.png)
Have you ever noticed the contents in the trash that come from your kitchen each day?
I did, over the last couple of weeks. It was a gross undertaking, just making up my mind to go through the trash was a huddle. But honestly, this helped motivate me to understand what happens to all the trash that is generated and prepare a strategy on how to reduce this.
Output of kitchen trash audit: I noticed things like water bottles, disposable plates, disposable food boxes, milk cans, vegetable peels, leftover food etc. It was a repetitive cycle. Next, I continued the audit of trash but this time within the trashcan in the bathroom and other rooms. Noticed things like paper
towels, tissues, soap box carton, mailers, paper fliers, hair, disposable masks etc. On an average my household was generating ~36 lbs of trash each week.
There was a Christmas party in our community hall and I decided to take note of what was being generated there as trash and what could be done differently. Pizza boxes, juice box cartons, paper napkins, disposable paper plates/cutlery etc.
I was intrigued on finding what actually happens to all this trash. How to create and maintain an
environment where we can co-exist with nature in harmony and long-term ecological balance? Can my individual choices have a big impact on the world around me?
I happened to come across a video on YouTube, which explained how much trash is generated in NYC each day and what happens to it. I researched about Covanto and how they are implementing Responsible Waste Reduction Strategies. This helped me draft some strategies for reuse and recycling at home.
Here is what we have started:
Avoiding food wastage:
o Tried a zero-waste meal plan for a week. We decided the menu and meal prepped in
advance.
o New policies at home: Finish leftovers before making/ordering more, review freezer and
cleanup contents before buying more.
Avoiding single use plastics
o Carrying a food travel kit along with a stainless steel water bottle, reusable spoon and
fork.
o Switched to water dispensers instead of disposable water bottles.
o Opting for local dairy milk offered in glass bottles or tetra pack milk cans( made of
paper) instead of plastic.
o Avoiding plastic wraps and Ziploc bags
Sustainable shopping experience
o Carrying a cloth bag for groceries and restaurant take-outs.
o Online shopping – clubbing orders together and opting for store pickup instead of
shipping.
o Shop less, shop for must have instead of “wants”
Simple resolutions
o Switch to cloth napkins
o Using reusable masks and gloves instead of disposable
o Keep lights off during the day and open window blinds for sunlight
o Keeping a watch on shower time – save water
Are you considering buying a new car? How about an EV option?
o There are so many options like mild hybrid, hybrid, fully electric each with a set of
characteristics. It’s a great way to support the planet’s well-being and influence others
to make sustainability-first buying decisions.
What else can we do as part of the sustainability effort? Have you ever noticed the number of clothes in your household?
I found the no. of clothes bought exceeds the ones actually being used or needed. I took the time to assess and make sure each shirt or pant was still fitting and usable. Packed the ones which did not fit or were least used ones in the recycle bag. Continued to audit the seasonal stuff like winter clothes, Halloween clothes, accessories etc.
During this audit and sorting, I used shipping boxes to help me sort items. I think I am going to continue this boxing strategy for a long term.
Picked an empty amazon box and collected smaller packing materials, boxes like cereal cartons, toothpaste box which would sometimes end up in trash. Also added other waste from my study desk like loose papers, old newspapers, mailers, etc. After a couple of days when the box was nearly full, I packed and dropped it off at the recyclable bin in our community.
Box 1 - Recycle and Reuse: paper
o Fliers, mailers, work sheets.
o Small plastic boxes like soap, toothpaste, cereal boxes.
Box 2 – Recycle and Reuse: Closet cleanup
o Take a walkthrough and sort out clothes from your closet.
o Take the time to assess and pack the ones which did not fit or were least used for
recycling.
o Repeat the same exercise with shoes
Box 3 – Recycle and Reuse: Electronics cleanup
o Batteries, old CDS, old electronics, watches are good candidates to review and recycle at intervals.
o Unplug the electronics when not in use
o Repairing old electronics before buying a new one – like we fixed the cracked screen on a laptop at home following a video on youtube.
Box 4 – Recycle and reuse: Gifting and gratitude
o Books which are no longer being used
o Previous school year work: books or notes
o Old spectacles
o Backpacks and handbags
We had organized the annual thanksgiving get together with 2 other families. As soon as my mother told me that we are hosting it this year, I thought we can do this year little differently (instead of the regular one-time use and throw plates, we decided to ask families to bring their own dishes/spoons and water bottles). We still had to use some packed water/juice bottles. I got a big recycle bag and collected all of them. I also showed off my collection boxes to friends. Our friends liked this idea and said they would consider recycling for the next set of parties they would be hosting, as it leads to a sustainable and better tomorrow.
To sum it up, while I was afraid and thought making changes to our routine and following a sustainable path will be difficult, I realized it is not that difficult to incorporate sustainable changes in our lifestyle. And even the smallest step can help make this world a cleaner, less polluted place. I hope you enjoyed reading this and I made a small impact to encourage you towards sustainable habits.
Rishab
Comments