When you stay inside your condo unit, watching the news in the morning, it may appear like hardly a day goes by without more alarming environmental news about pollution or waste. What if I say that there is a really effective solution that we can do in order to lessen the impact to waste on the planet’s resources? Would you do it?
What is it? —to work towards a zero-waste lifestyle.
Modern society can waste a lot of resources, whether it's through uneaten food, needless packaging, or excessive energy use. Achieving a zero-waste approach requires an assessment of all aspects of your everyday life.
Here are 7 tips on how to start a zero-waste lifestyle in your condo:
Reusable Over Disposable
According to studies, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed globally each year. Plastic bags and bottles are the most damaging to our environment. Replacing them in our daily life is one of the simplest and quickest ways to achieve zero-waste condo living.
Many more single-use things in everyday life can be replaced with reusable alternative equivalents in order to prevent plastic pollution. Purchase a strong plastic or metal drinking straw rather than the lightweight disposable ones that only last a few drinks. Purchase a couple of reusable grocery bags and use them when you go shopping. Instead of buying a plastic bottle every time, use glass jars more often and invest in an eco-friendly reusable water bottle. Use washable handkerchiefs instead of throwaway tissues, or clean with old rags rather than single-use cloths.
With a little thought, the possibilities are limitless.
Buy in Bulks
Another wonderful approach to avoid waste in your condo living is to buy in bulk. You not only save the environment, but you also save money! Small objects increase the amount of packaging used, increasing waste. Avoid buying single servings or items of only single-use—it’s time to switch into bulks!
It may seem like you’re wasting money, buying large quantities, but it certainly is not. Imagine buying a big bottle of shampoo instead of sachets. Not only will you save money from buying in bulks instead of individual packings, but you can also save trash because one big bottle of shampoo is definitely much less waste as compared to multiple small sachets. Buy the largest size available or in bulk, then just divide them into smaller eco-friendly containers instead.
Recycle and Upcycle
Consume less—if you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Use what you have, recycling and upcycling exist!
Most daily things can now be purchased in recyclable packaging, so opt for these whenever available. If there is a readily available alternative, do not accept single-use items or needless packaging. Always explore whether there is a recyclable or compostable option. Find a reusable version of a product that you can purchase instead to prevent wasted products from entering your condo living.
Instead of buying new garments, you can recycle your old ones into useful items. Make pillowcases out of old sweaters, rugs out of old jeans, and shopping bags out of old shirts. You may also revamp your old oversized shirts.
Recycling not only saves resources, but as you advocate these with your budget, recyclable products will rapidly become the normal option.
Go Digital
By embracing digital, you can reduce your paper waste while also keeping your condo neat. Consider e-copies rather than physical copies. It's both eco-friendly and less expensive.
Scan and store all files that do not require original copies. Using apps on your smartphone or tablet, take notes. Avoid printed documents as much as you can. Switch to paperless billing and reduce paper waste. It's also a good idea to retain digital copies of your legal documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, property titles, and identification cards, for any time you need copies.
Minimize Food Waste
Do not just throw away your leftover—Compost what you can! You can repurpose food scraps into jam and sauces, you can even make broth from bones and vegetable off-cuts, to utilize leftovers. This isn’t being unnecessarily frugal, it’s called thrifty meal planning.
If you have enough yard space on your condo balcony or anywhere outside, you can also compost any vegetable scraps from the kitchen or garden clippings. However, do not compost meat or dairy products because they will attract bugs and risk sickness.
Save Energy
Living a zero-waste lifestyle in your condo does not only mean lessening your garbage and unnecessary clutter—but this also means saving other energy resources like water and electricity. So, unplug your electronic devices when not in use, and turn off the running water while brushing your teeth.
Instead of incandescent light bulbs, switch to LEDs and save a significant amount of energy. These are highly effective as they consume about 80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, which means they are also highly effective in helping you reach your zero-waste goals.
It’s never bad to be thrifty and to save energy-saving devices.
Declutter Consistently
Check your things more often and clean your clutters consistently. Who knows, maybe you can find items that will be of great use or items that you can give away to others instead of just throwing them in the trash.
Do you have items lying around your condo unit that you no longer want or need? Donate them instead of throwing them away. There will be other people who may find these goods useful. So go ahead and distribute them.
Less Waste Equals More Resources
You can find an almost unlimited list of zero-waste ideas online. These suggestions are barely just the surface of the numerous ways you can reduce your garbage creation. In this modern environment, entirely eliminating waste is definitely impossible, but reducing waste at least is definitely attainable, and that is already a big help. Every step you take towards a zero-waste lifestyle is significant and will show results.
No contribution is too small or minor. Pondering whether there is a way to approach something with better care may only be small, but it can cause a bigger effect on the environment. The idea is that while each step may be minor, the combined impact will be significant. To add, the positive changes will gradually grow as more individuals get involved.
Let’s have a zero-waste lifestyle even just in our own condos and be a catalyst of positive environmental change.
If you are thinking of moving into a new condominium, check out Vista Residences!
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. that offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Ortigas, Baguio, Cebu, and CDO that are strategically located within major cities, in close proximity to premium universities, transit-oriented locations, and developed business districts.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
