According to studies, one individual produces around 800 kg of waste per year. The waste can be in physical or digital format. Yeah, we all produce a huge amount of digital waste as well, that too each day. Now we all know what physical waste is but digital waste is in the form of unwanted tabs of your internet browser or unwanted e-mails, pictures, videos and a lot more of this “unwanted” stuff in your digital electronic device. More waste contributes to more pollution as all of this waste cannot be segregated due to its enormous quantity. More pollution contributes to more harm to the environment, eventually causing harm to individuals.
I recently visited Himachal Pradesh, a state in India and was so much inspired with everyone around. The Himachali people are living a very eco friendly life. For instance, all the shops in Himachal only use cloth bags instead of thin plastic ones. Only the packaged food comes in plastic wraps from factories. Secondly, while buying milk from the local milkman, they all carry their own containers with lid and handles or reuse plastic bottles like soft drink bottles.
Now I know it is not possible to follow these kind of rules in big cities, but sure there are a few ways we can help reduce the pollution and production of environment harming products. Lets have a look at a few of these solutions.
1. Tissue paper
Due to increasing popularity of Tissue Papers, we almost forgot about handkerchiefs. Remember how we used to pin it to our dress while going to school as toddlers? Its time we bring handkerchiefs back in fashion. While travelling, always carry a pair of these small, soft cloth napkins to avoid the use of tissue papers. I am not going to add the cliché stats of how many trees have to be cut to make a box of tissues as we have read it N number of times and sure avoided it many a times. Benefits of using handkerchiefs is that its washable hence, can last for at least a few months, resulting to save a lot of money. Also, if we avoid the use of tissues, the demand would reduce hence, reducing the production. Its that simple!
2. Kitchen Rolls
Similar to tissue papers, even Kitchen rolls are made from same materials. Let me tell you what generally Indians use instead of the kitchen rolls. Once our clothes are worn out to the stage that it can no longer be used, instead of throwing the fabric, we cut them to pieces and use it. Not only this, one single top or pajama/pant can serve multiple purposes like dusting, cleaning, etc. This hack sure is cost efficient, don’t you agree?
3. Single Use Water Bottle
Instead of buying water bottles every time you go out, try carrying your own bottle. Avoid single use plastic. It might happen that you somehow failed to carry your own bottle and buy one outside. That is totally fine! But instead of dumping the same bottle in trash, reuse or repurpose it. There are many DIY videos available that help you transform your bottle in many different stuff. You can reuse the bottle, if not, then you can convert it into a planter or make a showpiece out of it or you can also convert it into a container and a lot many ideas are available out there. You are just a try away.
4. Plastic Bags
Please say NO to plastic bags as much as possible. They are the worst type, seriously. Carry your own cloth bags. I have seen many people, while buying vegetables, carry their own cloth bags and yet take plastic bags from vegetable vendors, for what seems to me a bizarre reason viz., to keep the vegetables separate. I mean you can go home and separate the vegetables anyway. Or there are cloth bags available having compartments, just in case you had no idea about any such “thing”. You can even stitch your own bag, create your own designs, use your favorite color or convert your favorite old top into a bag. It would be fun.
5. Plastic Cans/ Containers
We buy a lot of plastic bottles or tubes be it toothpaste or detergent container or oil cans. Instead of throwing these and buying new containers, just reuse or repurpose these plastic cans or containers into some cool and amazing yet useful stuff. They are even pretty as a gift and increases its value as it is totally handmade. If you are not a craft or DIY person, you can clean and donate these. There are many organizations who accept these type of plastic and other packaging plastic waste. Buy Metal or glass containers instead of getting plastic storage containers.
6. Delete Unwanted E-mails, Pictures Or Videos
Try to delete all the unwanted mails and other unwanted data from digital electronic devices, close unwanted browser tabs. These mails and your data and the tabs are stored on servers which consume enormous amount of electricity each day which indirectly increases the emission of carbon. That means less lifespan. In brief, we all have studied in our primary school, how harm to environment causes increase in diseases and how it affects lifestyle of an individual, sometimes even leading people, losing their loved ones.
7. Plastic Wraps
Did you know that there are alternatives to plastic wraps? Well there are a lot. Silicone, wax wraps, cloth covers, etc. All these options are available on many shopping websites. You can make wax wraps and cloth covers on your own as well. These are washable and therefore reusable alternatives, saving the money you invest to buy one time use plastic wraps every month. Give it a try.
8. Sanitary Napkins
Sanitary napkins are not biodegradable as they contain plastic in them. You can buy eco friendly, bio degradable sanitary napkins. But they are a bit costly as compared to normal sanitary napkins. Other than biodegradable ones, you can even try cotton napkins available which are washable and reusable. If you are comfortable, try using silicone cups, my personal favorite alternative. They are easy to wear, its just it takes a few tries to get used to it, no risk of leaking, no odor, eco friendly and long time cost efficient. One silicone cup is said to last for about 6 to 8 years. Just think how much money you save every month, every year!!!
9. Toothbrush
Replace your old plastic toothbrushes with bamboo brushes. That doesn’t mean you throw away all the plastic brushes you have. You can sure reuse them in some or the other way. Bamboo is an option because Bamboo belongs to grass family which has a potential to grow faster. Even if you cut Bamboo, it regrows fast. Do not confuse it with the term deforestation. If you want to know more on this, click here
10. Garbage Bags
We buy huge amount of plastic already, isn’t it enough? Our food is packaged in plastic, our water comes in plastic, we buy plastic containers, plastic wraps, our dustbins are already plastic, most of the times and in addition to it, we also buy these garbage bags. “Could we buy any more plastic!” (only for F.R.I.E.N.D.S fans). Use the packaging plastic as garbage bags or don’t use garbage bags at all. You can wash your dustbins frequently to keep it and the area clean. Find more alternatives or comment if you already know any.
Its time we protect our environment for our better future, let alone our future generations. Rethink, if you can reuse or repurpose, before throwing any small/big thing. Even a single piece of cloth has become hazardous for our environment due to synthetic fibers. The food we eat is already contaminated as plastic is all over the places, be it land or water. Make sure you properly recycle all the recyclable materials, do not mix it with all common waste, make fertilizer of wet waste. We, ourselves need to protect us first in order to protect our future generations. Try to follow and lead an eco friendly life like our ancestors did.
Excited to know more such alternatives, do comment. Ciao for now.
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