Now more than ever, people are becoming highly conscious of their health and sanitation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A crucial aspect to achieve a clean and safe lifestyle is proper waste management to help reduce or eliminate garbage as much as possible. Not only will you be safeguarding your health but you’re also conserving the environment.

In this article, you’ll learn some practical ways on how to start a zero-waste lifestyle this year. 

Get Rid Of Wastes ASAP 

You might not notice rubbish piling up easily until something gets smelly or a mountain of trash accumulates in your backyard and garbage bins. Instead of waiting for your solid and dry wastes to pile up, hiring a same-day junk removal service is recommended. 

With this type of professional garbage removal service, there’s no need to wait for a garbage collector to arrive. Also, you don’t have to load your garbage on your own because a dedicated same day junk removal worker will do it for you.

You can read this page to find out more about how to get rid of waste as soon as possible with the help of professionals. 

Use Eco-bags And Containers

When shopping in the supermarket or grocery, use eco-bags and containers to put dry and wet goods respectively. In this way, you won’t have to use plastic bags stores provide, which could pile up as trash in your home. 

Check the following advantages of using eco-bags and containers when shopping:

  • Reusable: Eco-bags and containers are durable, washable, and can be used several times.
  • Eco-friendly: Eco-bags and containers protect the environment from plastics adding bulk in landfills.
  • Healthy And Safe: Eco-bags and containers are more conducive to use than plastic bags, especially for perishable goods as these eliminate contact with plastic bag compounds detrimental to the health.

Use Eco-Friendly Packaging

If you’re shopping for goods, opt-in to products with eco-friendly packaging such as recycled paper or cardboard boxes. These are good options since they’re biodegradable and not harmful to the environment.

Another good example of eco-friendly packaging is corn starch packaging made of organic materials. Corn starch packaging is derived from the maize or plant with plastic-like properties.

Here are the good reasons to choose eco-friendly packaging:

  • Biodegradable
  • Versatile 
  • Reduce carbon footprint
  • Budget-friendly 
  • Easily disposable

Make Compost Out Of Kitchen Wastes

You can create a yard compost or organic fertilizer for your garden plants out of kitchen waste. Fruit and vegetable peelings, leftover food, and other types of kitchen wastes are rich in nutrients, making a good compost soil over time. 

If you’re a novice, you can begin with pot composting. Aerobic composting involves above-the-ground composting with microorganisms consuming and decomposing organic waste materials. You need three pots stacked one on top of the other. Make your pot containers out of recycled large water bottles or buy pots. 

Here’s how to create a potting compost out of your kitchen wastes:

  • Segregate household wastes into dry and wet. Some examples of wet wastes are teabags, leftovers, and fruit peels. Plastic, paper, and packaging are considered dry wastes.
     
  • Place the dry and wet wastes in separate containers in the kitchen.
  • Place the contents of the wet waste container into the first aerobic compost pot once it’s full. Add dried leaves of the same quantity as the waste.
  • Add cow dung, buttermilk, and other semi-composted materials to begin the decomposition process.
  • Make sure to turn the compost pile every other day.
  • Keep the pile at the right dampness level, adding dried leaves and stirring it if it’s too wet. Add water if it’s too dry.
  • Leave the pot open for about 30-45 days once it’s full for the aerobic composting to happen.
  • Transfer the semi-composted matter into a larger bin or container when it’s fill. The waste turns into rich compost you can use in your garden or sold as manure after two months.
  • For the first few weeks, don’t add dairy products, meat, and cooked food to avoid a stench. Initial problems may occur such as having too many fruit flies, maggots, soldier flies, or the stench can be pungent. Don’t be disappointed because this is a normal occurrence, which will eventually disappear.

Avoid Packaged Goods 

Achieve a zero-waste lifestyle by having a simple life. It means to go natural and avoid packaged goods as much as you can. For instance, go for fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned goods to help reduce containers in your garbage. 

Also, instead of meal delivery services normally producing too much solid waste, it’s better to cook your food. This practice is also healthier for you and your family because you know the ingredients used and you’re confident of the cleanliness and overall quality of food being served at your table.

Develop Waste-Free Consumption Habits

What kind of consumer are you? Are you a waste generator or a waste-free consumer? It’s now possible to live a waste-free lifestyle by practicing the best waste-free consumption habits such as the following:

  • Use refill stations and refillable packaging
  • Have efficient bulk supply chains to reduce carbon emissions
  • Buy and cook the amount of food you’d only consume to reduce food waste
  • Reduce packaging and plastic waste

Buy In Bulk When Shopping Online

Frequent ordering from various online sellers could mean separate shipping boxes, and it means more bubble wraps and plastics. So it’s best to buy in bulk from one seller to save more money and to reduce produced wastes.

Check the following products you can buy in bulk to minimize generated waste:

  • Laundry detergent 
  • Dishwashing soap 
  • Personal care products 
  • Diapers 
  • Tissue paper and rolls

Conclusion 

You can attain a zero-waste lifestyle in 2021 by following the tips shared in this article. Practicing using eco-friendly materials for shopping can help reduce generating waste such as plastics and other non-biodegradable garbage materials ending up in landfills. 

Like any other cleanliness and lifestyle initiative, it may take a couple of months to develop the habit of waste management such as segregation, composting process, and shopping habits, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Apply the principles mentioned here to start your zero-waste journey.