3 minute read
Zero Waste & A Circular Economy
www.NorthgateLivingCA.com @NorthgateLivingCA #NorthgateLivingCA
By Amy Golan, Founder of Planet Renu, Resident since 2008
I enjoy educating people about how we can be better stewards of our beautiful planet and thus, I enjoy doing presentations at schools, colleges and other organizations. My latest presentation is centered on Zero Waste. Zero waste is a relatively new buzz word in the United States, which can be defined as a set of principles focused on waste prevention that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. The goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators or the ocean.
In my presentation, before I delve into defining Zero Waste, I like to show a video that highlights the vastness of trash and pollution that are being seen all over the world. It is impactful and grabs one’s attention. It’s difficult to see images of animals that are deformed from and have perished from our pollution. I like to start with highlighting the ocean’s pollution and the great garbage patches because ultimately most of our trash on the ground, finds its way to a waterway and ends up in the ocean.
We have a trash problem because of our manufacturing and buying habits. One of the largest culprits is plastic. Each year, roughly 300 million tons of plastic are produced for our consumption. Plastics, by definition, are made from petroleum and other fossil fuels. They are not biodegradable, which means having the capability of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. Plastics, particularly single use plastics, are a good example of how our economy operates.
The two important terms to embrace are Linear Economy and Circular Economy. Presently, we operate in a linear economy which means we TAKE (natural resources), MAKE (manufacture products with them), USE them and then DISPOSE them- which leads to an exorbitant amount of waste. A Zero Waste Economy employs a Circular Economy, where we TAKE, MAKE, USE and then either REUSE/REPAIR or RECYCLE the products into new ones. There is very little waste.
To implement a Circular Economy, it requires a collaborative effort from government, corporations and individuals. Corporations, for example, need to improve their processes and revamp their supply chains and material work flow. All products need to have an Ecodesign that takes into account everything from the environmental impacts of sourcing raw materials to the product life cycle. Can we build products that last? Can they be repairable? Can they be repurposed or use the parts to make another product at the end of a product’s life cycle? These are the questions that need solutions in the product design. Also, if we manufacture locally, we can cut down on the environmental effects and cost from transportation.
In Europe, holistically they have been more mindful than Americans and they have been redesigning their processes for years. The Dutch, for example, have committed to being 100% circular by 2050. This means that the government, corporations, businesses, associations and citizens will all need to work together to make this happen.
On an individual level, there are many things you and I can do. We can change our buying habits. Companies produce what the consumers demand, so if we stop buying plastic consumables, for example, the demand will go down.
Here’s a list of zero waste or low impact living ideas to implement:
1- Use reusables (water bottle, lunch containers, straws, cutlery) instead of buying/using single use plastic water bottles, plastic bags, plastic straws and plastic cutlery.
2- Every time you shop, bring your own produce bags & reusable shopping bags
3- Try/Switch to bulk shopping (it’s package free when you bring your own containers)
4- Switch to items made from bamboo instead of plastic (like toothbrushes, reusable makeup remover pads, containers, cutlery, etc)
5- Plant your own herbs, fruit and veggies
6- Compost
7- Recycle at home
8- Buy secondhand or rent/borrow items
In addition to changing your buying habits, you can get involved! Attend a Zero Waste talk or event, participate in local city, river and beach cleanups, pressure policy change in your city and innovate ways to be greener.
We live in a society where we expect immediate gratification and our buying behaviors reflect that. But, these are exciting times if you’re up for a challenge. We have the opportunity to identify the weak links in our systems, problem solve and fix our economy and infrastructure. Ultimately, most living organisms are helpless, but we humans are not. We can do things differently by changing and improving our environmental situation.
