Start in Part 1: https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5d63be1de4f39f00aebf062b/the-first-steps-towards-zero-waste-part-1-5d949b5db477bf00ae02e4a4
6. Repair what you break
How many times have you heard that phrase? It's the norm now, but most of the time repair is the best choice in the long run. When something breaks, consider whether you really want to throw it in the trash, while also thinking about its value for the environment.
ALTERNATIVE: Fixing a broken object is not only often cheaper than buying a new one (depending on the extent of the damage of course!), but could also give work to a small craftsman giving a boost to the local economy, rather than to large retailers.
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7. Stores and freezes in rigid containers
In today's hectic life, with just a few hours to devote to the home and kitchen, the freezer can be our best ally. Better not to use bags (which will break most of the time), but rather rigid containers, reusable indefinitely.
ALTERNATIVE: Instead of freezer bags, use glass, steel or plastic containers (if you already have them - you don't throw anything away here!).
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8. Dust off dear old mocha
We are famous all over the world for our coffee. We get excited when in some farms still serve coffee in the mocha. Yet the coffee machines in pods have conquered the homes of Italians. Hundreds of capsules consumed every day, and only a small part of the companies have created compostable pods. Are we sure it's worth it? Think of the cost of producing and disposing of the pods.
ALTERNATIVE: Convert back to the Moka, maybe take two of different sizes and, in case, reuse what is left over for morning coffee or freeze it for a cake. If you can't do without your machine, you can buy reusable capsules to fill with your mixture, so that they are always ready.
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9. Buy less
We live in houses that are now not made to accommodate people, but the objects we own. Our wardrobes are full of clothes we don't wear, our food storage compartments are out of date and our bathroom cabinet is still full. We learn to buy what we really need, but above all, we must start to get pleasure from consuming, and not from accumulating.
ALTERNATIVE: Before buying ask yourself if you really need it. Analyze what you have in excess, perhaps starting from a room or a sector of the house, and consume what you already have available, requiring you not to buy anything if you have not finished before the stocks. You can apply this scheme to everything: clothes, books, candles, make-up, food, etc..
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10. Self-produce!
Natural products can be used for cleaning: citric acid, for example, diluted in water is an excellent anti-scale. Making a homemade cake with fresh ingredients is simple and much better than packaged snacks. Self-production is usually the best choice not only for the environment but also for the home and our health.
ALTERNATIVE: Bring home lunch, make a cake or bread on Sunday for the week, learn how to use some basic products, to produce cosmetics and detergents (the DIY section of our website will certainly help you).
The idea of reusing waste can make you twist your nose, bring to mind images of dirt or poor hygiene. But the word waste simply means rejected, and not all waste is rubbish. On the contrary, many can be used several times before they can no longer be used.
Why engage in reuse
Banally, to save money. By using something you already own for a new purpose, you reduce the need to buy a new item for that same use. But even if you decide to buy something second hand, you can save a lot of money.
For ecological reasons. Reduce garbage, and therefore environmental damage. On average, in Italy alone, 488 kilos of rubbish is produced per capita per year*, and being able to dispose of this enormous quantity is a problem. By paying attention to what you throw away, anyone can help reduce this number.
We also think that the life of an object should not end with its first owner and that a nice way to reuse objects is to find them a second home. We can give them as gifts, exchange them or sell them, or we can adopt an object "already loved" and give it a second life!