Minimize your life with the Zero Waste movement

You get hungry in the middle of the day and buy a snack from a supermarket on your way. You eat the snack and throw away the package. Just by throwing out this small packet, you have contributed to the 2.1 billion tons of waste that is produced every year around the world. Nearly half of this total waste, which is equivalent to 10 percent of the world's energy needs, can be recycled. But developing and under-developed countries have a long way to go for their citizens to become aware of the importance of recycling.

While worldwide mobilization for recycling seems far off, you can make a difference just by adopting a simpler but more satisfying lifestyle.

Think about how much waste you produce in a regular day: Disposable water bottles, coffee cups and napkins are just a few of the waste items created on a daily basis. Instead of accepting this waste-producing state as the reality of the world, you can easily adopt a "zero waste" lifestyle with just a few adjustments to your life.

New Yorker, entrepreneur and lifestyle guru Lauren Singer is a forerunner of the Zero Waste movement. She first hit the headlines by showing that two years' worth of her trash fit in a single jar. Via her blog "Trash is for Tossers," Singer offers a step-by-step guide to zero waste living. She encourages her readers to change their household items to more eco-friendly alternatives. Singer even offers recipes for making your own toothpaste, body lotion, drain cleaner, and foods commonly wrapped in plastic.

According to Zero Waste Europe: "Zero Waste is a philosophy, a strategy, and a set of practical tools seeking to eliminate waste, not manage it."

Leading a zero-waste life might seem hard or even impossible for some.

However, the satisfaction you get knowing that you are doing something good for the environment is great motivation.

To downsize your consumption as well as lifestyle, there are two initial steps to take before devoting yourself to the path of zero-waste. The very first thing you need to do is evaluate your lifestyle and discover how much trash you produce daily. If you are filling half of your garbage bin at the end of the day, it is a sign that you need to make some changes in your lifestyle.

When you decide to make a commitment to a zero-waste lifestyle, the second step you should take is to simplify your life. The first and most important thing to do is get rid of all the plastic in your life.

Plastic is one of the worst enemies of nature and it can be hard to reuse at home. Secondly, replace the products and tools you use and the foods you eat with sustainable alternatives.

And lastly, take a look around and evaluate what you need and what you don't. The "millennial" generation is programmed to consume. People tend to buy more and more regardless of their needs. Instead of going on a shopping spree every month, you can assess your needs and only go shopping according to them.

Zero-waste does not mean that you have to live a restrictive life. You can continue your life as it is - just in a more eco-friendly manner. For instance, shop at farmers' markets instead of going to supermarkets where every product is sold in a package. In Turkey, the best place to kick off a zero-waste lifestyle is with groceries. In many local grocery shops, products such as detergent, dry legumes, rice, soap and many other items are sold in bulk, without packaging. You just tell the shopkeeper how much of the product you want and they give it to you in a small plastic bag. Instead of taking this plastic bag, you can stop by at your local grocery store with a glass jar or two, and ask them to use these for your purchases.

Also, forget about using plastic bags while shopping. Get yourself some cloth bags that you can use to carry various items. Just by cutting out plastic bags, you will definitely be doing a big favor for mother nature.

It is obvious that there are some things you cannot replace with reusable items. For instance, you cannot reuse your toilet paper, however, you can be more eco-friendly by using recycled toilet paper.

The same applies for toothbrushes. Instead of buying plastic brushes every few months, you can start using toothbrushes made of biodegradable materials such as bamboo.

Tips for a zero-waste lifestyle



Become a regular at secondhand shops, where you are most likely to find the vintage jeans you have been looking for your whole life!

Say goodbye to the junk mail in your mailbox. The world is ruled by technology, so it is high time you receive your mail electronically.

Instead of buying gifts for your friends, make a donation to a charity on their behalf.

Turn your kitchen into a workshop. There are plenty of recipes that will help you make your own deodorant, toothpaste, hand creams and much more.