A guide to sustainability: simple things you can do to live a more sustainable life Payton Zolck
society, but also a more equitable one. “Black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by environmental issues, which is also known as environmental racism. Communities of color and low-income communities are often located near landfills, hazardous waste sites, and other industrial facilities; have higher exposure rates to air and water pollution; and experience devastating consequences due to climate change,” Warren said. Understanding sustainability is very important, but by participating in it, you can make a difference. The key to sustainability is looking at individual parts of your life and looking for simple ways to swap in more sustainable options. Some examples include making coffee at home rather than getting Starbucks or refilling a reusable water bottle instead of buying a plastic one. According to Warren, it is important to start small and then expand. It is helpful to make a waste audit list, so you know exactly what areas you need to improve in. She also outlines the critical steps to take when transitioning to zero waste and sustainability. Start with refusing unnecessary plastic such as what is at stores and then reducing the amount of plastic you consume.
You shove your remaining groceries in a plastic bag, toss your soda bottle into the trash bin after the last sip, and struggle with the candy wrapper clinging to your chocolate bar. But what happens to these items once we are done with them, and what effect do they have? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as of 2018, an average person uses 4.9 pounds of trash a day, and 50% of that amount is dumped in the landfill. Well, you may ask, is there a way for me to change my habits regarding waste? The answer is yes, through sustainability. Sustainability is a word thrown around all the time and widely used to regard many environmental-related subjects, but what is it? According to Oxford Dictionary, sustainability is defined as “an avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.” Alejandra Warren, a zero waste specialist and co-founder of the non-profit Plastic Free Future, further explains sustainability and zero waste and what these words truly mean. “Zero waste is the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of all products, packaging, and materials. This must be done without burning them, and discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health,” Warren said. The world we live in is built upon materialistic wants and desires. Sustainability is all about being more conscious of our consumption. “Zero waste is one of the easiest strategies that municipalities and communities can implement to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Composting can also pull carbon down and store it in our soil while keeping our soils healthy. Healthy soils make healthy food. Healthy food helps us maintain healthy communities,” Warren said. Warren points out that sustainability and zero waste can also help with problems regarding biodiversity and ecosystem loss. “Refusing, reusing, repairing, recycling, and composting can help us prevent deforestation, land use changes, and conserve precious resources. Protecting and preserving forests can help us protect important habitats for endangered species,” Warren said. Warren thinks the movement can also help marginalized communities. Not only can it help create a more sustainable Nicole Coleman and Payton Zolck 26 HIGHLANDER FEATURES
