The Zero Waste Movement
Written by Aiman Khan
Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash
With the ice caps melting and the oceans overflowing, there is no denying that climate change is taking its toll on the planet. Due to the increased interest in reducing our individual carbon footprints, more and more people are choosing to completely cut down on waste, thanks to a ‘zero-waste movement,’ that is gaining traction throughout Canada and the rest of the western world.
Unfortunately, Canada is the eighth-most waste-producing country among the 37 members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Over $35 million of food is wasted annually, three-quarters of which is accounted for in the production and supply chain. To make matters worse, Canadians recycle only 20% of their total waste, while other countries in the OECD has reduced their waste production significantly. For instance, South Korea produces only half the amount of waste generated by Canadians.
So how can we cut back on the production of waste on an individual level? The zero-waste movement can be one place to start. This movement is more than just making sure you separate your plastics from glass bottles. It’s about creating a shift in our mindset about the kind of lasting effect we have on this earth, and the idea that we only have one planet to inhabit.
While many critics of this movement believe that it’s an inconvenience and has a minimal impact, it’s important to remember that no progressive campaign is without its faults. Through your actions and your desire to bring awareness to this issue, you could potentially reduce the threat of climate change and bring an end to many wasteful traditions.
Why even bother?
Since the early 1900s, the average surface temperature of the Earth has increased by more than 0.9 degrees Celsius, with the polar regions warming at roughly twice the rate in a phenomenon called the arctic amplification. This rapid warming means that many areas of the frozen Arctic ground are starting to thaw. Trapped under this permafrost are large reserves of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon, as well as ancient pathogens whose effects on human and wildlife populations are still unknown.
Changes in the arctic reverberate around the rest of the globe: for example, the melting of ice-caps affect sea-levels; the negative repercussions of these shifts are widespread, from increased flooding of low-lying and coastal regions of the world to loss of ecosystems. Increasing atmospheric temperatures are expected to give rise to more worldwide instances of extreme weather conditions like hurricanes and tropical storms, and (consequently or otherwise) lead to the migration and extinction of species like the Adelie penguins in Antarctica and the polar bears of the north pole. Climate change is further expected to exacerbate cases of droughts worldwide, as well as contribute to the spread of certain diseases like malaria through the flourishing of insect species like mosquitoes.
This might make for grim reading, and we may be prone to think that climate change has progressed beyond our control. After all, what can one person do to help? It’s difficult to visualize the impact we will have. However, here is some excellent news: our actions can make a greater difference than we realize. The following are some small steps you can take to eradicate waste from your life:
1. Refuse
To mitigate the issues caused by plastic products, one of the most impactful decisions you can have as a conscious consumer is to avoid purchasing products with excess packaging, opting instead for glass or metal. Skip the single-use cutlery, plates, and solo cups. The time spent washing your dishes at the sink is worth it when considering the impact you have by cutting back on plastic straws, cutlery and flatware: not only are you potentially saving landfill space, the sea turtles might be cheering you on. Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart and Canadian Tire offer a wide range of low-cost bamboo and metal cutlery sets and straws.
Moreover, fast fashion brands like Zara, H&M, Pretty Little Thing, etc. are another area that you could look to cut back on. As you may have noticed, fast fashion relies on trend replication - reproducing high fashion looks for the general market as quickly as possible - leading to rapid production processes that aim to cut costs. On the consumer level, this promotes wasteful practices on account of fast-changing trends. While these brands may be easy on the budget, the cheap synthetics used in these clothes are far from easy on the environment: U.S. and Canadian households release over 870 tons of plastic microfibers into the oceans annually from laundry alone, and these microfibers are a significant source of marine pollution. Aside from the obvious environmental impact, the industry is riddled with allegations of unjust child labour practices and human rights violations. Choosing wool and natural fibres would be a further step in the right direction.
2. Reuse and recycle
This goes without saying: reuse plastics whenever possible. The implications of this can be amazing. For example, re-using plastic water bottles can directly reduce the demand for disposable plastics, thereby lowering waste and energy consumption on a macro-level.
There are many fun ways to reuse old plastic bottles and containers from piggy banks to planters to water filters, the possibilities are endless! If you need some inspiration for what can be achieved, look no further than the Mateghan River house built with 600,000 recycled plastic bottles right here in Nova Scotia!
If you have some time on your hand, you can give at home paper-making a try. The materials you’ll need for this process are probably already in your apartment: a blender, a storage tub, a rolling pin, towels (or other absorbent material), a mould and deckle (which you can also make at home!), and of course, scrap paper. You can even customize your paper with different textures by adding seeds or fruit peels to the paper pulp, or even a signature scent with your preferred perfume or essential oil. It’s a great alternative to throwing out your old notebooks, receipts, junk mail, etc., and can be a great quarantine activity with your social bubble for a cozy night in.
Similarly, there are lots of fun ways to reuse worn-out clothes. Your favourite band T-shirts and jerseys can be turned into reusable grocery or produce bags, scarves and even a quilt; old sweater sleeves can easily be repurposed into cute cottage style socks; a bunch of your tank tops can be made into a colourful braided rug without your even needing to thread a needle. And if all else fails, chew toys are an easy, pet-approved cop-out!
3. Reduce
Of course, reducing what you put into the trash is an integral step of the zero waste movement. Now, here is a startling fact: according to the University of Waterloo, about eighty percent of waste in their landfill is full of things that can be recycled, reused, or even composted for use. So, the next time you decide to throw something out, consider asking yourself the following questions: can this be recycled? Can this product be reused? Or can this item go in the compost?
The zero-waste movement is more than just a trend; it’s a step in the right direction for a world that is still struggling to come to grips with the reality of climate change. Minimizing our carbon footprint through eliminating or decreasing the production of waste in our individual lives is the first step we can take as responsible adults.
You can take this small step today, and effect change in your own way. If you’d like to further inform yourself on this topic, please check out the zero waste movement here. You’re making the brave decision to save the world one plastic bottle at a time.