4 tips you should know before you start living zero-waste lifestyle

I have been associated with the waste management sector since last few months and I have seen that people are getting more and more aware of waste minimization and environmental impact we are causing knowing or unknowingly by generating waste in our daily life. 

There are different kinds of waste we generate ranging from food waste to packaging waste. Since now we know that it is possible to live a zero-waste life, people have started implementing it in their lives. Many of them post regular tips and guides for zero-waste life on their respective social media accounts which have led to inspiring many more to join the initiative.

Of course, we do need such a thing where people themselves know how to value our environment. The governments around the world are working on some similar approaches to tackle down the issues of waste management by means of rules and innovations.  At a personal level as well, people out of guilt of using wrong methods for waste management consider taking the zero-waste life and I have seen that many of them couldn't stay true to it and end up generating waste again due to various reasons. What are these reasons and what you should know before going for a waste-free life? Let's discuss it here!

Before starting a zero-waste life, you would need to know few things about it. Speaking frankly, you cannot be completely waste-free even if you want to. For example, whenever you cook something, every time you won't be able to eat everything and you'd have to throw away the left-over. Zero-waste lifestyle does not really mean you are not generating any waste but it means you are generating the kind of waste which is environment-friendly and it will degrade in a short period of time. It would save energy and money. You are saving the environment as well. 

Second thing, you would need sources where you can find the essential things which are fully bio-degradable over a limited time period. Such things can include but are not limited to a toothbrush, comb, clothes, eco-friendly packaging-free goods, reusable bags, utensils, containers, clothes etc. Most of the people practising zero-waste life have minimized their requirements to generate the least possible waste out of their daily activities.  

Infographic showing some tips for Zero-waste lifestyle

Third thing, before starting, join zero-waste lifestyle groups and communities and get connected with the people who are already doing it. Many of us start a zero-waste lifestyle without any prior knowledge and end up getting failed to maintain it. Study their lives, go through the routing they follow and try to learn how difficult it would be to give up on the things which we use for comfort in normal life.

The last thing, do not try to give up everything in the first go. Start abandoning one thing at a time and practice it for two weeks before moving on to abandon another thing to reduce your waste. For example, if you leave the use of polythene bags, stick with it for the next fifteen days before you move on and abandoning single-use utensils from your life. This fifteen days will teach you how can you leave without that particular thing and what problems you would face without it. Meanwhile, you would try other options and can find the best suitable for yourself according to your need and budget. This is nothing but taking one step at a time. This will ensure you that you can do it.  The journey this way would be more bearable. Only practice can make it perfect. 

Always keep these words in mind!!

I hope you would found these tips useful for your new challenge in life. Even if you are not going for zero-waste life, I would suggest you try and minimize your daily waste. Good luck to all those who are going to try zero-waste lifestyle and the ones who are already practising. If you know more about a zero-waste lifestyle and have some more tips about it, please share them in the comments.