Ensuring Sustainable Consumption To Reduce Waste Deposits

By Mofor Samuel

It is possible to consume while protecting the environment. The manner in which we handle our needs, waste, domestic and recyclable products can create a balance with environment. This can be done by putting into place a sustainable and environment-friendly strategy.
As consumers, every purchase we make has a direct effect on the quantity of waste that we generate. Choosing what we consume must be done in such a way that it contributes to the reduction of waste and conservation of resources. Following are some ways of making environment- friendly purchases. They are in line with these three principles: reduction of waste from the source, recycling and reusing of others.

Adequate assessment of your needs
A simple arithmetic calculation will help you get rid of unwanted construction materials or residues of dangerous products like paint or pesticide. Before buying a new model of sewing machine, cooker, radio-cassette, think of how to get rid of the old one. Buying your dream apparatus can be useless when you take into consideration the amount of financial sacrifice you must make to enable it function. Always think of where to place the mirror that you want to buy from the auction sale before buying one.

Choose products requiring little or no packaging
The different materials used for packaging items for home consumption represent a great chunk of household waste in towns. We can reduce this kind of waste by buying in bulk and doing the packaging ourselves; by buying family size of products- fruit juice, toothpaste etc, rather than individual size, and by buying products sold in concentrated form.

Use green leaves for packaging
The biloria leaf used in wrapping cassava paste- miondor and bobolo, gives them a good presentation, nice taste and aroma and a colour that is very much appreciated by consumers. Pawpaw leaf used for packaging meat makes it tender, thanks to the enzyme papaine that the leaf secretes. The leaves of banana and plantain tress, colocasia and sugar cane are also used in rural areas to protect, cook or transport food- kwacoco, achu, khoki etc. Nowadays, kitchens in town are filled with waterproof papers (sachets) and aluminum foil that are not biodegradable. The abovementioned example, though encouraged in Cameroon, can be adapted in other parts of the tropical world and even beyond.

Avoid products that are disposed of after use

But for hygienic and medical products used only once, it is necessary to use sustainable products – cutlery, plates, diapers, napkins, towels and cotton hand towels to their substitutes that are disposed of immediately after use. Use rechargeable lighters, interchangeable or electric shaving stick, and net bag as market bag, containers that can be refilled such as bottles of alcoholic and soft drinks.

Look for substitutes to dangerous domestic products

To clean your pots, use home made vim fabricated from egg shells and wood ash. Make your liquid gum from fish bones, skeleton and heads of fish. Protect your garden with insecticide made from tobacco and pepper. Use calculators and toys which function with electricity, if you are connected; solar batteries that are rechargeable, than those that are disposed of after use. Look for information around you in specialized newspapers on how to avoid toxic chemical products to the environment.

Reusable products
Instead of dumping objects in the dustbin, reuse them in different forms. Use glass jars or plastic bags to preserve and refrigerate food items or to arrange objects.

Learn to use your hands (hand work)
Empty old batteries, patch leaking saucepans, cut out tyres to make flower pots etc. make needlework bags, purses, and stuff your poff with cutting from materials. Work with children to make toys.

Share with the others
He who is not in need, at one moment helps that in need. Things that we want to dispose of can be useful to others. You can give your old dresses to orphanages, prisons or leprosy centres, for example. Give your old newspapers to public libraries, waiting rooms in offices, to traders/shopkeepers in your quarter. Giving is much more acceptable than throwing.

No reason for wastage
It is not always necessary to buy brand new items. It is often possible to rent or buy items that are already in use. Do not crowd yourself with a camera, video camera that you will never use, better go for the service of a professional in the domain. For second- hand goods, visit markets or sales points where multiple items are being auctioned due to breakage or exchange items with friends or family members.

Repair faulty objects
Where possible, get your electrical appliances and furniture repaired. Stitch your dress, visit shoe menders, go to technicians who can help recover your damaged appliance and above all know how to use your imaginative resources.