Making Earth safe and clean is our duty rather than a luxury today. If we do, our next generation gets to
see this natural beauty and earn the joy of living well. Do you know that the statistics from the India
Waste Management Market have estimated that pollution related waste to be about USD 32.09 billion in
the year 2023? The numbers are astonishingly growing always. With this scenario pertaining, all of us can
do our part to a large extent.

Here we have some tips that can help both individuals and families live a sustainable mode of life on a
shoestring budget. Sounds possible? Let’s get an idea about the options we have.  We have listed 7 points
to give you an idea to start off. Of course, if you do have more innovative ideas in your kitty, so share
them with us.

 Manure vegetable waste into those tiny garden pots
 To start with, be ready to be a little adventurous and messy. If you need a zero waste lifestyle, there is a
lot of arranging, dusting, and grouping to do. Plus, think unique and trust us- this is one fun journey. 
Okay, you have your kitchen waste (only the vegetable peels, seeds, rotten stuff, etc). Buy some pots, mix
these wastes into the mud, and water them for about two days. Then add in any seeds that you like to
grow. It could herbs, tomatoes, and anything that can grow in a pot. Place them on the window stand, or
balcony, or build a plant stand near the kitchen area. Make sure that pets and kids do not touch this.
 Create your own bio plant at home
 Now this is not for the ones who live in flats or apartments. If you do live in a villa with some decent
outdoor space, this is for you. Fit in a biogas plant where you can put in all the waste from the kitchen.
Raw meat, the water used to wash them, and vegetable waste. No soap, plastic, stones, or whatever goes
into this. Within a month, this will be converted into nature manure, and go ahead and add it to the
manure mix and feed your plants. This is cost effective and so very good for the land.
 Reuse plastics wisely
 This is something that the 90’s kids would know. Ancestors never used to actually throw away anything
that they get from the market. Plastic covers, and bins, are washed after use and reused at home.  You can
store them easily, and carry them along for your next grocery shopping and that means lesser disposal of
plastics.  If you cannot omit plastics from life completely, learn to live with them. To a certain extent that
can reduce the use of more plastics and that reduces the waste footprint in the lifestyle.
 Let your bottles be glass
We all love to get those milk cans, juice pouches, and so on. So, this needs a change for sure. Ask for
reusable glass bottles and containers from your milk suppliers and even grocery refills zones.  Next time,
refill your pulses in your glass bottles. Then milk can be filled, washed, and sterilized before the next fill-
up. Isn’t that making your home zero waste perfect?  Small changes do make a huge impact on our
lifestyle. You do need to invest in glass bottles, but let’s assure you that it is totally worth the change.

Switch to having cloth bags or carriers
We have mentioned that we have reused plastics. But that will have to be disposed of once it loses
strength and even gets torn. You can also have cloth bags, and jute bags that can be reused lifelong. This
can be made from your old bed sheets if you are good at stitching and designing such things.  This way, if
they get dirty, you can wash them and reuse them. Zero waste does mean changes that are more cost
effective in the long run for you.  You have found a new way to use your worn out clothes too right here.
 Great to buy from farmer’s market
 Next, is the choice of food purchase that can help you shift to a zero waste lifestyle.  Yes, it is true that
store bought vegetables look good and are neatly packed, but they are wrapped in plastics. So that is what
we need to avoid.  Instead try heading to the local market and buying everything in your cloth bags., They
are not sprayed with pesticides to a very large extent, and plus they are fresh. So no waste and it are good
for your health.
 Refill and reuse your plastics containers
Just as much as we need glass and cloth bags to store various things in the house, we cannot simply throw
plastic containers that we have bought with so much care.  So, use your existing plastic containers to store
various small hardware like nails, ribbons, buttons, and bulbs. Or even convert them into garden pots in
case they are broken or cracked. Often people do not realize that a zero waste lifestyle does not mean a
complete stop to plastics. But it is how to incorporate the plastics with more sustainable things in a
manageable manner.
 Zero Waste Lifestyle is a habit we need to Adopt
Great! You have got clarity about zero waste lifestyle from these 7 points. Which one did you like from
these? All of them are useful, but one is possible only if you have a lawn or outside ground space. I have
mentioned there as well. So, if you do, try it once. The journey into zero waste lifestyle is very a poised
one, but definitely rewarding and makes you feel that you are one among the millions who work towards
making the world clean and toxic free.
 Just like we have previously focused on solar energy homes and other waste management systems to add
to your existing home structures, this will also help you upgrade the home into a waste free one.