Project Zero Waste…Hah! Be realistic -Project Reduced Waste Part 1 -Step (0,1)

First time here? Please Read this post first.

I am one of the contributors of that Garbage Mountain in my city. And, it starts from my own garbage bin.

However, that feeling of disgust I had, witnessing garbage mountain DID NOT actually happened as I saw my garbage bin. For home, it’s a plastic covered neat garbage bin carrying all the waste which is out of mind as it goes out of sight every morning once the trash truck takes it away.

But I was restless. For me those moments when I passed by Garbage Mountain were Moments of Insight that deliver realization and transformation. As mentioned by Chip Heath and Dan Heath in ‘The Power of Moments’, You Trip over the Truth- feel awful about it and then transformational and this moment holds the promise of a better future path. I had to change things for good. I am among the contributors of that garbage dump. That stinking hell that is in the neighborhood and on my very own planet earth.

I have to start from my span of control i.e. MY HOME.

PROJECT : Zero Waste? Can I go zero waste i.e. No garbage generated from my home?

Read online about Zero Waste Homes but honestly I found it really difficult to go Zero waste. Am a working person who has professional, personal and social commitments. And above all, limited energy. Zero waste home may be my ultimate destination where I can afford to go to the level of making shampoos, laundry detergents and floor cleaners myself to avoid plastic bottles. Can’t make everything at home from chips to shampoos. I need ready made but sustainable solutions.

So took a realistic goal for first few months i.e. Reducing my daily waste to 50% in next 3 months.

Ready for PROJECT: Reduced Waste.

Step 1: Garbage Weighing and Categorization…Okay. Let’s begin.

Wait a minute. Before I start exploring our dustbin and looking at me my family concludes that it’s time for my visit to a psychiatric, I shall enroll my family in this. Also, my garbage size can’t be reduced without enrollment of all of its contributors.

Step 0 : Family Enrollment

Shared my thoughts, my viewpoint with family. This includes children too. This is about introducing change in lifestyle, in everyday buying choices. Family should get connected to the larger purpose, feel motivated from inside and when they take everyday decisions by themselves, they will also feel good about their contribution, however small or big it is.

Above all, if somewhere in the journey I feel side tracked or simply lazy; my family will bring me back especially the kid will give me a Gentle Reminder in his/her own way.

And yes, this won’t be one time conversation. This is something one has to seed in the brain rather than impose. Enrollment, not enforcement.

I shared my garbage mountain visit story and feelings of disgust with my spouse. He listened to it but quite obviously didn’t actually feel it the way I did. And I was sure my ten years old won’t really feel the same way either. Tried different means to share this feeling and also my further plan.

Netflix – Must watch with family

‘A plastic Ocean’

‘Planet Earth’ series by David Attenborough

A documentary on Great Pacific Garbage Patch which is among the five largest garbage patches on pacific ocean equivalent to the size of France, Germany and Spain combined, surface area of 1.6 million (16 Lakh) square kilometer.

We were astonished at these facts; In India, our rivers and surrounding water bodies are in similar state of distress. We were absolutely ignorant about the impact of our garbage bin on our earth.

Hence forth, I got my family’s enrollment.

Back to Step 1 : Let’s weigh and categorize our garbage bin.

Mission : Reduce Garbage Bin’s weight to 50% in next 3 months.

Stay Tuned…