The term “zero waste” is a buzzword that has been flying around for the past couple of years. Although a misnomer (we cannot actually produce zero waste), it refers to an idea that was borrowed from nature. This idea is that of a circular economy: the things that are produced are fully used and the rest is broken down and utilized as nutrient rich soil or food for smaller organisms. Nature does not create trash, humans do. We create trash because we live in a linear economy in which we utilize resources and toss the rest in a landfill. Zero waste aims to change this system.
The zero waste movement is beginning to gain traction because the state of our planet is growing increasingly desperate; plant and animal species are going extinct at alarming rates, harmful emissions are released from the waste we produce and microplastics are killing marine wildlife.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average person creates 4.5 pounds of trash a day. Over the course of a year that is 1600 pounds of trash per person. The EPA also came out with a statement saying that over 15 million tons of textiles were thrown away in 2014. On top of that, Euromonitor International says that Americans use an average of one plastic bag and one plastic water bottle per person per day. This results in over 110 billion plastic bags and 110 billion plastic water bottles being disposed of every year. So, what can a busy broke college student do about it?
Here are some free, easy ideas to help you reduce waste:
1) Use a reusable water bottle.
2) Please, please, please avoid those awful Styrofoam take-out containers unless you absolutely have to. Plan ahead and bring your own lightweight Tupperware and use it in the cafeteria instead.
3) Send an email to Amazon’s customer support and tell them you do not want any extra plastic or Styrofoam packaging sent with your orders.
4) Bring your own grocery bags to the VM. Additionally, opt out of putting your fruit and veggies in produce bags… you’re just going to take them out when you get home anyway.
5) Shop second-hand. Thrifting is all the rage right now, but it’s also way more earth friendly and budget friendly than buying new.
6) Request all of your bank statements, school bills etc. be sent electronically. There should be a setting online that allows you to do this. This drastically reduces the amount of paper used.
Taking small steps to be more conscientious about the waste you produce really does make a difference. For more ideas, check out my Instagram @madisontcarter and some of my favorite low-wasters, @stevieyaaaay, @eatingwithmax, @liveplanted, @zerowastechef and @sustainyoself.