To achieve a zero waste environment, we must first understand it.
Zero waste is not that literal – at least for the time being. It is a philosophy that encourages the re-purposing waste’s life cycles so that all products are reused.
The ultimate goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills.
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Although it is deemed unrealistic to some, it is actually quite achievable with only a few minor changes in your life.
Here are some ways Malaysians can achieve zero waste:
1. Focus on buying only what you need
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Do you really need to buy plastic bags when you can reuse the ones given when shopping?
2. Purchasing or reusing second hand items
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The stigma of second hand items must be erased. The beauty of it is getting great items for even greater deals. And it’s vintage!
3. Leave composting and recycling for the later bit
Image source: https://www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/plastics-recycling/how-to-recycle/recycle-more-plastics-these-tips-help-make-it-easy/
Before you recycling something, perhaps you can use it for something else – like a crafty Pinterest DIY project that we often see on our Facebook feed. As recycling is one of the best concepts by which the environment can be made much more cleaner, hiring services from Ku-ring-gai Skip Bins for garbage disposal can be an excellent start for your home as well as your workplace.
4. Buy only reusable, everyday items
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Straws are often disregarded as something you can reuse – and it’s true, the plastic ones are better thrown. That’s why buying the alternative like metal or bamboo straws are great as you can get a good amount of use out of them without harming the planet. There’s even bamboo toothbrushes!
5. Stop buying single-use items
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Tissues, paper towels, plastic cutlery are all single-use items – you use once and then you toss them to the bin. Ideal for parties but we dare not say the same for our environment. There’s a great deal of alternative for that, which are cloths, handkerchiefs, metal or bamboo cutlery, and the list goes on.
6. Takeaway no more
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With Starbucks, McD drive-thru as well as food delivery services such as Foodpanda which make eating out a whole lot more convenient, a single order uses a lot of plastic, single-use napkins and more. How about making more effort to cook at home or dine-in at the restaurant. You can also always opt to bring your own food container to bungkus your food at your favorite neighborhood restaurant.
7. Keeping your uneatable fruits and vegetables
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Don’t throw your fruit skins, vege stems, onion skins or anything that comes from plants – turn them into eco-enzyme instead! You can turn them into compost-fertilizers.
There is no foul smell when you put them with plants and your plants will thank you for them!
Psst, you can do the same with eggshells too. Just pound them into powder and use it as fertilizers.
8. Look up for zero waste recipes for food and household products
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The internet offers an abundance of great recipes for not only zero waste meals, but also for household and beauty products such as deodorant, face mist, table cleaner and more!
