Why is Zero Waste Important?

• The UK’s food waste totals 4.5 million tons per year from just households alone—and the issue of wasting food isn’t just confined to one country. America’s food waste equates to 40 million tons yearly, Canada wastes approximately 2.2 million tons, and Australia sits at 7.3 million tons.
• Landfill waste is responsible for polluting groundwater and farmland. It also releases methane, C02, as well as other harmful greenhouses gases.
• Our current waste management style relies heavily on the recycling industry. But at our rate of waste production, it won’t be able to keep up with the demand for much longer.
• We are consuming resources at an alarming and unsustainable rate. In the past 40 years, natural resource consumption has more than tripled.

3 Zero Waste Questions for Mindful Consumption

When you’re looking to bring something new into your home, ask yourself these questions. These 3 questions fall in line with the zero waste hierarchy and can help you make more sustainable decisions when it comes to shopping.

1. Do I need this? If you already have something that can do the same job, skip the item until what you own reached the end of its useability. For example, this may include using your plastic toothbrushes before purchasing a more sustainable alternative, like a compostable bamboo version. Or, you may want to reuse glass jars that food comes packaged in to go bulk shopping instead of buying new containers.

2. Are there more sustainable options? If you’ve decided you need an item and have nothing on hand that can do the same job, look for sustainable alternatives. This may mean borrowing it from a friend or rental place if you only need it short term or finding a zero waste swap (see ideas below).

3. What amount do I really need? Only buy what you will use. This is especially important for items that spoil or have an expiry date.

Zero Food Waste

Food waste is worth mentioning when it comes to zero waste because it is an epidemic and the solutions to deter it are actionable for any household. In the UK, the average family wastes approximately $700 of food yearly—with much of that waste going to landfills. The problem with food decomposing in landfills is that there is a lack of air circulation, so it breaks down anaerobically (without air). This creates emissions of methane—a potent greenhouse gas that is heavily responsible for global warming. Therefore, an excellent way to start tackling your food waste is by home composting. This allows for air circulation, so little-to-no methane gets produced.

However, while composting is always a good idea, there are effective ways to deal with food waste so you don’t reach this point. This may include:

Only Buying What You Need: Make a list before hitting the grocery store, so you know exactly what you need, as well as the quantity. Planning a group of recipes for the week that use similar produce can also help you use these ingredients in their entirety.

Freezing Food: If you’ve accidentally made more than you can eat before it spoils, save it in the freezer. You can also preserve herbs this way by freezing them in ice cube trays with oil.

Rethinking Food Scraps: Before tossing scraps in the compost bin, look for ways to reuse them. Apple and banana peels can get boiled for tea, orange peels can be added to vinegar to make an all-natural citrus cleaner, and onion peels, beets peels, and avocado pits can produce natural dyes when boiled in water.

Going for Ugly Produce: 25% of apples, 20% of onions, and a portion of all other produce gets thrown away in the UK because they are “ugly”— they aren’t the perfect shape or color. However, more supermarkets are beginning to offer ugly produce at a discounted price, so take advantage. You will save money and help deter food waste.