July: Zero Waste In The Home

The word ecology is derived from the Greek word “oikos” meaning “house”, or “environment” and is the study of the relationships between organisms and the environment. The science of ecology tells us that within the nonhuman natural world all discarded materials become resources for others to use. Thus, nothing is wasted. Everything is recycled or reused. There is Zero Waste in the nonhuman natural world.
In 2002, to emulate the sustainable cycles in the nonhuman natural world, the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) was established. The goal of Zero Waste is to design and manage products and processes “to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.” Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water, or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”

The 5 basic principles of a Zero Waste lifestyle are the following:

1) Refuse: Refuse consuming anything that you don’t really need, like straws or plastic cutlery since they can’t be recycled.
2) Reduce: Reduce your overall consumption. For example replace plastic bags by using your own reusable shopping bags or carry with you a reusable coffee mug for your take away coffee instead of always taking a single use one.
3) Reuse: Reuse the stuff you couldn’t avoid from getting like plastic bags, jars e.t.c.
4) Recycle: Recycle everything that can be recycled including batteries and electrical devices.
5) Rot: Compost your organic waste.

Source: http://zwia.org/