What does Zero Waste mean?
Have you ever been really curious about something but failed to look it up? This was my story with the Zero Waste lifestyle. I had heard of people in America who produced so little rubbish that they could fit a whole year’s worth of their trash in a mason jar. That seemed so daunting. I was intrigued to know how their lives must be different. Would it be freeing to live so minimally?
Despite my interest, I hadn’t really tuned into the mission behind these lifestyle choices. I would think about rubbish from time to time, but mostly only when I was heaving a full black bag outside, passing an overspilling litterbin in the park or discovering a mound of takeaway containers left by my flatmate. Life was busy. Living in a world of information overload, I could look it up another time.
As I saw it, there were many environmental problems vying for my attention: pollution, deforestation, loss of habitats and animals and overpopulation to name just a few. I am sure I’m not the only one who has felt overwhelmed! What should I do for the best? With so much to be done, I found myself in a state of inaction.
As a cure, I had decided to focus on the issue of climate change. I graduated as an electrical engineer and saw myself doing work to help reduce the carbon intensity of electricity to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses. What I hadn’t realised was that waste is part of this problem.
Landfill sites produce a significant amount of greenhouse gasses. Organic matter, such as food scraps, decomposes anaerobically while trapped in large piles of other rubbish. The methane gas that results has a much greater greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. When I realised this, something changed for me. It had become clear that to save the environment I couldn’t just walk and cycle everywhere and promote renewable energy; I had to tackle the unglamorous subject of waste.
Why now?
This spring a pandemic has swept across our planet forcing millions of people to bring their lives to a halt. This may be a difficult time for you. You may have lost a loved one. You might have lost your job or have been very ill. My thoughts and prayers go out to every real person behind the statistics I see on the news. Emerging from this time of suffering, loss and anxiety, I hope that many will have a renewed sense of what is really important. Here in the UK, the lockdown has certainly given me the opportunity to reflect.
A fortnight ago, I spent a week in quarantine and my normal routine came to a halt. My thoughts of food gave the days structure. When was the next meal? What did I have to eat? When would I run out? Even before that, leaving the flat had become a big event. With social distancing rules in place, the only reason to go out was to buy more food or to take the rubbish out. For that week, I could no longer escape the confines of the flat but became reliant on deliveries. I watched as the waste piled up.
It is a sobering experience to examine what is left after a week’s worth of consumption. Stacks of plastic trays I had carefully washed but found that the council won’t recycle; egg boxes and packets galore; bottles and cartons and a mess of tissues, film, teabags and peelings. It amazed me how much rubbish my boyfriend and I had accumulated!
There were so many items I had barely even noticed or appreciated. It saddens me to have to throw away so much packaging. The worst part is knowing that much of the wrapping, padding or fastenings are superfluous. The items have served no real meaningful purpose before being discarded. I realised I wanted to be more intentional about the objects that enter and leave my life.
The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.
Chinese Proverb
When something feels challenging my reaction is to mentally postpone it to be a ‘big project’ someday. They say that ‘someday’ never comes, but I guess now it has! I have decided that the time has come to be responsible for the waste I produce and the impact that it has on the planet. That means reducing my waste until I too am living the Zero Waste lifestyle.
What is Zero Waste?
Zero Waste is principally a movement to reduce the amount of rubbish we throw away. It is about changing our day-to-day habits as individuals to be more sustainable. The goal is to get as close as possible to sending zero waste to landfill. On a larger scale, it is about societies moving towards a circular economy where products are made from waste materials and designed with their end of life in mind. This would stop the depletion of natural resources as well as ensuring the reuse of all products.
The currently accepted definition is as follows:
The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.
Zero Waste International Alliance – December 20th, 2018
This feels like a lot to take on. But, there are concrete steps we can take to make a difference. Although most of us are only involved in this cycle at the consumption or reuse stage, we do have some influence over the other stages. The products we choose to buy give us the opportunity to support responsible producers where possible and to find ways to repurpose and recycle items we no longer need. Each small positive change we make can effect change.
For me, Zero Waste means being more mindful of the businesses and organisations I choose to support with my money, the things I choose to buy and how I buy them. It has got to the point that when buying something new I start to worry about having the box or packet to discard. I want to find ways to buy things without wrappings where possible.
The packaging is just one example of items designed to be used only once. Disposable cutlery, plastic straws, paper napkins, takeaway boxes and coffee cups are all used for a matter of minutes. Does it make you sad to throw these away too? There are so many disposable and single-use products. All promise convenience but with little consideration that our resources are valuable. Are we really that busy? Do they really make things easier? There must be a better way.
Making a change
It is easy to feel bewildered by the many problems the world faces but a change came when I asked myself, “What opportunities do I have to make a difference?” Our natural environment is complex and the interdependencies may be difficult to understand, but I have realised that there many simple changes that you can make. Once you start taking an active interest and begin to make changes, new information and opportunities start to reveal themselves.
Today is World Environment Day which is a day for raising awareness of environmental issues. From today I will be beginning a journey of reducing my rubbish step by step and learning to live a greener lifestyle. By making these changes and blogging about my experiences I hope to promote understanding of what is possible and how we can improve.
As I begin my journey towards a Zero Waste lifestyle there are several maxims I will keep in mind:
Refuse refuse! If enough people stop buying or asking for cheap disposables, then the total demand will drop, and less of them will be made. I will carry reusable mugs, cutlery and bags with me to use instead.
Buy fewer and better quality items, which will last longer. I will plan my purchases and consider whether I really need something before going ahead.
Give items a new life or donate to charity rather than throwing them away. I will investigate what type of donations my local shops will accept. Someone else might be grateful for the things I know longer want.
Be informed about recycling processes. I will learn about which materials are recyclable and find local collection points for items not included in the council’s recycling programme.
Save green waste for industrial composting. I will collect food and garden waste separately from general household waste so that it can be collected.
Sign petitions and ask questions to bring about change. I will ask for the provision of more environmentally friendly alternatives where I find it difficult to reduce my waste. I will engage with local groups and the council to raise issues and gain a greater understanding of what can be done.
These things are not all new, but so often we know something but don’t actually put it into practice. I know that’s true for me. Which of these things could you do more? I am really excited to begin this journey towards a greener lifestyle and to share my insights with you! If you have any advice for me or questions about how you can reduce your own waste, then please share them in the comments below. Please visit my about page to see more about me and how to follow my progress.
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