It’s no secret that the planet is currently facing a problem that indubitably affects humans and future generations, particularly with pollution. Because of this, many people are now finding ways to combat this problem, one of which is taking on a zero-waste lifestyle.
Zero-waste, as the name implies, is a principle that aims to prevent or discourage the production of waste. This means that by practicing this principle, you’re encouraging yourself and those around you to perform measures, like recycling, to reduce the amount of waste that’s sent to the incinerators, oceans, or landfills.
What’s good about this principle is the fact that it can start at home. This means that by incorporating zero-waste in your daily routine, you’re already contributing to a greener and healthier planet. With the right mindset, achieving this goal is entirely plausible.
To help you out, here are some ways to go zero-waste at home:
Practice Proper Waste Disposal
Just because it’s ‘zero’ doesn’t mean that you should no longer throw anything away. In fact, what’s crucial in zero-waste is the practice of proper waste disposal. Correctly disposing of one’s waste means properly segregating it–differentiating plastic, organic, glass, paper. The goal of appropriate waste disposal is so you can determine items that can be recycled and reused from those that you no longer need; hence you ought to send them to the trash.
Speaking of sending unusable items in the trash, you must employ a specialist in waste disposal, like Dirt Cheap Rubbish Removal. Take note that the objective of zero-waste and proper waste disposal doesn’t just begin and stop in your home. By employing the services of these experts, you’re assured that your trash, regardless of its size or nature, is well-disposed and won’t end up in the ocean, for instance.
Composting
Now that you’ve appropriately segregated your trash, you now know what types should go into your compost. If you haven’t started on composting bin, then you should definitely give it a try since it’s one of the most suggested tips for having zero waste at home.
Additionally, there are plenty of benefits when you decide to practice composting. For one, it’ll enrich your soil so it can retain moisture and prevent any pests from infesting your garden. It’ll also reduce or completely eliminate the need for any chemical fertilizers, ensuring that you’ll yield organic and natural products. Lastly, since you’re no longer sending your trash into the landfills but already using it as part of your compost, you’ll reduce methane emissions and lower your carbon footprint.
To get started, here are the three essential composting elements to keep in mind:
- Greens: These refer to vegetable waste, grass clippings, fruit scraps, and even coffee grounds. These materials are responsible for giving your soil nitrogen.
- Browns: These refer to dead leaves, twigs, and old branches; these will provide carbon.
- Water: Lastly, for good compost development, it’s crucial that you have a sufficient amount of water, which gives moisture to break down organic matter, along with the greens and browns.
Reuse Old Fabric
You may have already started practicing this, but reusing or repurposing old pieces of fabric is actually one of the ways to have zero waste at home. Instead of buying cleaning clothes, paper towels, wipes, or rags, you can use your old, worn-out towels, beddings, work shirts, T-shirts, or even underpants as an alternative.
Doing so won’t just help you save money from buying a designated rag for wiping, but you’ll also get to make the most out of your old fabrics.
Make Use of Jars
Lots of items in the grocery store are packed and contained in mason jars. When the object contained in these jars are already consumed, what people end up doing, most of the time is to also throw away these jars. However, did you know that glass will take around millions of years to decompose? Possibly even more if it’s in the landfills. Additionally, improperly throwing away jars may end in accidents for those working in these sites, like scrapes and cuts.
Hence, as an alternative, try to find ways to make use of jars. Fortunately, there are endless ways to do so.
For instance, jars can be used as takeaway containers for coffee if your visitor loves your blend. With a bit of DIY and imagination, they can also be used to store toothbrushes or pens. Not to mention that if you correctly washed these jars, you can have a glass water container, eliminating the need to buy plastic bottles. Basically, with the right imagination and research, you can do plenty of things to make use of these jars at home.
Final Words
If you want to contribute to a greener environment, then going zero-waste at home is definitely a smart move to make. Fortunately, in addition to the ways mentioned above, there are still plenty of ways to reduce or completely eliminate waste. As a tip, when you’re holding or looking at something, instead of immediately considering to throw it away, let your mind wander and find creative ways to repurpose or recycle those things.