Few years ago, I came across an article in the local newspaper detailing how one lady managed to fit a year’s worth of trash into one small mason jar. The trash mostly consisted of plastic tags from clothes and other items which could not be recycled or reused. That was the first time I came across the zero-waste lifestyle and I remember feeling impressed about the whole movement. Our planet is in a dire state with plastics choking almost every inch of the planet, which is why the zero-waste lifestyle is one of the most powerful movements ever birthed.

            The idea behind zero waste is simple - creating no waste from consumption of products, ultimately sending nothing to landfills, incinerators or our oceans. Zero waste is the conservation of resources through responsible and sustainable production, consumption and reuse of all products and packaging. It reduces pollution besides cutting down the constant need to source for raw materials.

            Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle is not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires a proper mindset and preparations to get started with that kind of lifestyle. Even so, adopting a low-waste or zero-waste lifestyle is not entirely impossible. We can start by implementing small changes in our lives by refusing anything with excessive packaging, bringing along our own container, straw and cutleries when we go out to buy food and reusing as much as we can.

            In Malaysia, about 23 000 tonnes of waste is produced each day. Scary, isn’t it? We are so used to the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mindset that we never stop to think about what we are doing on a day-to-day basis. Once we stop to think about all the trash that we produce daily, we would realise that they end up in landfills. And when landfills have reached their capacity, we have to source for new land as landfills. They too will soon their capacity and eventually, we might just drown ourselves in trash. Of course, this is an exaggerated scenario but there is a possibility that such a situation might happen if we do not practise a low-waste or zero-waste lifestyle.  

            One of the simplest ways to stop producing trash is to refuse it. Start by saying no to freebies or impulsive purchases. Stop and think twice before making any purchases. Do we really need those freebies or are we just taking them because they are free? Will we use them or are they just going to lie at the bottom of our wardrobe? If we really need to have a particular product, it is best to buy things second hand to avoid extra packaging. We could also buy things in bulk as it is usually cheaper and comes with less packaging. Besides cutting down on trash, we are doing ourselves a favour by spending less and accumulating less junk.

            Besides refusing, another way is to reuse things. Swap tissues for cloth towels or handkerchiefs. Always bring along a container, cutleries and a reusable bottle for impulsive food purchases. Scour the second-hand market for goodies; clothes, electronics, books – they are all there! Most of the time, you can get items which are almost new at ridiculously cheap prices. Give away old clothes to the Salvation Army or sell them on an online platform. In this way, not only do you refuse trash, you get to make a bit of income too!

            Finally, another simple method to get started on the zero-waste lifestyle is to start composting. Composting returns resources to the earth besides enriching the soil with nutrients. Food scraps, fruit peels, tea bags or coffee grounds are some of the examples of things which can be composted. The backyard is a good place to experimenting with composting. Experiment around and have some fun!

            These are just some of the examples on how to get started on the zero-waste lifestyle. There are many more examples which can be found online. Remember, it is not about perfection but rather making better choices for ourselves and for our planet.

References: http://trashisfortossers.com/a-beginners-guide-to-zero-waste-living-ps-it-doesnt-happen-overnight/