Welcome to our monthly zero waste blog. This is our first edition and we are Zero Waste North West!
Every month we will occupy this space to bring you helpful tips and tricks on the journey to zero waste.
So what is zero waste? The fancy definition is:
“Zero Waste is the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging and materials without burning, and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
– Definition of Zero Waste as adopted by the Zero Waste International Alliance
We would describe it as a journey towards changing your relationship with waste so you treat it instead as a resource. ‘Waste is only waste if you waste it’ 😉 It involves many steps, some of them you may already be doing such as REUSING your water bottle to avoid buying a plastic one, or wearing your big brother’s clothes, or REFUSING a bag in the supermarket, or RETHINKING how you plan your kids birthday party, or manufacturers REDESIGNING how your appliances are made so they are easily fixed or UPCYCLING your old boots as a cool plant pot for your garden.
It might all sound very complicated or hard work but it is actually really fun and once you begin to reframe waste in this way, it becomes easier. We don’t need a small group of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need the majority of people doing zero waste imperfectly to make a difference to our city region.
And how can you make a difference? Never doubt the power you have in making a difference. Making small changes in your own lifestyle can be a really helpful act in itself, informing consumer choices, and sharing your experiences with others so that more and more people begin on the zero waste journey. We feel having a zero waste community is really important, for tips and tricks of course, but also for the community support in not feeling like you are on this uphill battle alone as the waste crisis we are in can sometimes feel overwhelming, but I am always reassured and inspired by the incredible responses we have already seen.
Why is this all even important. The current way we produce and manage waste is just not sustainable. We live on a planet with finite resources, and a planet that is already in a climate crisis. Incineration is not an option as it is just landfill in the sky. The current practice of TAKING from the earth, MAKING, USING, and DISCARDING billions of single use and poorly designed products is what is generating the crisis. We need to design and use products in a way that they are fed back into the economy, like a circle.
We are so excited to bring you this monthly blog to share with you all the ways that you can be a part of this movement.
For more information or to get more involved visit https://zerowastenw.org/ or follow us on Facebook @ Zero Waste North West
Peace, bees, trees, and all the zero waste feels,
James and Maeve
Zero Waste North West