, you are putting the organic waste that would have multiplied in the landfills to good use and bringing value to your garden/ plants.
6. Shop Secondhand and Buy in Bulk
Probably one of the most powerful strategies for reducing waste is simply to buy fewer things in total. And if you do, it’s best to purchase what you can second hand. A quick search from shopping sites to Thrift shops, Consignment shops etc., there is always a treasure trove of new aged old clothes waiting to be used. Use of second-hand products is recommended in the sense that it having little impact on the new products which are produced using raw materials as well as energy.
Food is another essential need that can be sourced with less packaging Through bulk buying, packaging costs are absorbed in the wholesale market hence little individual packaging. To get really good bulk bins, try to go to your local grocery store or go to a zero waste shop. You can purchase grains, beans, nuts and even snacks without a packet which makes the cir altogether smaller. Many people are now coming with their own containers to be filled, and believe it or not this will help cut down on the amount of plastic being used and you’ll be in a position to save money in the long run as well.
7. Be Patient and Adapt as You Go
Several authors also support the idea that the zero waste journey is not linear. There is no one size fits all when it comes to self improvement techniques and strategies, this should not come as a shock. The only thing that needs to be done is to know that it takes time and should not be hurried, mistakes are part of the process. What you’ll find as you go along is that there are other strategies that are more effective for your current way of life, and so the process of optimization begins.
Pressure exists, but it doesn’t matter if you do things wrong; nobody is perfect. The idea is that we must continue making effort in steps over time. Try to document your progress or what you feel is effective for you then just keep making changes. Think of difference ways to do something and don’t be too critical when things don’t go well.
Final Thoughts
It can be confusing where to begin when adopting a zero waste lifestyle, but the process is definitely rewarding. Over time you will not only decrease your negative impact on the environment but also improve the quality of your life by being more deliberate with your choices. What may seem like tiny incremental shifts in your behavior, like using less, using reusable items, or buying items used, will make a world of difference. Just keep in mind that it takes time to build a business, so don’t rush it and just take the steps needed to do it.
Here are seven tips The Daily Green suggests to remember in order to live an even more environmentally friendly and toxin-free life: What you do is you build up these tiny changes for the future and save the planet for the generations to come. Therefore, get started on your zero waste journey today and do it with so much confidence!
One Response