TIPS FOR REDUCING HOUSEHOLD WASTE

Household waste is a major source of environmental pollution. Every day, we throw away all kinds of waste that could be put to good use in landfill sites: paper, leftovers from meals, electrical appliances, etc. Recycling is still not very popular and most waste is incinerated, which exacerbates global warming.

In Madagascar, zero waste is fortunately part of everyday life, thanks to practices that are inherent to our way of life. All we need to do is combine them with other individual actions to further reduce the waste we produce at home.

Here are a few good practices to adopt daily to reduce household waste and protect the planet.

Voici quelques bons gestes à adopter au quotidien pour réduire les déchets ménagers et protéger la planète.

Avoid packaging

Most Malagasy people bring their own baskets to the market, and this reflex is highly recommended, as it avoids the use of plastic bags, which many traders are still selling.

It is therefore advisable, wherever possible, to refuse plastic packaging, even for small quantities, and to opt for less polluting alternatives such as kraft paper. If you happen to use plastic packaging, remember to reuse it for your next shopping trip instead of throwing it in the garbage can. Plastic bags can be washed and dried, making them easier to reuse.

Think eco-refill for household products

Large 5-liter product containers aren’t just for business. You can also use them at home to refill your bottles of dishwashing liquid, shower gel, hand-wash bottles, etc. At SOMPARO, we offer eco-refills and 5-liter containers for most of the products we sell, to make refilling at home easier.

At the same time, you’ll avoid throwing away used plastic product bottles. What’s more, this practice saves you money on your cleaning products, which are often less expensive when bought in loose bulk.

Please know that the use of eco-refills can reduce the amount of packaging used by 50-70% compared to the purchase of a new bottle, thus helping to save the raw materials needed to manufacture packaging..

Reduce disposable products in the home

Many of the products we use around the house have a limited lifespan and are bound to end up in the garbage can after a while. Such is the case with plastic bottles, cling film used to wrap food in the fridge, disposable razors and so on.

To avoid polluting with this waste, it’s best to choose durable, reusable products. Water bottles, for example, can be swapped for stainless steel water bottles. You can also replace cling film with plastic or stainless steel cans, which are sturdier and can be closed. Similarly, glass jars also make excellent containers for food, while many brands offer razors with interchangeable blades so you can change the blades instead of throwing the razor in the garbage can.

The best way to reduce disposables as much as possible is to ask yourself the following question before buying a product: “Can I reuse the container for something else? If the answer is no, look for a less polluting alternative.

Compost kitchen waste

Many people mistakenly believe that kitchen waste is not polluting. And yet, the accumulation of this waste in landfill sites results in considerable air pollution, particularly due to the toxic fumes generated by the garbage.

When you also know that most of this waste is destined for incineration, it’s best to avoid dumping it in the environment.

To this end, consider composting your own kitchen waste by accumulating it in a large bin and then gradually covering it with soil. Simply stir the mixture once a week, and after a few months you’ll have a compost tea that you can then use to fertilize your garden or potted plants. 

The following waste can be composted: vegetable peelings, fruit peelings, eggshells, moistened cardboard, unplasticised egg cartons, kitchen paper, coffee grounds, tea bags, etc.