Project: Zero Waste

I have been following a blog called the zero waste home for quite sometime now and have always been amazed at how she and her family kept up with the zero waste lifestyle. For me, achieving a zero waste lifestyle is close to impossible! (and I mean like 95% close). But after going on a trip to Bohol, I was once again reminded of how beautiful our nature is and how perfect God had made them to be. As I wonder how people can disregard such beauty, I saw myself and how I have been doing the same thing.

Though the zero waste project has been afloat in my mind, I have continued to delay it due to the impossibility of the project. But I guess, doing something is better than doing nothing, so I have decided to pursue this project;

Here are some baby steps for those who (like me) wants to start with their own zero waste lifestyle project!

1.) Dispose.
        Clean up and Organize your house/ room and dispose old junk. Have the patience to research on how you can reuse your old unwanted things and how you can dispose them properly.

         Before disposing, ask yourself these questions; "Can I reuse it somewhere else?", "Do I know someone who needs it and can make use of it?", "Should I have bought it in the first place?" and "What prompted me to buy it and for what purpose?". These questions will help you reflect on what things are important to you as well as your shopping habits.

        Items that can be easily disposed and sold at any junk recycling shop should be segregated properly.

• Newspapers and other paper products.
• Plastic bottles i.e. water bottles, soda bottles.
• Broken plastic products.
• Tin Cans
• Glass bottles

• Old clothes, stuff toys and other furniture items can be donated to charity during Christmas. I've recently checked with Segunda Mana at Caritas Manila and they are still accepting donations. 

                   Where to Send and Other Contact Information of Caritas Manila 
                   - Bring to Caritas Manila at 2002 Jesus St., Pandacan, Manilla
                   - Request for Pick-up: Call 564-0205 or 703-0201 or text 0929-834-3857
                   - Check their website http://www.caritasmanila.org.ph/

• Batteries should not be thrown together with your trash. Batteries are hazardous and must be disposed properly. Currently, there aren't much recycling centers for household batteries. According to some websites, SM Malls has drop off bins where you can throw your old cellphones and batteries, although I am not very sure of how they dispose them. Also, for car batteries you can check up with ABS-CBN bantay batterya project. 

Unfortunately, there aren't much centers for recycling batteries in manila. Battery companies should be responsible for collecting old batteries, but obviously none of them does so. If only companies like energizer would make a campaign on collecting old energizer batteries, I'd make sure to buy their brand the next time my batteries worn out (if they can only hear me)!

• Light bulbs and Fluorescent Tubes. I still have to research on these. (to be updated) 

You can also check out other recycling centers around metro manila.

Pinterest

2.) Shop Wisely. Try to find alternatives. The next time you buy something, try to research for other alternatives. Do it in baby steps. Here are some examples.

       Shop Wisely.

• Plan your shopping list. This way, you save time, money and energy! Every time you find yourself needing to buy something, jot it down on a list and plan your shopping day once a week.
• Think twice before buying anything. Try to ask yourself these questions: "Do I really need them?", "How long will I be able to use it?".
• Put a shopping bag inside your car/ your bag. This way, you can refuse plastic bags given to u, esp. when shopping at tiangges.

      Find Alternatives.

• use lemon peels as fragrance or as replacement for moth balls and repellants. 
• You will also find baking soda and vinegar very handy in cleaning your sink and windows.
• Use refillable pens.
• Install a bidet and save on tissues.
• Put 1 or 2 shopping bags inside your car.
• No need to buy rugs "basahan", use worn out clothes instead.

 Remember. demand always breeds supply and buying = demand. So buying more = more supply = more junk = more landfills.

      To be continued...