The New Year is here! And while waste management may not necessarily be at the top of your to-do list, wouldn't it be nice to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle? By reducing your carbon footprint in the world, you will be promoting environmental sustainability and cultivating meaningful experiences that the world at large will enjoy.
A zero-waste lifestyle is more than opting for fresh produce at the farmers market or buying mason jars to can excess produce. It is embracing a minimalistic approach to living, not only in one way but in every single area of your life.
Check it out, living without waste will enable you to be conscious about the consumer choices that you make. Ultimately, it will also allow you to cut down on unnecessary expenses. In other words, you will be doing the planet a great favor by reducing your amount of waste that would go to landfills.
Ready for kick-off? Here is how to start 2020 by adopting a zero-waste lifestyle:
Remember the '5R'S"
'5R's" are the most important waste management rules that were compiled for the purpose of reducing household waste. The "R's" represent reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse and rot. When starting a zero-waste lifestyle, you should refuse to use what you do not need, thus, this will reduce what you need. Every now and again, reusing or recycling a product will save you an incredible amount of money. Finally, it is acceptable to rot (compost) what remains.
Say no to things that you do not need
You do not have to accept the straw at the restaurant, the business card or the plastic bag at the convenient store. While these things may seem minor and valueless in the grand scheme of your zero- waste lifestyle, over time, they will accumulate into waste. It is best to only accept the things that you really need and turn down things that may seem unnecessary and wasteful.
Buy products in bulk
Remember, your items will be packaged whenever you go to the store. Check it out, the more trips you make to the store, the more disposable waste is accumulated. However, when you shop in bulk, you will be cutting down on unnecessary waste because you will be using a single disposable bag. Opt for bulk stores that package items in sacks or barrels.
Go for reusable cloth bags instead of plastic ones
The fact that plastic does not decompose makes it very dangerous to the ecosystem. It is time to ditch plastic bags entirely. Enter cloth bags! If you invest in cloth bags, you will not put the environment and its living things in danger. Cloth bags are cheap to acquire and are reusable.
Forget about paper towels and embrace cloth towels
Because paper towels are biodegradable, you may think that they have a pace in your zero waste lifestyle. Well, the reality is that these towels are manufactured using fossil fuels that are detrimental to the environment. Ditch towels and cloth towels are a solid investment because they can be used for long periods of time in comparison to their paper counterparts.
Reuse aluminum foil
It is not uncommon to dispose of aluminum foil paper after its intended use. But did you know that aluminum foil can be washed and reused? Instead of buying brand new foil, keep your old one as it can be used over and over. Not only is this convenient for your budget but it is also safe for the environment.
By practicing the aforementioned things, you will say goodbye to a wasteful life in 2020 and beyond. Overall, embracing zero waste is not something that can be done overnight. But with a little time and planning, you will get the hang of it. Diving deep into zero waste may seem unrealistic, especially if you are used to a certain lifestyle. But the beauty is that starting small and making incremental steps will lead you to the change that you desire.
Cheers!
