We all know by now how important it is to try and reduce the impact that we are all having individually on the planet but it is worth remembering that it is a journey and you can not just wake up one day and achieve complete zero waste lifestyle… but it can, and should, be done.
The first step to take on your journey is to look around your life critically and assess just where it is that you are creating the most amount of waste. Is it your bathroom where you keep hundreds of plastic bottles or maybe your kitchen where you have every bowl wrapped in a cling film and each vegetable packed in a plastic bag? Once you have worked that out, you can then look at ways in which you can start reducing the waste.
Knowing what can and can’t be recycled will ensure you’re not putting the wrong items in the recycling bins, which will contaminate the waste making it completely non-recyclable. Check your council website for information about waste management in your local area.
Also start to think about how much of the products you’re using when you use them. Chances are that you’re using far too much soap, laundry detergent, hand wash and so on… try and reduce the amount and see if you still get the results that you had in the past.
Buying reusable products is a great way to instantly reduce the amount that you’re wasting. So stop using your plastic bags and get bags for life instead. While getting a bag for life may mean a higher initial outlay, the hidden costs of using plastic bags are even greater. And instead of buying plastic bottles regularly, invest in a good reusable one that you can take with you wherever you go. These small changes will not only help the environment but your wallet too. Buying a small bottle of water every day will cost you a few hundred pounds a year. A good reusable water bottle a fraction of that.
But waste is not just about plastic. Food waste is a huge issue around the world and with just a little bit of meal planning, you can make real and lasting changes in this regard. I spend 15 minutes once a week planning meals for the days ahead and based on that, I prepare our shopping list. Our food waste has now gone down to zero bar the odd one or two items which start rotting sooner than expected. Making meals also got easier, I no longer think what should I do for lunch or dinner, I simply check the weekly menu to find an answer.
We’d love to hear how you have been going zero waste, so get in touch with us today to let us know.
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