Introduction Into Zero Waste

Introduction Into Zero Waste

The main objective of this blog post is to define and introduce zero waste and give the reader a better understanding of what exactly this crazy moment is. 

Zero Waste Definition

Zero waste can simply be defined as a "whole-system approach that aims to eliminate rather than 'manage' waste" (Curran, T., and I.D. Williams).
The focus of living a zero waste lifestyle is eliminate or lessen the amount of waste that is ultimately sent to the landfill.

Why the Need for Zero Waste?

Due to the cause of items, such as electronic,s that used to be seen as luxuries which have now become everyday items, production of these goods has resulted in the need for constant expansion in order to meet the needs of a culture that is consumed with this consumption. The materials used in the production processes involve a composite and hazardous materials. The consequence of using these mixed sources in the production of waste that is damaging to the environment and the managing it in a sustainable manner is expensive. “If we continue to extract global, non-renewable resources at today's rate, we predict we will likely experience permanent global shortfall of 23 non-renewable resources, such as cadmium, gold, mercury, tellurium and tungsten, by 2030” (Clugston, 2010). Another reason why there is a need for more zero waste practices to become more widely used is because of the increasing rate of consumption that today's society is participating in. “Many studies suggest that over-consumption leads to generate excessive waste” (Clapp, 2002; Gutberlet, 2003; Wahab and Lawal, 2011). “The zero waste extraction strategies should ensure utilization of existing resources in society instead of extracting virgin materials and non- renewables resources” (page 18). “Current over-consumption practices generate an enormous amount of waste, and a significant proportion of waste can be minimized and avoided through responsible behavior and sustainable consumption practices. Sustainable consumption practices empower individual attitudes and decision making during consumption activities. Previous studies showed that sustainable consumption and behavior patterns which lead to waste reduction are seldom socially oriented and exposed to peer pressure, and is thus dependent on individual attitudes” (Cecere et al., 2014).

To get a better understanding of why there is a need to start including zero waste habits into your life, lets take a look at the estimated amount of waste generated by the average person in a lifetime for some basic items.

Pictured here is the number of items used in a lifetime: use 3,796 diapers, drink 13,056 pints of milk, take 28,433 showers (the yellow rubber ducks), eat 14,518 candy bars and spend $52,972 on clothing.

Reasons to go Zero Waste 

Individuals who life a zero waste lifestyle all have their own reasons for why. Some of these reasons include living a simpler lifestyle (minimalism), decreasing an individual's ecological footprint, promoting living a sustainable life, practicing a lifestyle that's main focus is on the care on how an individuals actions impact the environment, living a lifestyle that thinks of earth as a valuable resource, and for financial reasons (this is debatable and will be discussed in its own blog post).

Lauren Singer was studying environmental studies at NYU has made a name for herself in the zero waste community through her collection of two years worth of trash into one 16-oz jar. The following quote describes the reason for why Lauren starting living a zero waste lifestyle.
"In one of my classes, there was another student who always brought a plastic bag containing a plastic clamshell full of food, a plastic waster bottle, plastic cutlery, and a bag of chips. Class after class I watched her throw it all in the garbage, and I go so anergy! I scoffed and sneered, but I never actually said or did anything. I just got mad. One day I was particularly upset after class and went home to make dinner and try to forget about it, when I opened my refrigerator I froze. I realized that every item I had in there was wrapped or packaged, one way or another, in plastic. This was the first time in my life that I felt like I was able to look at myself and say "you hypocrite." I was the green girl (this is a nickname given to Lauren), not the plastic girl! What had I been doing my entire life? It was that moment I made the decision to eliminate all plastic from my life."
You can read more about Lauren's story in NYU Student Achieves A Completely Zero Waste Life, This is Her Story. Lauren's blog Trash is for Tossers is a great resource for those interested in adapting zero waste habits.

What Has Led to a Heighten Interest In Zero Waste?

The movement of zero waste began as a solution to the ever-growing problem of generating waste at a higher rate than every before created the issue of how do cities manage the waste being sent to the landfills. As a result of increased amounts of waste, landfills have outgrown there locations have had to look to alternative waste management solutions.

What Kind of Waste Can Be Eliminated Through Zero Waste?

What is considered to be municipal solid waste? The information included in this table comes from John Pichtel's book "Waste Management Practices: Municipal, Hazardous, and Industrial".

Sources:

Curran, T., and I. D. Williams. "A zero waste vision for industrial networks in Europe." Journal of hazardous materials 207 (2012): 3-7.

Zaman, Atiq Uz. "A comprehensive review of the development of zero waste management: lessons learned and guidelines." Journal of Cleaner Production 91 (2015): 12-25.