What does it mean to be zero waste?
Waste is a major consequence of our daily lives. Because of this, reducing our waste is a crucial step towards lessening the impact we have on our planet. Imagine if we could use the waste we produce for good. What if we were able to use that waste to power buses, businesses, and homes? Believe it or not, there are innovators chasing this dream. Methane digesters are a new, innovative tool with the potential to transform detrimental methane gas into valuable renewable energy.
Methane is a byproduct of landfills, wastewater facilities, cattle farming, and other waste management practices in which organic material is consumed by bacteria. When methane enters the atmosphere as a result of human-produced waste, it acts as the most destructive type of greenhouse gas. Through the regulation of waste decomposition, methane digesters have the potential to eliminate this atmospheric methane, all while producing clean energy in the process. Despite increasingly innovative solutions like methane digesters, we still have to change our wasteful habits and reinvent the way we see trash.
How often do you think about what happens when you throw something away? Have you considered what is wasted in the process of a product getting to you? Too much of what we waste will continue to exist for hundreds or thousands of years. It may remain largely out of sight, but can never be out of mind. The majority of waste does not decompose or get reused or upcycled into something else, but rather ends up in landfills and waterways, permanently damaging our atmosphere, health, natural resources, and atmosphere and planet.
All people deserve the right to exist in a clean environment, but this standard goes unmet for many. In the United States, low-income, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are the most likely to live near and work in waste management facilities, leading to exposure to harmful chemicals. Inequities tied to waste also exist on a global scale. Developed countries often push waste into developing countries, at the expense of others’ land and lives. The relationship between the environment and waste is a social justice issue that continues to impact the most vulnerable members of societies across the globe.
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
– Anne Marie Bonneau, The Zero Waste Chef
Plastics are one of our most prevalent forms of waste. From packaging to personal care to food to toys, plastic is everywhere. Plastics contain chemicals linked to major health concerns, like cancer, developmental disorders, reproductive issues, and decreased immune function. Studies show that plastic can break down into tiny, nearly microscopic pieces called microplastics, often ending up in food or water and easily leaching into our bodies, food chains, and ecosystems. While plastic may seem convenient, its long lifespan and high environmental cost tell another story.
After a single-use item is used and disposed of, where does it go? Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled; with most ending up in landfills where it can take more than 500 years to degrade. Rather than allow plastics to degrade, some landfills resort to incineration, a process that emits black carbon, a severe air pollutant with major environmental and health impacts. But not all plastic waste will even make it to a landfill. 11 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year, wreaking havoc on its many ecosystems.
These trends sound scary, but over recent years there have been incredible advances in reducing waste and bettering life cycle systems. Across the globe, communities are making strides in handling waste more sustainably. Germany, for example, has pioneered the use of the Green Dot, which is a label placed on plastic products to notify consumers that their plastic is not only recyclable, but also manufactured by a company that’s financing the recycling process. Thanks to programs like the Green Dot, Germany recycles 70% of all its waste, which is more than any other nation. Germany is setting a fantastic example, but there is still much to be done everywhere to protect vulnerable people, reduce waste, and care for our planet.
While waste has unfortunately become a negative byproduct of daily life, it doesn’t have to be that way! According to our partner, 5 Gyres, the top six sources of plastic pollution (food wrappers, bottle and container caps, plastic bags, straws and stirrers, plastic cutlery and take out containers) can be easily eliminated by most — although we cannot exclude members of the disabled community from having access to certain non-reusable products they may need. The good news? Reusable alternatives exist for almost everything! Companies like today’s partner, Klean Kanteen, offer reusables that make it simple to transition to a low waste lifestyle with minimal sacrifice. We have transitioned all single-use products to reusables in two of our Conscious Kitchens that serve thousands of meals weekly.
The least wasteful lifestyle is one where you only buy what you need and understand the impacts of how products are created and packaged, by whom, and from where. Start today with simple, impactful steps to cut down on your own waste, and inspire others to do the same. Today’s Greener Challenge is a transformational one that you do not want to miss!
REFUSE. Refusing is the most important step you can take to reduce waste, as it significantly decreases intake. This applies to styrofoam, unnecessary purchases, or consumption of any kind.
REDUCE. Buy items in bulk, choose those with less packaging, and cut back on quantities. Supporting plastic-free and low-waste companies like Package Free Shop and By Humankind helps reduce the amount of waste your lifestyle produces.
REUSE. By reusing and repurposing items, you can greatly lessen waste and extend the life of what you already have! Reusable bottles, straws, and containers are great alternatives. Do you have old clothes you don’t know what to do with? Pass them on to a friend, giving the piece a chance at another life!
RECYCLE. Recycle what you can’t refuse, reduce or reuse to ensure your waste doesn’t end up in landfills! Recycling labels can be difficult to understand, so be sure to check whether an item is actually recyclable here or here before tossing it.
RETHINK. Focus on how you can change behavior to cut waste. Prepare yourself with the tools you need, like those from Klean Kanteen and U-Konserve. By being conscious of the waste we produce and the importance of our behavior, we can decrease waste, lessen negative impacts, achieve positive ones collectively, and address environmental justice, while pushing for systems and industry change.
Think about the full lifecycle of a single-use product. How was it created? How did it end up in your hands? How will you dispose of it? These answers have serious implications for people and the planet. Remember that every piece of plastic ever created still exists in some form.
Upload your results and responses in a PDF document including a screenshot of your social post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload.
Submission Guidelines
“Out of sight, out of mind” is what can happen when we throw trash “away.” But what if you were forced to see every piece of waste you produced in a day? This challenge gives you that chance, like this video that offers a visual picture of waste.
For the entire day today, carry a bag everywhere you go (even if you are at home or in your dorm the whole time) and collect everything you would otherwise throw away. Carry your bag of waste proudly and invite conversations with family, house or classmates, community members, or fellow grocery store goers. Share the story of your day!
Next, consider reusable alternatives to each item in your bag. Pick two and explain how you could avoid creating that waste in the future (i.e. filling and carrying a reusable water bottle instead of taking a single-use plastic cup). What will you do to incorporate more reusable products into your daily routine? Low or zero-waste living is an ongoing commitment that needs planning and forethought, but it pays off!
Upload your responses in a PDF document including a screenshot of your social post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload to be eligible to win.
Submission Guidelines
Aside from reducing our plastic waste, we must also think of how to repurpose the trash that is already here on Earth.
Upload your responses in a PDF document including a screenshot of your social post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload to be eligible to win.
Submission Guidelines
“Making a personal decision to avoid plastic is a great place to start – but a terrible place to stop. To create a future without plastic pollution, we need to work together to make the right decisions and the easy decisions in an economy that works for everybody.” – Story of Plastic, a powerful film from our partner, Story of Stuff.
Watch the film The Story of Plastic. Here is the link for PGC participants to view the film. Please email info@turninggreen.org to get the password or with any issues.
Write a review of the film as if it were in a newspaper. Include the following:
Make an eye-catching call to action around plastic pollution. Upload it to Instagram with a caption that includes learnings from the film. If you post to Instagram Stories as well, add a link to the trailer, so others can watch and become mobilized as well! Be sure to tag @TurningGreenOrg and @StoryOfStuff in both the image and caption, as well as using #PGC2023.
DELIVERABLES
Upload a PDF document with your review, responses to the questions above, and a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload to be eligible to win.
Submission Guidelines
Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest outstanding submissions will be selected as winners.
Each Greener Winner will receive:
Each Greenest Winner will receive:
