Zero waste week annually falls in the first full week of September including only weekdays. This year that is from 6^th to 10^th September. The goal of this award-winning, week-long campaign is to encourage households, businesses, consumers, organizations, schools, and universities to reduce waste, reuse materials, recycle as much as possible, reduce landfill waste, and raise awareness about the growing environmental issue of waste and pollution. 

Let me paint a hypothetical scenario for you…

Imagine you made a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight. First, you need to know where you are in order to set goals and make plans. In other words, you must realize what you are attempting to deal with, how bad (or not so bad) situations are, and what the truth is.

The truth is that reducing your weight is no different than reducing your waste – Zero Waste Week is basic training you can get without putting a lot of effort other than making slight changes in your daily routine and channeling your inner CREATIVE EXPERT! If you jot down every item you discard into your bin- be it half a crust of bread, yogurt lids or that piece of packaging received in the mail-you might be surprised at what is being discarded.

For each item, consider why you are throwing it away, where it is going, and how you could improve this during Zero Waste Week. Indeed, you will find it interesting to see how some things are an outcome of habit and how a simple change can make a big difference.

Zero Waste is more than just reducing the amount of trash in your weekly waste bin; there are numerous other factors to consider. For every can/tin you put at the side of the road, there are 87 cans worth of materials that were used in the production of all that items.

We, as individuals – consumers, business owners, organizational leaders, parents, teachers, and those in positions of authority –are at the heart of this material economic system. We can have an impact on every aspect of the system by purchasing with intention, speaking up for what is important, and disposing of it wisely. Nevertheless, we cannot fix it on our own, nor can we fix it in a day.

Zero waste has the potential to significantly boost any local economy. Rather than destroying solid waste, we can turn it into a resource. Many of these things are SUPER simple to do; all it takes is a little bit of dedication. Obviously, in these lockdown days, some of the tips might be impractical to engage in. However, going zero waste is a journey, and there are often multiple options.

Next in line are some instructions, which are easy to follow while you are at home bored of the lockdown. You can take handkerchiefs, rags, napkins, old sheets, towels, and cloth to produce bags, mats, oven mitts, etc. out of them. Instead of washing clothes after only one wear, wash them when they are actually dirty. To cool down or air out your home, open a window.

To streamline and cut excess junk, surround yourself with items that serve multiple functions. To preserve food, try canning. Use bar soap instead of liquid soap because it comes in fewer containers. Replace lightbulbs with LEDs. Instead of using disposable batteries, consider using rechargeable ones. Be mindful when using advanced technologies as we may unintentionally waste a lot of electricity. While brushing your teeth, turn off the water. You may see leakages in tap lines and pipelines in your washrooms and kitchen; it is high time you fix the leaks. Get some houseplants from a local nursery to clean the air, and keep in mind to return the small plastic pots!

Moreover, you can start your own compost if you have a backyard. Consider collecting rainwater or installing an irrigation system for gardening purposes. Plan your meals wisely to avoid food waste. Maintain a well-stocked pantry to avoid ordering takeout on busy nights. When you store food in a proper manner, it lasts longer than usual. Reduce your consumption of meat. Start small if you are not ready to go vegetarian: try Meatless Monday, weekday vegetarian, or even weekday vegan. When not in use, unplug electronics.

Learn where to properly dispose of items such as gift cards, old cell phones, batteries, and unusable cords, etc.  And this tip is for the beauty queens…make your own face mask with ingredients from your pantry. Reduce the amount of recycling you do. Recycling less, not more, is the goal of zero waste.

In days like these, we tend to do online shopping rather than actually going to malls, groceries to run errands. Make it a habit to use reusable bags. You can also donate unused or used items in fine conditions, to the underprivileged people or sell them in the secondhand market. Purchase food that has no or minimal packaging. If you are a true patriot, try purchasing more products manufactured in your own country. Free promotional items are more likely to be inexpensive but can easily break.

Surround yourself with tools and items that will last a lifetime. Try to buy items only once. When something breaks, rather than jumping to conclusions of buying new things, give it a try to repair it first. On a serious note, do not buy anything impulsively! Zero waste week for the year 2021 is likely to be spent amidst the home-stuck lockdown due to the pandemic. However, aiming for zero waste should not be limited to a week. You can take necessary steps to walk towards zero waste all 24/7 and 365.

The most crucial component of the Zero Waste concept to grasp is that it is a process. Zero Waste does not imply complete waste elimination; rather, it refers to raising awareness and implementing actions one step at a time and it does not necessitate major changes in our daily lives.

While we understand that going completely zero waste can be difficult, making a few small changes in your daily life still can go a long way. Zero waste is good for your health, the environment and not to mention your wallet. It is an affordable lifestyle and an excellent way to cut costs. That is why it is also essential to understand the idea of reducing waste.

To anyone who is just starting the zero waste journey, my dear friend, think outside the (recycling) box and you will eventually get there even before you know it.  Consider all of your options and be a wise consumer. Reducing your consumption is the most important thing you can do. In addition, do not let the fact that you can only do a little prevent you from doing anything. Everything adds up to make a big difference!

Happy zero waste week!

Written by Rtr. Hasini Amanda