05 March, 2018

Responsible Waste Management...

Firstly think ten times before dumping anything into the public dust-bins. They don’t get washed. So, things just keep rotting inside. And then eventually all that goes into the landfills and create even more pollution as the sheer high quantities of waste we have been generating has been overwhelming them. So much so, that the government has even started thinking about promoting incinerators (which basically burn everything to destroy it for generating energy in industries that need high temperature heat). These in turn, cause even more pollution. Moreover, it's only so many times, anything can be recycled. And most recycled things take upto 900yrs to break down completely! So, better yet, say no to anything that is not 100% natural, and comes in 100% eco friendly packaging, if not any.
Its not just air we should be considering. Our water system has been getting from bad to worse too over the past decades. We drink and wash with the same thing. The same polluted environment (air, water & ground) is where our food grows.
Reduce whatever we can as far as our consumption as well as disposal goes.
Reuse everything that you possibly can.
Recycle everything else that remains.
Refuse all the excess that you don’t need or truly appreciate. Fast fashion is becoming one of the biggest banes of environmentalists. Look up French Fashion to see how the most stylish of the world live amazingly with some 30 item wardrobes if not less. More importantly, whatever doesn’t bring you joy, should not be a part of your life and clutter it. It should be given to someone who will find joy in it instead.
Repair everything at least five times before chucking it out. Or get it mended professionally.
But most of all, start being Responsible about all the new ‘stuff’ you getting created (via consumerism) and then in turn all the waste you are generating to litter our gardens, cities, beaches, forests, lakes, rivers and oceans.

Here are a few tips on how we can all be more responsible when it comes to waste generation and disposal...


Biodegradables-
• Kitchen waste (vegetables and fruits peels, cores, seeds, food leftovers, pencil shavings, dirt collected after sweeping the floors, stray hairs, nails, bits of uncoloured paper, dry foliage waste from the garden, etc) Collect them all in a strainer/sieve/colander next to the kitchen sink (to ensure that they aren’t dripping wet). Then add your ‘browns’ (dry leaves, cardboard, cocopeat, etc) and add to composting. Then either use for your own plants/ or drop it off at the neighbourhood nursey/park
• Cardboard- use as browns in composting/ use as craft material
Recycling-
• Paper/Metal/Glass/Plastic- Wash/Clean and collect all. Go through the collection every now and then and see if you can reuse any of the jars/containers/bottles for anything. recycle/kabadiwala the rest

Hazardous waste-
• E-waste- Collect all for a few months and then either drop it off or sell it at an e-waste collection point (look up ‘e waste’ on Maps)
• Medical waste- Collect for a few months and then drop them off at the doctor’s on your next visit

Old Stuff-
• Old Clothes, Shoes, Bags, Books, Toys, Furniture, Furnishings, Kitchenware, Decorations- Either donate or sell them. As a matter of fact, an Indian NGO that works with the underprivileged, is running a charity drive  this month, where they have even offered doorstep pickups for old/Holi clothes.
("Dear all, new school session will begin soon. Now that you will buy new books, new bags, new pencil box, tiffinbox, bottles, new uniform & shoes. You will discard, old books, old dresses, Bag & bottle. You will either sell or dump somewhere all these stuffs, not to ever use again. 
Do you know, all these things which are scrap to you, can be useful and new for someone in need. Can bring smile on the face of so many. Need is of making it available to them.
 "Goonj" your close to heart organisation, under its "school to school" initiative, is happy to accept all exercise books, note books, loose papers, stationery, Water bottle, tiffin box, compass box, shoes, socks, slippers, uniforms, school bag, including old spectacles etc... everything which you feel are of no use to you, but will be useful to someone in need. Please come forward and contribute all you feel, will help to run a parallel life. 
Please contact Kavita Bansal on  9320009766.
A small request to please forward to all your groups. A small forward may bring a big smile on someone's face.
Goonj dropping centres all over India
Please refer http://goonj.org/page_id=22873/index.html for the same.")


Dry waste-
• Torn out Dal/Rice/Spice packaging, stickers, tapes, etc- Collect the handful and drop off on its own/ wrapped it newspaper into your neighbourhood dumpster or collect in a disposable plastic bottles and create your own furniture/crafts
• Grocery bags- Switch to bringing your own reusable bags and buy from the hawkers, street side produce vendors or farmers markets around you
• Dal/Rice/Spice/Online shopping packets- Save and reuse later for travel, storage or passing things to others, which need plastic packets. Also, keep trying to look for eco-friendly options for these. Like bulk buying (packaging free) grocery stores, flour mills and traveling weekly bazaars around you for flour, grains, lentils, whole spices, nuts, seeds, teas, coffees and cold pressed oils, etc that you can buy in your own reusable bags, bottles and containers
• Milk packets- Switch to buying loose milk that you can bring in your own containers or better yet, go Vegan and make your own plant based milk
• Chips/Cookies/Namkeen Packets- Buy package free from your neighbourhood bakeries and halwaiwalas in your own reusable containers
• Disposables that store snacks and beverages on the go- Make your own favourites and bring your reusable bottles and containers with you, along with the Bag-Box-Bottles for every outing, to avoid creating more plastic waste
• Doggy bags from restaurants- Bring your own containers to pack the leftovers in order to avoid plastic waste
• Grocery Bags- Bring your own reusable shopping bags and containers and say no to any excessive packaging
• Bin liners- Switch to eco-friendly packets/ use plain old newspaper to line your dust-bins

Bathroom Waste-
• Diapers and Feminine hygiene waste- Switch to the modern cloth diapers, Menstrual Cups, reusable Cloth Pads and Panty liners
• Cotton Buds/Q-tips- Switch to eco-friendly alternatives
• Disposable toothbrushes- Switch to bamboo toothbrushes
• Disposable Razors- Switch to the modern stainless steel Safety Razors
• Toiletries- Switch to eco-friendly products or DIYs

Ponder on...S m i l e


1 comment:

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