7 tips to live without waste

Do you know what life without waste is?  Many of today’s environmental concerns tell us that it is to take care of the planet. The truth is, the planet doesn’t need us to take care of it and don’t get me wrong, but it is a bit arrogant to think that we can harm the planet. Finding out that there are even functioning ecosystems in Chernobyl helps put things in perspective. The problem is that this ecosystem does not include, among many things, human beings. Massive pollution and everything else we are doing does a lot of damage, mainly to human beings. We are the ones who can most disappear if we continue making our lives unsustainable.** Here is a good time to ask yourself: What world do you want to leave for your children, grandchildren, etc.? Because this is something that they (and you) are going to suffer if we don’t do something. But don’t worry, these are the best recommendations to live by reducing the waste we generate in our lives almost to a minimum or as it is known in English, **Zero Waste: **

• Reusable bags, flasks and refillable water bottles Plastic bags and bottles are what cause the biggest impact on our environment, and yet replacing them in our daily lives is the quickest and easiest change to make. Every year, it is estimated that between 500 and 1 billion plastic bags are consumed worldwide (that is, more than one million plastic bags per minute). The amount of oil used to make 29 billion bottles of water per year is enough to keep one million cars running for 1 year. Just because it is convenient does not mean it is the best. Instead, invest in some reusable bags or make your own. Glass jars are also very useful for buying spices, grains, oil, etc. Also invest in a refillable water bottle instead of buying a plastic bottle again and again.
• No to disposables Whether they are bags, straws, paper towels, napkins, bottles and etc. The kitchen is full of disposable things that become a lot of waste. You can always use alternatives when possible: Replace paper towels with reusable cloths. Pack meals in a container or reusable bag instead of Ziplocs. Invest in bamboo or stainless steel straws. Use cloth napkins.
• Recycle No, don’t buy that plastic bottle just to recycle it. That doesn’t really help anyone. In this context, we refer to recycling light bulbs, cartridges, electronic parts, etc. Hang a bag, perhaps behind the door, but make room for those things that need to be taken somewhere for safe disposal. Clean the bag once every 6 months and get everything where it needs to go.
• ** Compost ** Use what you can, like food scraps and paper, and try to swap non-compostable things for compostable ones. Ask and find out, many more things than you think can become compost. There are many indoor composting systems (I made mine).** Instead of throwing away food, it can be turned into an ingredient for your compost and all of this helps the health of your garden, orchard or plants in general 🙂
• Buy in bulk, organic and local These days, there is a lot of talk about buying organic products. Mostly, it is perceived as a fad and a face. To me, buying organic means shopping at the market or farm stands, not Wal-Mart or other supermarkets. Buying local also means supporting people or companies in your community, and you help, in a certain way, reduce transportation pollution. Buying in bulk will also save you a lot on expenses, and most bulk stores don’t mind if you bring your own containers/jars/boxes.
• **Try to make your own products. ** This includes, but is not limited to, toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, cleaning supplies, and body scrub. You will save money and you will know exactly everything it contains.
• ** Minimize, reduce and say no to things that do not serve you ** Minimizing, cutting back, and getting rid of what you no longer need has different stages of difficulty. Maybe you start with clothes you no longer wear. Or the school books you still carry, even though you graduated more than a decade ago. Donate things to a thrift store or put everything in the trunk, park the car at the local flea market and let it all go for $10 or $50. If you want new things, shop at second-hand stores. CO2 emissions from clothing production represent 3% of all emissions. This includes production, washing, cleaning and shipping. You help little, but you help.