What is your real weight?
In this article we want to talk about The European Week for Waste Reduction. Have you ever heard about it?
It is an initiative created in 2009, as part of the LIFE+ Programme of the European Commission, whose ultimate aim is to spread virtuous models of waste management.
As the same name suggests, the project lasts a week, during which Public Administrations, companies, associations, schools and citizens are called to organize awareness-raising actions on a specific issue related to waste reduction and to register them on the platform. In this way, in addition to the organizers, anyone who is sensitive to the topic can take part. Furthermore, this allows the Committee to reward and spread the best ones.
The actions registered last year, have been 5,795 only in Italy, 715 more than 2018. In Europe, the actions recorded in 2019 have been 12,871. This year, because of the pandemic, there has been a decline: in Italy there are 3,469 out of a total of about 7,800 European actions.
The 2020 edition, which runs from 21 to 29 November, aims to deepen the theme of "invisible waste". What does it mean? These terms refer to the large amount of waste generated during the manufacturing and distribution processes. Just to give you an example, to manufacture and distribute a smartphone weighing 200 grams, we produce 86 kilos of waste. Did you know? In all probability you have never thought about it. In fact, unfortunately, hardly anyone does it. Hence the choice to launch a provocative slogan that invites us to reflect: what is your real weight?
The most worrying aspect is that most of the "invisible waste" ends up in landfills or incinerators because it cannot be recycled! All this is contrary to the core principles of the European Week for Waste Reduction, the so-called "3R": reduction, reuse and recycling.
Reducing waste at source is certainly the first thing to do to solve this problem. Secondly, we need to encourage re-use and to close the circle, we need to commit to recycling. Awareness-raising and information initiatives such as this serve to raise awareness on these issues and to disseminate advice, best practice and virtuous examples. The real change, however, cannot disregard the daily choices of each of us. So, what can we do to make an active contribution to this cause?
1. Reduce
Before we buy something, we should ask ourselves if we really need it. Very often the alternative exists, for example we can repair broken objects, or borrow them from neighbors. In addition, we must pay attention to the packaging of the goods we buy and choose (as far as possible) products with environmentally friendly packaging, or at least packaged with recyclable material.
2. Reuse
Disposable products are as comfortable as they are polluting. This is the reason why we should trade them for reusable ones and convince friends, relatives, work colleagues and neighbors to do the same!
3.Recycling
To do this in the best way possible, we must learn to differentiate waste correctly, reducing as much as possible undifferentiated waste and avoiding environmentally harmful habits, like throwing spent oil into the tap or the empty batteries into the trash!
We have chosen to talk about these topic, which has nothing to do with the world of fun, travel and mobility, because we believe in the importance of building a sustainable future and we are confident that we can count on sensitive people like you to do so. The simple fact that you have read the article up to this point means that you also care about the future of the Earth and support our commitment.
At this point we ask you for one last little effort: share this article and talk to your friends and family. As the Dalai Lama said: "if you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito".
We leave you with a list of 12 good habits to reduce waste in everyday life and with a brochure where you can learn more about all what we talked about, with practical examples.
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