Conclusion
This is the conclusion of a piece written on living a zero- waste lifestyle, which all of us need to adopt if we would like to help protect our environment.
The idea is to reduce the amount of waste in our daily lives by reusing, reducing and refusing. Recycling or repurposing comes next—for those things that we can’t reduce/refuse/reuse. But it is recommended to first reuse various items as much as possible—plastic packaging, bottles, paper, containers, etc.
As mentioned last week, the first line of action would be to refuse all unnecessary items like plastic straws, single-use items, plastic bags, etc. To make sure that this step would succeed, you need to be always ready —bring your own mug, metal straw, ecobag, handkerchief and food containers wherever and whenever you can.
Advocates of the zero-waste lifestyle recommend that everyone take stock of their current lifestyle and really look into how we all end up with the trash that we have, where it comes from, what we throw out. When we have studied this, then it would be easier to refuse, to reduce and to reuse. We can make intelligent decisions on what to buy next time.
Those who have gone on this path tell us that the transition is not going to be easy, and the results are not immediate. We need to be patient with our efforts and to learn how not to be too harsh on ourselves, and others who will definitely criticize us. Take small steps, do one good act per day. When you fail, acknowledge the mistake and begin again. Pretty soon, with time and a great deal of dedication, we would be significantly reducing our carbon footprint on the planet.
Another good thing that may come out of this is the possibility of becoming an influence and encouragement to others. We will also notice a general improvement in the quality of our lives, which means we would be making better decisions about our transport choices, the food that we eat, where we buy our food and supplies, how we dispose of our trash. It all translates to feeling better, becoming healthier and saving more money in the long run.
Some people would argue that the efforts of one person will not make a big difference in the whole scheme of things. I say it is infinitely better than not making any effort at all. Let’s make that daily decision to help protect Mother Earth. We have the choice every single day whether we would like our children to live in a better planet, or not. Because if you think about it, everything we do is really for our children and the next generations.