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Going zero waste the easy way

What is zero waste

Do you know about zero waste, this concept which consists of generating as little waste as possible. And by extension, a way of living that better respects the planet, but also its inhabitants. Because waste and overconsumption are scourges, both for the planet and for the economy. Let’s take the plunge towards more responsible consumption, with some simple ideas.

Having a zero waste lifestyle is simply about reducing your waste. Ideologically, it is a question of restoring value to our goods, our resources and our ecosystems and to our local producers. It’s about coming back to our level of overconsumption and rethinking our ecological footprint.

It will take a lot of personal initiative and collective action to change the way we create, make and consume. It will undoubtedly take time to move from our linear economy based on overconsumption to a more reasoned, circular economy.

According to Fort Lauderdale Dumpster Rental Whiz, by radically eliminating the amount of waste we generate, we send a message to companies and manufacturers to design and take responsibility for their products and be an example of a zero waste economy.

It’s not about being perfect or creating no waste; it’s about being a consumer-actor pushing our society towards a more conscious model, with less waste management issues.

Analyze your trash

To do this, start by analyzing your trash or rather your trash cans, because there is no doubt that you have already started sorting! Look at what you already recycle but could do without, for example.

Analyze what you don’t recycle but could easily recycle. Glass, for example, is infinitely recyclable but sometimes requires a long journey to the collection bin, so that we end up putting the bottles in the trash with the other waste. You can also easily recycle most kitchen waste, by setting up composting, for example, or buying chickens!

Practice minimalism

“Less is more”. And that has never been more true. There are many ways to simplify our consumption and even our lifestyle. Sorting can be an opportunity to ask yourself the right questions:

  • What really makes me happy?
  • What do I really use?
  • What are the things that inspire me?
  • What could I really not do without?

When we declutter our homes and our heads, we change our environment and create more space. Minimalism helps us avoid being distracted and overwhelmed.

Asking ourselves these kinds of questions can help us curb our consumption and restore value and meaning to the objects we use and store. This way, we will be more likely to invest in something that has more durable, repairable and multifunctional qualities.

Say no to disposable products

Planned obsolescence (planned or perceived) is an industrial and economic concept. The product is, from the start, designed with an artificially limited lifespan, so that it will become obsolete, go out of style, or no longer work after a certain period of time. Many of the products we buy are designed this way, unfortunately for our wallets and the planet.

The pinnacle of planned obsolescence is found in single-use disposable products. Disposable products are often made from plastics made from petroleum, and this is why there is no much plastic waste in the seas. Collectively, we generate a lot of waste using these products. Plastic cups, takeout containers, straws, toothbrushes, wipes… These are things we can avoid, especially plastic.

Change your consumption habits

One of the easiest ways to significantly reduce your waste is to find sustainable and reusable alternatives to these single-use disposable items, also for an eco-friendly Christmas. You can very easily change your consumption pattern with these tips:

  • Say no to plastic straws when ordering drinks, or use your own metal straw.
  • Bring your own shopping bags or bulk bags instead of accepting plastic bags.
  • Carry reusable tissues with you.
  • Use bamboo tableware instead of disposable plastic tableware.
  • Simplify your meal by avoiding unnecessary food packaging.
  • Use cloth napkins rather than paper towels.
  • Avoid plastic wrap and store your food in glass containers.
  • Buy in bulk, with your fabric bags or jars, as much as you can.

These are just a few basic actions for eco-responsible consumption. But you will see that you will get the hang of it by adding, over time, other good zero waste habits such as using solid cosmetics or making your own household products. You can consult the government ecology website for more information on the actions put in place.

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The Dangers of Biological Pollution

Biological spills cannot be usually cleaned up like oil spills, and the waste is of a different kind.

In a year about 2.4 million gallons every hour or forty thousand gallons every minute and 21 billion gallons ballast water with thousands kinds of dangerous species are spread into US Water environment.

In the bay of San Francisco 234 species, about 139 species in the Great Lakes, 154 in the Hudson River, New York, 67 in Coos Bay, 154 in Florida Inland Water in Chespeake Bay about 120, in Hawaii 4,466 species are found and are expected to produce about 15 % serious harm to the environmental conservation

Percentage of Damage

According to the OTA Report the harmful introductions rate looked stable and from 1980 to 1993 it was 200 and the expected harmful introduction was about 59. However, it is mainly on the non-indigenous species and they are unrecognized and bring stress to the ecosystem.

Zebra Mussels

They were introduced in Lake St Clair in the year 1986 in water discharges which now fill water from Vermont till Oklahoma as well as Ontario till Gulf of Mexico.

Zebra mussels are monitored and controlled by Great Lake water users spending 30 million dollars of Conservation of environment had impact on the fishery resources and effort to restore fisheries.

Spreading of Mitten Crabs

During 1992 mitten crabs have been originated in the Southern Bay of San Francisco.

Levees and banks are being threatened by burrowing thus giving protection to urban and agriculture environmental conservation areas.

Commercially significant species like craw fish were to be competed and damage caused to catch and fishing nets. It was a nuisance to fisherman who catch fish for recreation.

Brown Tree Snake

During World War II it was found in military equipment returning from war.

At present it is found in Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, the US Mainland and further pacific Islands.

1200 electric current outages were caused on an average of only one in 5 days ever since 1980 and it has spread island wide and lasted for many days.

The population of brown tree snake is increasing and it is likely that the population of trout declines ten to twenty percent.

The Yellow Stone Lake is being threatened by world’s renowned fishery and trout fishery may become less important economically and socially. Depending upon the accessibility of yellow stone cut throat trout many species are found in great quantity in the environment but lake trout does not fulfil the environmental conservation niche.

Ruffe

In 1980 Ruffe was introduced in Duluth, MN/Superios WI harbor and through the years it has spread all along the eastern coast along Lake Superior as well as Lake Huron for about 150 miles, causing the decline of native fishes.

The decline of fisheries within US Great Lakes is estimated to be around $119 million due to ruffle intervention.

Sea Lamprey

In 1929 when Welland Canal was opened, Sea Lamprey invaded the Great Lakes.

In 1940 and 1950 it became the main cause for the decline of fisheries and lake trout population.

US environmental conservation spent $12 million every year to control them and the population was reduced by 90%. Lake trout has been restored due to this environmental conservation effort.

Weeds

Almost 100 millions of acres of the environmental area have been affected by weeds and it keeps increasing by ten million acres each year.

The pace of invasion of lands through weeds is 4600 acres every day. According to Baltimore Dumpster Rental Whiz, the environmental conservation federal agencies spent $ 11 million to eliminate weeds. 1.4 millions Of acres of FWS land in the outskirts of Alaska was affected.

U.S Economy

Money spent to conserve environment is billions every year.

From 1906 till 1991 money spent to conserve environment from 79 plant and animal species was $79 billion. It is estimated that by 2050 $134 billion will be the cost of the15 latest introductions.

The sea lamprey management of environmental conservation will cost $12 million per year. $45 million per year is spent for purple loose strife control.

The money spent by the six federal environmental conservation agencies regarding weeds is $11 million per year. $119 million is spent on the decrease of commercialized fisheries in US due to ruffle population. $30 million is spent every year on zebra mussel control in Great Lakes.

Productivity loss of range lands because of weeds is $ 3.6 – $4.5 billion and 64 crops productivity loss because of weeds in 1984 is $ 7.8 billion.

Ecosystem Restoration

Historic circumstances are not a valid guide to the rate of restoration received.

Before effective restoration is done new objectives and goals have to be developed and delay for additional investment and study is required.

Florida Everglades

Water level is lowered due to Malaleuca. Native vegetation is assorted by Brazillian pepper tree and Melaleuca and has been replaced with single, sterile species stands.

San Francisco Bay

Many invaders have changed the ecosystem component and food web. The data collected in 1970 for Salmon restoration objectives and goal depending upon the population is no longer valid.

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