The biggest contributor that has come forward to the global environmental problems is waste production. As a result, the zero-waste lifestyle is the new most talked about solution taken up by almost every real estate developer, and now the onus is on the people to take up this lifestyle too.
According to the Building Material Promotion Council BMPTC, India generates an estimated 150 million tonnes of construction and demolition C&D waste every year. But the official recycling capacity is a meagre 6,500 tonnes per day TPD which is roughly just about 1 percent. What’s more, unofficial estimates of the total waste generated in the country put the figure at three to five times more than the official estimate. source: https://www.cseindia.org/ In India, a country which is already struggling with pressing waste management issues, adopting a zero-waste lifestyle offers an opportunity to reduce waste while enhancing sustainability significantly.
This article explores the basic principles and practical applications of a zero-waste lifestyle that builders and developers in Mumbai are promoting by incorporating sustainable practices, and sustainable interior designinto their projects for people to take advantage of.
Effective strategies to promote sustainability
1. Embrace the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle
At the heart of a zero-waste lifestyle are three core values: reduce, reuse and recycle. By reducing consumption, avoiding single-use products and choosing reusable options, people can significantly reduce waste production. This change in mindset encourages responsible consumption habits and actively supports the reuse and recycling of materials by diverting them to landfills.
2. Master of composting and organic waste management
In our country, where a significant proportion of waste is biodegradable, composting is an effective solution. Hence, it comes as no surprise that organic waste management is an integral part of a zero-waste life. People can produce nutrient-rich compost for gardens or community facilities easily by composting kitchen scraps and organic waste. This practice will not only ease the burden on the existing overflowing landfills but will also promote sustainable agriculture, which again is another pressing need of the hour.
3. Promotes minimal packaging and a plastic-free life
Excessive packaging, especially the use of single-use plastics, greatly increases waste accumulation. Embracing waste requires making conscious purchasing decisions, preferring minimally packaged products or choosing reusable and biodegradable packaging options. It also encourages companies to adopt sustainable packaging practices and reduce reliance on plastic materials.
4. Promote repair and recycling
Transforming discarded materials into unique, functional or artistic creations, giving them a new purpose and minimising waste, is what recycling stands for. So, instead of throwing away broken or old items, zero waste encourages people to repair and reuse them. When you repair machinery, clothing and furniture it extends their useful life and reduces the demand for new parts, thus reducing the load borne by the environment.
5. Encourage education and community involvement
If we intend to make mass adoption of a zero-waste lifestyle a possibility, the only possible way to do it would be through community involvement. Information campaigns, workshops and community-based initiatives should be used to spread information about waste management, composting techniques and providing sustainable alternatives. If private individuals, companies and local governments all cooperate together to create community engagement and hopefully start a conversation on zero waste, it will be a possibility.
Conclusion
We as a community need to spread awareness, educate and engage our communities in order to drive large-scale change and make zero-waste practices the new norm to ensure that we leave a better future for the world.