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Zero Waste is a movement in favor of a sustainable society without waste

Alexander Schimmeck image in Unsplash

Garbage Zero is a movement in favor of a society without garbage, in which organic materials become fertilizer and recyclable materials are reinserted into the production chain, maximizing the reuse of waste and reducing or ending the forwarding of garbage to landfills and dumps. According to the International Zero Waste Alliance, the concept represents an ethical, economic, pedagogical, efficient and visionary objective, with a focus on guiding society towards a change in lifestyle and towards practices that encourage sustainability.

Types of waste

The word garbage is used to refer to the mixture of waste and tailings. However, to give the correct destination to each material and reduce the amount of waste generated, it is important to know how to differentiate them from each other. Waste is everything that is left over from a given product, whether its packaging, shell or other part of the process, which can be reused or recycled. The tailings, on the other hand, is a specific type of disposal, one for which there is still no possibility of reuse or recycling.

The Rs of Zero Trash

• Rethink: do away with the idea that waste has no value, as it can be recycled or composted;
• Reuse: various objects and materials can be reused, helping to combat waste;
• Reduce: generate the least amount of waste possible, consuming only what is necessary;
• Recycle: reuse the raw material from the waste to manufacture the same or another type of product, without sending it to landfills.

Why join the Zero Waste movement?

The vast majority of natural resources are finite, meaning they cannot be regenerated or reused on a scale capable of sustaining their rate of consumption. Currently, our production system works in a linear way, which is not sustainable due to the excessive exploitation of natural resources and the large accumulation of waste. We explore the raw material, produce goods and then dispose of them. Planned obsolescence generates waste that does not receive new uses and accumulates exponentially. Compared with countries in Latin America, Brazil is the champion of waste generation, producing around 541,000 tons per day, according to data from the United Nations.

In addition to the environmental issue, the economic and social effects are also relevant. The extremely low rate of recycling causes Brazil to lose an average of eight billion reais a year, a figure that highlights the importance of the waste reuse sector for the economy. In the still existing dumps, the work of scavengers is unhealthy and totally at odds with human rights. On the other hand, collectors' cooperatives, sorting centers, recycling factories and material reuse activities offer decent jobs that are of fundamental importance for the preservation of the planet and our own species.

Therefore, it is essential that everyone does their part in caring for the planet. Consciously and responsibly consuming, composting, separating recyclable materials and ensuring they have the correct destination are part of the attitudes we can adopt in favor of a zero waste and sustainable society.

How to support Zero Waste in practice?

Although it is difficult to avoid the production of waste, everyone can collaborate to reduce the amount generated. See how you can support Zero Waste in practice:

reduce your consumption

One of the most effective ways to reach zero waste is to reduce consumption. Obviously, the less people consume, the less waste will be produced. Purchasing items that are not needed or in disproportionate packaging is a common habit that contributes to the increase in the waste rate. Reflecting on your lifestyle allows you to consume only what is necessary and sustainably.

Shop local and in bulk

Shopping locally reduces the amount of boxes and plastic needed to transport items. Also, if purchasing in bulk, you can bring your own reusable packaging, such as cloth bags or glass jars. Another good tip is to always use returnable bags to carry your groceries.

Have your own drinking straws and glasses

Disposable cups and straws are a big problem for the environment. In addition to increasing the amount of waste that is unlikely to be recycled, the materials sometimes end up in rivers and seas, which causes impacts for various aquatic species. To give you an idea, plastic contamination in the oceans annually kills 100,000 marine animals.

On the other hand, some places like the state of São Paulo have already banned the use and trade of such items. Thus, the paper straw is increasingly present, as it is a biodegradable option. However, it also ends up being a source of pollution until its complete degradation. Better options are edible straws and compostable straw models.

Use reusable packaging

Another way to reduce the amount of waste generated is to purchase products that come in reusable packaging, avoiding materials such as plastic and Styrofoam.

separate the garbage correctly

Finally, in order to be able to reuse the materials, they need to be properly separated. The ideal is to separate the garbage into three parts: recyclable, organic that can be composted and waste to be sent to the landfill.

The Zero Waste movement is very important for the environment. Although we are far from reaching this level, everyone must contribute to reducing the amount of waste produced. To do this, industry and commerce can review the way products are manufactured and packaged.

Consumers, in turn, can adopt conscientious consumption, in addition to good disposal practices for the waste generated. It is not necessary to give up all consumption, but it is important to be committed to a sustainable lifestyle, set goals to reduce waste disposal and strive to meet them.