Less Waste...Where to start

“It doesn’t have to be perfect it just has to be something”

yesandyes.org

I wanted to share this quote with you because I feel it is an important message when contemplating your first steps into the world of zero waste. Too often we feel paralysed by the thought of imperfection to take any steps at all. It is important to know from the start, that your journey will be one of swings and roundabouts. Accept that and begin anyway. There will be periods when you feel as though your individual actions are insignificant when confronted with the enormous challenge we face to reduce the world’s waste. And no wonder we feel beaten at times. We are continually bombarded with negative images which can make our contributions feel minute. We also set impossibly high bars for ourselves. Yet it is crucial we continue to believe in the validity of our journey. That taking any step is better than taking none at all. Remember too, that you are not taking these steps alone. One small step taken by many people adds up to a huge collective leap.

So now that you know that I am cheering you on, where should you begin? Before jumping into practical actions there are 2 tasks worth undertaking. These tasks will help you to figure our your WHY and your WHAT.

WHY?

Why do you want to change your behaviour? What are your motivations?

Getting to grips with your motivations is a powerful tool for staying on track. Perhaps you have seen programmes showing mountains of plastic waste and have had your eyes opened to the horrendous impact this is having on the earth. You may have heard about the toxins in plastic and want to improve your health. Or you may want to make sure that your legacy is not one that leaves the planet in a worse place than when you entered it. Taking the time to write out your reasons and to really understand why you want to make these changes will help you to persevere when you find yourself questioning if your actions are really worthwhile.

WHAT?

Once you know why you are embarking on this journey you need to know what it is you will be tackling. If you are to produce less waste then you need to know what you are throwing away to begin with. Track your waste for a couple of weeks. Find out what you are really throwing away, not just what you think you are. Identify problem areas. What types and how many single use items are ending up in your waste bin. Each week make a tally of these figures. This will give you a good place to start from.

So now you know why want to make changes and what needs your attention, what practical steps can you take? If you have been looking into reducing your waste you have likely come across the 5Rs.

The easiest way to reduce what you are bringing into your life is to REFUSE what you do not need. This is trickier than it sounds. We are used to being told that spending our money helps the economy and that the latest beauty product will make us prettier, happier, thinner… It takes time to re-educate ourselves. Of course you will buy things you didn’t need but use each potential new purchase as an opportunity to challenge that mindset. How essential is this item? Chances are, most of the things that grab your eye are far less necessary than you’d once imagined.

If you find you really do need to make a new purchase, think about what it is that you are buying. Remember that a cheap fix is usually not the best solution for you or for the planet. A cheap item is likely to break more quickly and you will end up heading to the shops for another one. Instead save a little more, do a little research and REDUCE the amount you buy by buying the best quality you can afford. Yes the initial expense is higher but if that item outlasts 5 cheaply made ones that would already have gone to landfill then the likelihood is that you will not only have saved yourself money but produced a lot less waste as well.

Have a dig through your cupboards - what do you already have? Are there empty containers that you could REUSE when you fill up that laundry liquid or buy that loose fruit. Do you need another roll of clingfilm or could you just stick a plate over the top! Does a friend have a drill, lawnmower, ladder you could borrow? Have you checked out your local Freecycle for a new to you bookshelf, chair, pair of curtains?

If you do end up bringing new material into your house make sure that when it has served its purpose you can RECYCLE it. Make sure you know what your local council collects and where your local tip is. As your journey progresses you will find your need to recycle reduces as you get better at applying the 5 Rs.

The final R is for ROT. This is for all those food scraps that rot down wonderfully in your compost heap but still resemble the vegetable they were 50 years before if they end up in landfill! It also helps with the guilt when you find that flaccid, unappealing carrot hiding in the back of the fridge! Yes you should have used it but at least the compost will grow something else further down the line.

My final piece of advice would be to find yourself some support. Who are you setting out on this road with? Do you have a friend, partner or perhaps your kids cheering you on? If so, that’s great. If you are flying solo and you haven’t got a cheering squad, then find yourself one. Have a look at what is going on in your local area. Is there a regular meet up group you could attend? If not, how about finding an online community? Finding like minded people will help the journey feel less lonely, it will help you to realize that even though you have read yet another article about ocean plastics, or government cuts to renewable energy initiatives there are others out there who care about and are making a positive impact on the planet. A group is also a great way of bringing together people who are at various stages of their less waste journey. It is a safe place to ask questions and find answers to the problems that have been plaguing you.

So, go forth, REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE and ROT your way into a less wasteful future!