Moving Towards Zero Waste Homes- Steps for Beginners

Environment bloggers Aparna Arunachalam and Sruthi Surendran guide us about how to build zero waste or low waste homes.

‘Climate change’- the word has been the subject of discussion for a long time, mostly in academic research or in the sphere of activism. However, now it is worrying an increasing number of people as we are witnessing drastic changes in the climate. More and more people, it seems, are joining the movement to contribute towards safeguarding the environment. But where does one start? How do you take the first step? How do you learn about what to do? We can begin right at home. After all, the concept of ‘zero waste homes’ is gaining popularity. It is something that most of us can do. How can one create a ‘zero waste home’ though?

Let’s be practical- not everyone will read books and articles to understand the subject or go on a YouTube spree. Social media, however, has made it very easy to learn a subject without having to invest a harrowing amount of time or energy in it. Just follow a few accounts and every time you scroll down Instagram, you can learn a few things here and there. Especially for beginners, social media can be of great help.

So, we asked a few content creators who educate their followers about the environment, sustainability, and zero waste homes. 

Aparna Arunachalam who uses her Instagram account @greenhomemaker on Instagram to educate people about DIY eco-products says, "The term Zero-Waste can be overwhelming at first. Perhaps it's better, to begin with, an objective to achieve a "low-waste lifestyle" instead."

When asked about how we can move towards a low-waste lifestyle, she advises, " Begin by identifying the main sources of waste. 60% of our waste woes can be taken care of with wet waste composting. Composting is truly a planet-saving skill we've all got to have sooner or later! The remainder can be taken care of if we can find the means to recycle dry waste responsibly. This includes high-value hard plastic, cardboard, paper, e-waste, and in some cases tetra packs and soft plastic. Lastly, making mindful consumer choices like opting for package-free stores, plastic-free packaging, and overall consuming less can tackle the rest." 

Blogger Sruthi Surendran (@greenbyhabit on Instagram) understands that undertaking a zero waste journey is not easy at first. Hence, she recommends the system of 5R's. She says, "For someone starting the zero-waste journey, it can be very overwhelming with all the information & products around. Take one step at a time and see which area in your life you can start going 'low- waste'. Try embracing the '5R's as a habit in the order - Refuse (saying no), Reduce (when you can't refuse), Reuse, Recycle and Rot (compost)."

We hope this article helps you kickstart your low-waste journey. Are you ready? Tell us in the comments.

Also Read: These environmentally-themed movies and documentaries should be on everyone’s watchlist to understand value