Let's reduce waste
We are responsible and would like a more sustainable world.
Why reduce waste?
Waste costs a lot. Both for the resources that are invested in its management -to collect it, move it and treat it- and for the negative impact it has on the environment and our health. Therefore, the best residue is always the one that does not occur. There is a lot we can do to reduce the amount thereof.
The reduction of waste is one of the priorities of the European Union. Municipal waste has doubled in weight since 1970 and is at its highest level in fifteen years. In 2011, each person generated 500 kg of municipal waste in the EU Member States (source: Eurostat, average of EU-27).
This waste is the result of unsustainable production and consumption patterns. In addition, the consumption of products (including their production, transport and distribution) represents approximately 50% of the emissions that contribute to climate change.
The increase in the amount of waste that has to be managed requires a greater amount of infrastructure for its collection and treatment, and its cost has a direct impact on the public budgets for both local and regional administrations.
In this context, waste prevention has become a simple and essential concept in waste management; It is a fundamental technical factor in local management, but it also allows us to become aware of the scarcity of natural resources.
Objectives for waste reduction
- Bring your own cup of coffee or tea to the office. In this way, you will avoid filling the trash can with plastic cups.
- Carefully choose the office material and give priority to rechargeable or reusable, recyclables or that of recyclable material, and to products labeled with the European eco-label.
- At work, remember to buy coffee or tea in large packaging and not in small containers or capsules, and to save and produce less waste.
- At snack time, put food in reusable containers or wrappers, and drink from a water bottle, instead of using a plastic bag or bottle and throwing them away after each use.
- Prepare fresh foods: your diet will be healthier and you will save a large amount of packaging waste compared to prepared and packaged food.
- Fill a jug with tap water. In this way, you can save the cost of packaged water bottles and, at the same time, limit the amount of plastic waste generated.
- When you go for a picnic, take airtight containers for food, bottles and dinnerware. In this way, you will not throw so much waste into the bin.
- Choose products with less packaging and avoid buying disposable products. Normally, at the time of purchase we can always choose a product that generates less waste. In this way, we will reduce the consumption of raw materials and help to reduce the amount of pollution that would be generated through the production and destruction processes. In addition, these products also represent an economic saving.
- Try to buy products in bulk. This usually costs less and has less packaging waste. The packaging represents 23% of the weight of domestic waste, an important part of the total volume of waste generated.
- Use reusable shopping bags. The shopping centre´s disposable bags generate more than 70,000 tons of plastic per year and only use an average time of 20 minutes before ending up in the garbage. Not only do they become waste very quickly, but also, if not removed with care, can contaminate the natural environment and the ocean. The plastic bags that end up in the sea can cause the death of turtles, dolphins or sharks that confuse them with jellyfish and swallow them.
- Opt for products with refillable containers. There are usually commercialized ecological refills for domestic products, cosmetics and some food items.
Do not waste food
- Do not forget to give priority to products that have a shorter expiration date to avoid spoiling. Pay attention to perishable products. Placing products that expire more quickly in the front of the refrigerator or cupboard is a very simple way to reduce waste production and food waste.
- Buy only the amounts you need. It is estimated that each family throws away 10% of the food they have bought and that, often, the products have not even been opened. Buying the right amounts of food for the family's needs, reduces the amount of waste and saves on products that will end up spoiling.
Reuse and repair
- At work, remember that you can give the used electronic equipment to various entities that will give them a second life.
- At the school or institute, before buying new school supplies, check the stock and the condition of the previous year's material to decide if it can be reused. For items that you have to buy new, select the materials marked with an eco-label, and those that look more solid and resistant.
- Avoid whenever possible the buying of useless products, or those that you know will have a very short lifespan, especially for holidays and vacations. Think whether or not it’s really necessary to acquire such foods, decorations or superfluous gifts.
- The next time you have to buy a gift, think about intangible products, such as tickets for a show or concert, or a subscription, a massage, a cooking course, etc., that will not generate waste, or gifts made by yourself, with more of a sentimental value.
- Before you get rid of an object, look for reuse associations in your area that could give new life to the object.
- Give away the clothes that you no longer use to charities, associations, and friends and family that could give them a second life.
- Buy reusable diapers for your children. Up to three years of age, a child uses between 5,000 and 6,000 diapers, which are equivalent to approximately one ton of used diapers. With reusable diapers, you will avoid generating a significant amount of waste and, in addition, you will save on expenses.
- Be informed about options that substitute the compresses and tampons (menstrual cup, cloth compresses, etc.). In addition to being more sustainable, you can also save a lot of money.
Reuse, essential in reducing waste
Extending the useful life of the products, thanks to reuse, reduces the amount of waste generated. Reuse has an enormous value for sustainable development, since it not only promotes environmental protection, but also contributes to social objectives and has economic benefits.
Environmental benefits of reuse:
- Reduces the amount of waste, including hazardous waste.
- Avoid contamination.
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global climate change.
- Reduces the use of natural resources (raw materials, oil, forests and water).
- Allows one to save on energy consumption in the production stage
Social benefits of reuse:
- Fight against poverty, by offering affordable products to families with few resources.
- It favours the reintegration of people at risk of social exclusion.
- Creates jobs in related sectors (selective collection, monitoring, sale and repair of reused objects).
- Encourages training programs in related fields (vehicle driving, carpentry, electrical engineering, marketing, arts and crafts, etc.)
Economic benefits of reuse:
- Economic savings (customers: in product purchases and waste management, State: lower social cost through the creation of jobs and training).
- Energy savings, material and chemical products present in the products.