Great Health
T
he zero waste movement has been picking up steam over the last decade or so, particularly in the last few years. Now, more than ever, it’s important to be mindful of what we consume and more importantly, what we discard. The idea of conserving resources isn’t a new one. The ‘reduce, reuse, recycle‘ motto has been around for decades. And now, with our planet in a climatic emergency and the reality of environmental change already being felt around the world, it’s time to step things up. Zero waste is a misnomer, because it’s impossible to produce NO waste at all. The question is: what sort of waste are we producing and how is it impacting the environment? The zero waste philosophy asks us to reflect on the waste we produce and how we can be more environmentally conscious about its management. The concept of zero waste also represents an ideal, towards which we can each strive. Living a truly ‘zero’ waste lifestyle may seem daunting; however, taking positive steps to lower our individual contribution to waste is achievable for most of us.
OCEANIC PLASTIC WASTE. According to the World Wildlife Fund, around 8 million tons of plastic enters the oceans each year. Around half of this plastic is single use, like shopping bags, straws, cutlery, food wrappers, and water bottles. The impact of this plastic is monumental. For example, sea animals often mistake plastic for food (a floating plastic bag looks a lot like a jellyfish) and can ingest fatal amounts. Microplastic 18 | GREAT HEALTH GUIDE
particles build up in the bodies of sea animals, particularly predatory sea animals like sharks, who consume other aquatic animals.
MONUMENTAL LANDFILL WASTE. Of course, oceanic plastic waste isn’t the only concern of zero-waste advocates. In Australia, around 20 million tonnes of garbage go into landfill each year. This includes plastic, as well as organic material like food and green waste, and goods such as clothes, furniture, and appliances. Aside from the geographical issues of waste disposal (it takes a lot of land to house this much rubbish), sustainability is the very important factor. Each bit of waste that goes to landfill represents the raw materials (like wood or rubber) and resources (like water and gas) that went into its production. Zero waste is about so much more than the item sent to landfill; it also includes all resources and raw materials that went into its creation.
Remember the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. SUBSCRIBE