Take the zero-waste journey

One key point about zero-waste is that it is mimicking nature in that nothing is wasted.

Before you say, “But that’s impossible! No one can possibly live without producing waste,” allow me to say being zero-waste does not really mean no trash, but rather, nothing is wasted.

Let me add too that becoming zero-waste is a journey. And because it is a journey, it is taken one step at a time. And as in other journeys, there may be those who have gone far ahead, while there may be others who have just started, or are just about to start. The starting time may vary, so is the pace.

To be called zero-waste practitioner then does not mean that you have already become completely zero-waste. It just means that you have started the journey and are committed to follow through it. You may not have yet gone to such lengths as making your own products to avoid packaging (and you may never will), but you do the basics of zero-waste, like choosing sustainable options over unsustainable ones, not wasting food, managing your waste properly, re-thinking the way you consume things, and so on.

One key point about zero-waste is that it is mimicking nature in that nothing is wasted. It is a lifestyle where the discard of one, becomes a resource for another. Think carbon dioxide and oxygen. Oxygen is a by-product of plant processes. To plants, it is useless, but to animals, it is life. In return, animals give off carbon dioxide, which is essential for plants to live.

In terms of the garbage we produce, our kitchen refuse may be food for some animals, or may be composted, where the resulting compost will be used as soil enhancers. See? Nothing is really wasted, destroyed or lost. Discards are just turned into another useful form.

Sounds interesting? It is. Difficult to do? Hmmm… not really. There are so many things you can do which are easy. The only challenge is doing them consistently. Admittedly, there are those that are a bit more difficult to do and will require commitment and discipline, but if you keep in mind your reason for doing it and you keep at it, in time, it will become as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Not yet fully convinced, but interested to try? Let me list a few things you can do to become zero-waste.

1. Refuse disposables. We have become a disposable society, or a society that loves disposables much too much. Just think… Disposable cup for coffee or juice. Disposable straws. Disposable utensils. Disposable plates. And then there’s the disposable water and soda bottles. We even have disposable undies. These things, we use for only a few minutes or hours. But did you know that it took large volume of fuel to produce them? And if they are made of plastic, it would take centuries for them just to break down?

If you’d survey the disposables we use regularly, we don’t even need them in the first place. Case in point: plastic straws. We can simply drink directly from the glass! And then there’s also the fact that there are more sustainable alternatives, which leads me two number 2.

2. Use reusables or sustainable alternatives. The next time the cashier or the tindera (for small stores) asks you if you want a plastic bag to carry your purchase, say no and hand him or her your reusable eco-bag. And the next time you go out, bring with you a reusable water bottle so that you won’t have to grab a bottled water when you get thirsty. And the next time you hold a party, opt for reusable utensils instead of those ubiquitous disposables.

You can also opt for more sustainable alternatives, like metal or bamboo straws, although personally I have ditched the straw altogether. Other zero-waste practitioners now use bamboo toothbrush and even reusable sanitary pads. Others have opted to make their own. Difficult? Only at first. As time goes by, when you have made it a habit to go reusable, it becomes second nature. Think about how much impact you will be making for the environment. Think too, how just a few decades ago, we lived quite well without those disposables. Finally, think of the money you can save just by making the shift.

3. Shop local and bring your own bag or packaging. In big supermarkets, most vegetables are wrapped in plastic. Some veggies are even put in styrofoams then plastic-wrapped. Talk about pointless packaging.

Have you tried shopping in weekend markets or even wet markets? Many years ago, I have made the decision to buy my fruits and veggies from the small sellers. One, their vegetables are fresh and cheaper. Two, they badly need the income and buying from them will help them make both ends meet. Third, their vegetables are generally not wrapped in plastic (except those imported fruits which are individually wrapped). Yes, they do put all your goods in a plastic bag—but only if you let them. You can tell them never mind, and hand them your eco-bag.

When buying meat and fish, you can bring containers for your purchases. I usually bring the good ol’ ice cream container when I buy fish.

4. Buy in bulk. Packaging is a big problem, right? One of the most problematic packaging is the sachet. In developing countries like ours, sachets are everywhere. Sadly, they are non-recyclable.

Sure, there are crafty people who use sachets for their crafts, but the volume of plastic sachets is just too much, using them to create bags and baskets and even chairs won’t make a dent in the plastic waste crisis we’re facing. By buying in bulk, you will be using less packaging, and no sachet. Of course, if you need a product only in a small quantity, buying in bulk may not make sense.

5. Manage your waste well. Segregate your waste. Set aside the recyclables and sell them to junk shops or give them to waste pickers. Manage your biodegradables properly: Compost your garden waste and vegetable peelings and feed your kitchen waste to animals or compost them.

Did you know that biodegradable waste (kitchen waste and garden waste) make up more than 50 percent of the waste we produce? Simply by managing our biodegradable waste, we prevent a huge percentage of waste from going to the landfill. Moreover, the only waste that should go to landfills—the residuals which most likely are your sachets—will be clean and not smell because they have not been mixed with biodegradable waste.

6. Buy only the things you need. One human behavior associated with the waste crisis we’re facing now is consumerism. We simply own too many things. Sometimes, we even buy things we don’t need. How many times have you ditched things not because they are broken, but only because there is a new model? By sporting the latest model, say a gadget, we feel ‘cool.’

Unfortunately, societal ‘coolness’ is not cool for the planet. Neither is it friendly to our pocket.

So, there you go, the things you can do to be Zero Waste. They may seem both easy and difficult. They are. Even if you just do the easy ones, things can be overwhelming if your try to do things all at once. The trick is to begin with baby steps. As your initial steps are becoming a habit, you can try to be bolder.

Still unsure you could sustain it? I’d say, just start. Before you know it, you’re already well on the road to zero waste.