Try to imagine a world without waste, where the oceans are crystal clear, and the air is crispy fresh. How amazing does this future look? It’s easy to imagine, but when it comes to taking action, most might shrug their shoulders and say, “ehhh, not my problem.” This is because adopting a zero waste lifestyle seems like a daunting task, and most people aren’t up for the challenge or don’t see the urgent need to change their habits.
A quick search on Google will give you millions of reasons to start changing now. Climate change, Global Warming, pollution, limited resources. The list goes on. Instead of giving more reasons to take action now, I would like to share with everyone (especially beginners like me) how you can get started on your zero waste journey. Spoiler alert – it starts with your mindset.
1. It won’t be easy, but every step counts!
You can’t expect yourself to change your habits with a snap of your fingers. It takes small and consistent steps to make huge changes. Here’s an example: If you’ve used up all your cotton buds, it’s probably a good time to consider switching to bamboo cotton buds (they’re 100% biodegradable!). Even a metal straw or switching out paper towels can help! Remember, every step counts!
2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle then repeat
If zero waste is what you want to achieve, then the 3Rs are how you’re going to achieve it. The three Rs stand for:
- Reduce your input.
- Reuse in the process.
- Recycle your output.
If you don’t start reducing your input (e.g. shopping for clothes you don’t need, buying food that you can’t finish), it’ll be extremely difficult to reach zero waste. Think carefully before you make a purchase. Who knows, it might even save you money and make you rich!
Reuse what you already have. You can find creative ways to upcycle your items and give them a second life. Most things have more than one use. It all depends on how you look at it and decide to use it.
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Have no more use for something? Recycle it! It’s tempting to throw it out with the general trash, but your journey won’t start unless you start doing it. Start by recycling a few items you would’ve thrown into the bin. It could be plastic bottles or draft paper. Something simple to categorize and recycle would do. Once you’ve gotten into a habit, try advancing to things you’re not sure whether they’re recyclable or not. Do some research and start recycling those too.
3. Visualize your Success
Close your eyes and imagine your ultimate goal. Start with what your room would look like, then move to different parts of the house. Think of yourself giving a house tour, except everything is fully utilized and nothing is wasted. Some might even imagine a minimal home with no clutter and zero waste. Then scale up to imagine what the landfills would look like. Hopefully, it’s as empty as your general bin because that’s where it starts.
Check out this video for Lauren’s zero waste experience and how she fit 5 years of trash in a mason jar.
4. Not everyone is willing to change, but it can always start with you
Like love advice, you can give it to them, but rarely anyone would follow it. Encouraging people to join you on your zero waste journey is a great thing, but not everyone is willing to change. Some might even resist change and turn defensive. And that’s perfectly okay! Remember, everyone is walking at their own pace. Rather than forcing your ideals on them, be a role model. Do your best, and when they see your amazing results, they’ll want a slice of your secret.
To Conclude
Zero waste is a journey. You can’t expect perfection overnight. But what matters is that you start now. The world needs millions of people doing zero waste imperfectly instead of a handful doing it perfectly. Don’t worry that you’re doing it wrong or not doing enough. If everyone took a baby step, it would be a huge step forward for Earth.
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daybreakwithray
Thank you for your kind words! We really hope we can inspire and encourage more people to take action. After all, every small action counts!
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zoritoler imol
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