The waste we produce is our responsibility, from plastics, food, packaging and electronics. The international day of zero waste highlights both the importance of bolstering waste management globally and the need to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. Every year, humanity generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste. If these waste is packed into standard shipping containers and placed end-to-end, it would wrap around the globe 25 times. This will balloon to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.
We see rows and heaps of garbage lying around on the roads, in our estates, in public places with zero accountability for collection and disposal. Sometimes there are no garbage disposal bins in site. What can you and I do to reverse this climate change catastrophe, loss of nature and biodiversity and pollution?
We must treat waste as a resource. This includes reducing waste generation and following a lifecycle approach. We should reuse resources, make them durable and use less production materials. Minimizing pollution of air, land and water will decrease depletion of natural resources.
At home, we can reuse and repair products before disposal as much as possible. We can change our lifestyles to purchase things we only need. We need to dispose waste in appropriate bins for recyclable waste, glass, plastics and foods. Clothes can be passed down, donated or redone into other products.
Lobby and hold your local government representatives and other stakeholders accountable to improve financing and policymaking, especially as waste crisis disproportionately impacts marginalized, urban poor, women and youth.