So what is Zero Waste? Zero Waste is a concept whose main idea is to reduce the amount of waste we produce by using reusable items and things, just like they would be used in nature. The goal is to prevent waste from ending up in landfills or incinerators.
The international alliance Zero Waste International, which is promoting this concept, has proposed the following definitions for this term: Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient, and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.
The term “zero waste” was first used publicly on behalf of Zero Waste Systems Inc. (ZWS), which was founded by chemist Paul Palmer in the mid-1970s in Oakland, California. The mission of the ZWS was to find a use for much of the chemical waste that the burgeoning electronics industry generates. They soon saw interest in the initiative and began accepting laboratory chemicals for free, which they resold to experimenters, scientists and companies. It is likely that the ZWS had the largest stock of laboratory chemicals in all of California, which they sold at half price. They also collected all the solvent produced by the electronics industry, filled it in small jars, and sold it as varnish thinner. ZWS has collected all used engine oils, filtered them, and resold them to oil players. ZWS has also initiated many other projects.
A bit of history
Rule of 5R – Practical Application of Zero Waste Simply put, the whole concept of Zero Waste consists of five simple rules formulated by the famous Zero Waste activist Bea Johnson. These are the so-called 5R rules:
Give up The first rule of Zero Waste is to avoid garbage, don’t buy it. First of all, this means that it is worth shopping deliberately so that the unnecessary thing does not end up in the trash can later. That is why the concept of zero waste is so closely related to minimalism – you don’t buy unnecessary things – you don’t harm the planet – you have freedom from unnecessary things and more time for the main things.
Reduce consumption Every time you open the closet and see a pile of various clothes, you probably feel bad. Over the past year, start to get rid of clothes that you haven’t used in a year.
Reuse and Repair The next step is to harm reusable items in your life. Now you can find, for example, reusable bags, eco bags for grocery shopping, and even an alternative to disposable plastic bags – small bags made of mesh or cotton for vegetables, fruits, and cereals. With reusable drinking straws and thermal cups, you can’t go wrong.
Conclusion As you can see, Zero Waste is not such a difficult thing, however, the results can be impressive! In addition to the fact that you will not produce garbage (and, by the way, it can be up to several tons per year for one family!), You will also save great money by buying only what you need. According to various sources, adhering to the concept of zero waste, you can save up to 40% of your budget.