By Rayne Hayes
Going green hasn’t always been on the top of America’s to-do list, but with global warming, increase of natural disasters, and landfills piling up this issue is bigger than ever before. It’s time to talk about something that hasn’t been addressed, the environment. For the last seven years the average annual growth rate of the population is 1.12% (according to the data from GeoHive.com), and it isn’t expected to slow down. With more population growth comes all kinds of new waste and no where to put it, but, there is a new lifestyle being introduced that could make some outstanding changes to the earth, a Zero Waste Lifestyle.
A Zero Waste Lifestyle is one that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. By definition it is “ a philosophy that encourages to redesign of resource life cycles so that our products are reused. No trash is sent to landfills or incinerators.” Advocators for this have reduced waste and can even fit four years of trash into a small mason jar.
- Bring a Zero Waste Lunch
There are 3,500 students on campus and with them, comes a substantial amount of waste like plastic and paper bags, milk cartons, and wrappers, which always seem to make it into the trash but never into recycling. RecycleWorks.com says that “by using a disposable lunch, you create 4-8 ounces of trash a day, which can add up to 100 pounds a year.” Using reusable lunch sacks, utensils, and containers can eliminate any waste at the lunch table and help save that trip to the landfill.
- Reinvent the Leftovers
Mom always warns not to waste food, yet according to nrdc.org, 40% of food goes uneaten in the US alone, which is a problem as food producers deplete 10% of energy, 50% of land, and 80% of freshwater. This contributes to the problem of mass food production when purchasing too much food, this creates leftovers that wind up in the trash. On top of that, the leading cause of pile up in landfill is wasted food. This can be avoided by making proper proportions and planning out meals in advance.
- Save money by shopping second hand
Another unknown cause to waste buildup is clothing. It’s always fun to shop and get that adorable dress, but buying second hand can reveal some hidden gems, thrift shopping is a trendy helpful way to save the environment since clothing items will get a second use. With this said, make sure to not trash items that are no longer in style. Donate them or sell them at consignment shops.
- Reuse Clothing items
If it’s hard to make that trip to the Goodwill truck, an easy use for old clothing items is turning them into rags. Cut them up and get to work because they make an environmentally friendly custom cleaning towel.
- Carry Reuseable Totes
It’s estimated worldwide that 1 trillion plastic shopping bags are used and tossed every year. These plastic killers end up in the ocean and are spotted tanning on beaches everywhere. How can this be stopped? Easy! Swap out the plastic for a reusable tote from the local Trader Joe’s to get a hardy handbag for the trip to the store.
“I think this is the easiest switch to make. A tote is not only good for the environment but it stops you from buying things you don’t need,” Celeen Vasquez, 10, said.
- Keep Handy Houseplants
Instead of plugging in that scented air freshener you got from Target, invest in some houseplants. These little friends can add an earthy touch to any living space and even soak up toxins in the air. For a faster way to dispel an odor, crack a window or open a door, but make sure to turn off the AC so more energy isn’t being wasted.
- Eat Fun Finger Foods
Finger Foods are an easy way to dirty less plates and silverware. Using one plate and hands for utensils can be a simple way to save the planet. Also, to eliminate napkins ending up the garbage, use a towelette or even better, the cut up clothing piece repurposed as a rag.
- Stop using Plastic Bottles
Banthebottle.net states that Americans alone use 50 billion water bottles per year. With Hydro Flasks all over campus, it’s safe to say these bottles are a fashionable way to keep any beverage cold for hours and reduce plastic bottle waste.
“Everyone I know has a hydro flask which of course made me want one even more, I wasn’t aware of how many water bottles are used by Americans, so it’s nice to know I can save the environment while using such a trendy water bottle,” Sophia Potamitis, 9, said.
- Use Shampoo Bars
This is probably one of the more difficult switches mentioned, however, it proves very useful. Shampoo and conditioner bottles pile in the landfill quickly, and switching to shampoo bars can help keep plastic containers out of the garbage. Lush sells shampoo bars for $11 that last up to 80 washes which pays off in the end.
- Brush with Bamboo Brushers
Over time toothbrushes add up, normally changing a toothbrush every three months can send 40 toothbrushes to the landfill a decade. However, there are easy alternative Biodegradable Toothbrushes for future use. These eco-friendly toothbrushes are made out of BPA free nylon bristles and a bamboo handle making them 100% recyclable.
- Create a Compost Pile
A compost pile can serve as a renewable soil amendment. Truth be told that having a compost pile isn’t the most pristine way to toss trash, but there are many things that can be biodegraded. These prove useful to the environment since the food that was going to end up in the trash is now serving as soil enrichment. If interested in starting a compost pile, here is a step-by-step guide to help get started.
Eight year zero waste advocater, Bea Johnson, has a world-renowned blog and book translated into 15 different languages. Her words are shared worldwide, and she serves as a great inspiration to viewers looking to adopt the lifestyle. “Zero Waste [Lifestyle] offers a richer life, one based on experiences instead of stuff. I can only imagine how wonderful it would be for a civilization to adopt it as a whole. Just imagine what it would be like if our society shifted from focusing on ‘having’ to focusing on ‘being’,” Johnson said.
It is nearly impossible to be completely zero waste, yet, choosing at least one thing from this list to change in everyday life can help keep this planet stay clean. Onegreenplanet.org states that as a nation alone we create 30% of the world waste, averaging one million pounds of material per person a year. That is enough to fill 63,000 garbage trucks per day, and all this trash isn’t going anywhere besides sitting in the 1,908 landfills around the United States. Making a few changes everyday will help the Earth be habitable for longer, providing a happy healthy environment for generations to come.
