ZERO WASTE FOR ZERO HASTE

Zero waste lifestyles are sustainable, environmentally friendly, and trendy. They are all about reducing the amount of waste production, by in turn simplifying purchasing habits, managing consumerism, and prioritizing production of useful items. In this case, in terms of creating less waste for landfills, reducing pollution from material management, and limiting resource extraction – this lifestyle is the solution to all environmental issues. However, as Tara Conway points out, a truly zero waste lifestyle is impossible. It is not plausible or possible in any regard to produce no waste.

The Problem is Larger than You

It is important to realize that the issue with low rates of recyclable material and large production of waste extends far beyond the packaging used for the ingredients for your dinner. It reaches to water management methods, land use, emissions of transportation and beyond. Many people have such a narrow view of waste and recycling, showing the lack of education in seeing that the larger issue lies in the products being made in the first place, regardless of whether they are purchased or not. While it helps to be aware of the impact you have on the market, it is more so important to urge governments to initiate changes into production systems, hold businesses accountable, and ensure transparency is uniform across the board.

Recyclable Choices are Not Always Better for the Environment

A key factor of "zero wasters" revolves around using as small as a Mason jar's worth of non-recyclable material. However, David Allaway from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality points out that more than half of the time, recyclable options pose a larger threat to the environment than traditional methods. In a life cycle assessment (LCA) on packaging, a shipping bag proved less detrimental to the environment due to the significantly smaller amount of material needed. For over 10 years, manufacturers ignored these LCA results in order to appease customers' pleas for recyclable packaging. This once again reaches out into the idea that the impact criteria reach farther than you realize. When you evaluate climate, eco-toxicity, pollution, and landfill use, often times the recycling option is not necessarily better: as long as the item is properly disposed of into a landfill, it is a better choice. It also connects previously listed information about how industry and government need to make changes and force reduction of wasteful production, instead of maintaining the current production methods and levels and then focusing on management after this.

The Verdict

This is not to say that zero waste is a sham or not beneficial, but mainly as an attempt to create awareness. It is to show that just limiting your lifestyle is not the real problem. It is to show that greater measures need to take place to really tackle the crisis of waste. It is also to show the shocking fact that recycling is not always the answer, and to look at the big picture.