A zero-waste lifestyle is a way of living that revolves around minimizing your waste production. It can be challenging to live a zero-waste lifestyle, but it’s possible to reduce your waste production by making mindful choices.
Recently, the zero-waste movement has been gaining traction. There are many reasons why people are adopting this lifestyle. Some want to minimize their environmental footprint while others want to save money by buying less stuff. Others may be looking for a way to live more organically or live healthier lives.
How Can You Reduce Your Waste Production?
There are many different ways to go about living a Zero-Waste lifestyle – recycling, reusing items you already have, refusing single-use plastics when possible, etc. so here’s are some steps you can incorporate into your daily life.
Step 1: Start by reducing what you consume or buy in order to avoid unnecessary packaging or plastic utensils that are not recyclable.
Think about the items that are used often in your home, and create a list of things that can be reused or recycled. The best way to minimize your waste production is to only buy the things you need. You can also bring reusable bags and containers with you when you go shopping to carry the groceries or products that you buy.
Step 2: Avoid buying items that come in single-use like straws or coffee cups and items with excess packaging that cannot be recycled. If you cannot avoid it entirely, go for options that has lesser plastic waste.
There are some shops in Singapore that provide package-free bulk food, products and daily necessities such as Unpackt and Scoop Wholefoods that can start you on a zero waste lifestyle.
Step 3: Recycle what you can.
Did you know that 40% of what we place inside the blue recycling bins in our estates are not suitable for recycling? That’s because these items are either contaminated with food and liquids, or made of materials that can’t be recycled at all. With more efforts and education, here’s a helpful guide on the items that can or cannot be recycled.
Step 4: Begin a composting journey (if you have access to it).
To start on composting, there is no need to start investing hundreds of dollars on a composting bin. If you have plants in your house, simple start by burying your food scraps. For example, leftover coffee grounds or crumbled up eggshells can be added to the soil, fortifying it with organic materials without having to do much work at all.
Step 5: Consider and purchase reusable water bottles, containers, and utensils instead of disposable ones.
Shops like Your Sustainable Store provide a wide range of curated, stylish and affordable sustainable products from food bags to collapsible bottles and bowls. You can also check out The Social Space which is a cafe, a florist, an eco-friendly lifestyle store, a nail salon all in one and also houses The Refillery, a zero-waste bulk store.
Zero-waste is not about perfection. It’s about progress in your journey and making the best use of what you have. When we stop the cycle of over-consuming and over-buying, we reduce our negative impact on the environment.
No one is asking you to go from full reliance to zero reliance on single use packaging and convenience immediately. By reducing our waste and making smarter choices, we can all play a part in living a more sustainable life.
