THEMATIC 4TH QUARTER

 "The Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management" 

Zero waste is a collection of waste prevention concepts that encourages resource life cycle redesign such that all items are reused. The ultimate goal is to avoid sending rubbish to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean. Only 9% of plastic is really recycled at the moment. Material will be reused until the optimal level of consumption is reached in a zero waste system.

Pollution and environmental degradation are not new phenomena. Pollution, in reality, has been a concern since the time of our forefathers. God gave nature to His children to utilize and take care of it, not abuse it. We understand that all created things belong to God and that as stewards of the creation, we are responsible to Him. To fulfill the objectives God intended for all of creation, He has given us the task of ruling over everything in a way that supports, protects, and enhances His handiwork. Though, this has been ignored by many. We are too focused on our own desires that we turn a blind eye to the commands of our Lord and the issues of the world. We must manage the environment for the glory of God, not just for our own advantage.

“Zero waste” is a way of living that promotes the objective of lowering the quantity of stuff we throw away. It is an advocacy effort aimed at assisting people ethically, economically, and efficiently transforming their lifestyles and habits toward sustainable systems, as well as ensuring that wastes become beneficial for other purposes. A systematic design and management of products and processes are required to reduce the amount of waste created, eliminate toxicity in the resulting waste, and conserve and recover resources. When it comes to nature, there is no such thing as “waste.” When one system produces a by-product, it becomes feedstock for another. This item called “waste” has solely been created by mankind.

The century’s worth of waste we dumped in this world cannot be cleaned up in a couple of days by a handful of people. It is better for every single one of us as a united community to be sustainable and perform actions that can improve the environment and the lives of every individual.

With their young mind, body, and energy, the youth can do numerous actions to help contribute to the zero-waste lifestyle.  They can adapt the habit of using less plastic, recycling old materials, reusing things, and using environmentally-friendly products as an alternative for materials that create more harm to the surroundings. They can also use their creativity to upcycle old garments into something that suits them. This is crucial since the fast fashion industry has created a massive impact on the environment. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the textile industry is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and according to McKinsey research, the fashion industry contributed 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018, accounting for 4% of global total emissions. Since fashion takes a big part in how the youth present their personality, it is important that they know how to use them responsibly.

Moreover, the young generation is knowledgeable about technology and can utilize it to spread awareness, as well as innovate. They can conduct experiments, explore, and discover new things that can help nature.  

Young members could also help with reuse initiatives and the transfer of useable goods to those in need, such as leftover food donated to shelters, furniture for refugees, and business apparel for job seekers. They can also build a compost hole not just at their home but also in the neighborhood, where they can establish a garden for everyone to use and care for.

The future of the world is in the hands of the youth- the younger generation and the hope of tomorrow. Teach and lead them at the present, and with the wisdom they accumulated, they will work and change the future for the generations to come. Teach them to love the gifts and blessings God gave to His children, and they’ll take care of the environment- the plants, trees, and animals. Their minds are vast and creative, full of ideas and knowledge. They are problem solvers, inquisitive, and imaginative, and they have the ability to create hundreds of possibilities. These minds need to be fed about the significance of sustainability and nurturing nature since they can live long enough to take a glimpse and live in the future.