3 Ways To Reduce Your Waste
Admit it. During the circuit breaker period, you probably generated a lot of waste than you usually do. I know, we are guilty of it too.
And that guilt has been bearing us ever since. Essentially, we only have until 2035 before our Semakau landfill is expected to be filled up.
Plus, it was reported that we generated an additional 1,334 tonnes of plastic waste during this period.
The horror - that is equivalent to 92 double decker buses!
So, no more excuses. We need to make an effort to reduce our waste more importantly now.
Here are some tips that can help to reduce your waste subtly and extend the life of our precious Semakau!
1) Bring Your Own Essentials
Yes, you did not read that wrongly. The first step is not to purchase anything at all.
Instead, Bringing Your Own Essentials are products that will help you reduce your waste!
Just take a tour around your house and I am sure you can find the following to help your BYO journey
Food container
Water bottle/tumbler
Tote bag
Utensils
By ensuring you bring these with you regularly, you can help to reduce a huge amount of disposables. Also, do note that these essential are flexible based on your own lifestyle.
So don’t be lazy, place them in your bag and use them as much as you can!
2) Minimally Packaged Bathroom Products
These items are used on a daily basis and it is also where most waste is being generated.
Did you know? Packaging makes up about one third of all household waste in Singapore.
By opting for a minimally packaged product, you will be reducing your waste significantly.
There are many new brands in Singapore now that focus on zero waste beauty. They sell products that are minimally packaged, made of natural ingredients and handmade in Singapore.
Some examples are vegan soap bars, shampoo bars and package free deodorant! Not only is it good for the environment, it is also good for your body!
Always remember to recycle the packaging, if possible, too!
3) Treasure Your Food
We all love food as Singaporeans - Bubble Tea. Hotpot. Fast Food.
Most of our time is probably spent on de-stressing by eating or simply just enjoying food. This is why the amount of food waste generated in Singapore has increased by about 20 per cent over the past 10 years.
Don’t worry, I am not asking you to give up on food entirely. Here are some small steps that can be incorporated into your lifestyle:
- Ask for less portion when ordering food
- Know which food can be eaten even after their expiry date
- Compost your food waste
- Purchase surplus food from organisations like Treedots, Foodbank or Uglyfood