For municipalities in the U.S., Zero Waste remains a goal rather than a reality. Zero Waste is a set of principles focused on waste prevention that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. The goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean.
Instead of viewing used materials as garbage in need of disposal, materials are recognized as valuable resources. The zero waste approach seeks to minimize waste by maximizing reuse and encouraging recycling. People who practice it do their best to buy products that are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace.
Producing as close to zero waste as possible has many benefits to society and the Earth as a whole. Not only is pollution reduced when we minimize waste, but less waste is produced when a material can be reused and recycled again.
A quick Google search for “zero waste” brings up loads of hints for how individuals and families can reduce waste, including websites, articles and YouTube and Ted Talk videos. Pick one or two things that look easy and make sense to you and get started.
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