What is Zero Waste? How can I take action and be a part of this movement?
By Nancy Sanchez
Zero Waste Blog #1
Zero Waste is a movement and principle to minimize waste production through composting, reusing, or recycling waste/material without harming the environment or human health (US EPA). It can also include reducing consumption generally. Zero waste is important for climate because it keeps waste out of landfills where it can rot and give off methane gas, which is a gas with high warming potential. Zero waste also reduces the amount of material that needs to be trucked to other locations – the trucking is itself a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In Santa Monica CASM is working with the City of Santa Monica on a campaign called Hero for Zero. The campaign encourages food establishments to become a Hero for Zero Waste by following the city ordinance for Disposable Food Service Ware and reducing the amount of disposable packaging and utensils they provide, while also creating a shift to compostable and marine degradable materials. Other countries have participated in this movement by becoming more responsible with their waste production.
The zero waste movement in France- – zéro déchet – , developed through waste-reduction policies and educational opportunities encouraging people to live a zero waste lifestyle. In Roubaix residents were asked to volunteer in a year-long pilot program to live waste free or less waste. No financial initiatives were offered, only the promise that it would help the litter problem and protect their environment. The residents’ learned ways to store, preserve, and cook food while reducing waste. France has also banned plastic packaging for many fruits. The first anti-waste law was in 2022 for single-use plastic items, including plastic cutlery, straws, stirrers and takeaway cup lids. Several fast food chains including McDonalds and Burger King are even using reusable containers!
If you want to take your own actions to support the zero waste movement there are two steps you can take today. The first thing you can do is download an app called Too Good to Go which encourages people to fight food waste together by rescuing unsold food from your favorite stores or restaurants with a click of a button. Based on your geographical location the app will notify you on which restaurants will have food left over and what times you can pick up your food. Make sure you check daily because everyday has different restaurants or stores. Several stores I’ve noticed on the app include Coffee Bean, Groundwork Coffee, and Mochinut. Keep in mind that the food you receive will be a mystery and who doesn’t love a mystery every now and then while you’re preventing more food from entering the landfills!
The second action you can do is help CASM conduct outreach at food establishments in Santa Monica. CASM will be educating the establishments on alternatives to plastic food ware and personally connect to these establishments as a consumer. If you are interested in helping with CASM’s Hero for Zero initiative contact: casmcommunity2@gmail.com
Can Santa Monica and California enact some of these policies? Yes!
We can make plastic drink cup lids a thing of the past. However, with the exemption for plastic lids more work needs to be done. There are some establishments that have paper lids like Gnarwhal Coffee and we should encourage other establishments to make the switch to paper. We can also lean into making reusable containers the norm. This can help us achieve some of our local climate goals, notably reductions of emissions from waste.