The challenge to restore the planet, protect what remains of our ecosystems and globally integrate renewable energy source is both daunting and complex. Consequently, the resolution of the dilemmas of climate change and environmental conservation are often attributed to the government and other influential associations. Power and wealth do have their roles to play in mitigating these issues no doubt, however, the effect of our domestic lifestyles on the environment tends to be overlooked.
So, while we wait around for sustainable solutions like renewable energy sources and alternatives to petroleum products to become more affordable and commonplace, there are several ways we can alter our personal lives to promote a greener future in the meantime.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Analysing our waste production, we could certainly afford to do something about our single use plastics usage, organic waste disposal and careless littering habits.
While there is no official existing legislature (not until 2025 at least) regarding single use plastics in the country, there’s nothing to stop us from taking the initiative. Plastic bags and bottles seem to be the most common examples in the household.
Plastic bottles
It’s essential to stay hydrated during the day, but we don’t need to fill our bins with plastic bottles to maintain our healthy habits. Instead, we can use large refillable dispenser bottles for domestic use. Additionally, we can use refillable water bottles when we need to take a drink of water outside of our homes. We can also fill larger bottles/jerry cans of water, cool them in a freezer and pour a drink for ourselves in reusable cups or mugs, refilling the larger containers when they run low. Small plastic bottles need not be our sole option.
On a larger scale, we also use bottles to entertain our guests at gatherings and events.Thankfully, refreshing drinks come in more than just plastic bottles. Glass bottles, aluminium cans and juice boxes can all serve as recyclable alternatives. So long as the waste is appropriately recycled, making this switch can do the planet a favour.
Plastic bags
From the bags lining our garbage to the packaging of our groceries, plastic bags are fairly popular in our households.
The problem lies in their disposal. Plastic bags take a long time to decompose, if not recycled. In the process, they break down into microplastics which are hazardous, when introduced to our environment, to both nature and human health.
Switching them out for biodegradable and compostable plastics is an option, with a number of catches though. Specific physical conditions are required for their breakdown and, if carelessly discarded, they can cause similar harm to the environment as ordinary plastics. Plus (in my search across local online shops anyway) they’re not exactly easy to come by in this country.
Luckily, we can reuse and reduce.
Plastic bags can be stored and used for packaging household items (books, shoes, cleaning agents etc.), disposing sanitary towels, lining boxes containing fragile items, protecting items from dust or sprays and even reused as garbage bags (instead of buying even more from the supermarket)…a lot is possible when a little creativity is applied. These aren’t perfect solutions but repurposing these bags will slow down the rate at which they end up in the trash while providing us with some utility.
In order to reduce, we should be mindful about what we throw away and how much we bring into our homes. Can you use a tote bag instead of the plastic bags at the supermarket? Can you afford to patronise retailers with more environmentally friendly packaging materials (like paper and cardboard) instead of plastics? Do you end up visiting the store multiple times in a week? How about merging them into fewer trips to avoid piling up unnecessary packaging materials?
ORGANIC WASTE
While not practical for all, composting kitchen scraps to growing a few crops, spices or even house plants is an option. You will make something useful out of your organic waste and cut down on a few grocery items you would have depended on the market for.
The truth is, while organic waste decomposes much quicker than artificial materials, when they are dumped into landfills, they produce a greenhouse gas called methane which absorbs 28 times more atmospheric heat than CO2. Repurposing this waste could go a long way in reducing these emissions.
Starting your own home garden and compost pit isn’t too tasking either. Pretty much any fairly large, aerated container will do for a DIY compost bin: from holes in a waist bin to a woven basket, as long as you have some space for it. There are also numerous online resources about methods and techniques to grow common food items like tomatoes, peppers (bell peppers), onions etc in clay pots, plastic containers and even bottles.
RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL OF WASTE
We don’t have to be LAWMA but we can make their job easier. Throwing away our food scraps, wrappers and bottles on the streets is avoidable. When on the go, we can keep them in our vehicles till we get to our destination for proper disposal. Litter on our streets does a serious disservice by blocking water drainage systems, contributing to plastic pollution and (let’s face it) making our streets look straight-up appalling.
ENERGY
Managing our energy consumption is essential to making a positive environmental impact as well. 80% of the electrical energy produced in Nigeria is produced from the burning of some form of fossil fuel. The longer we leave our electrical appliances on, the more fossil fuels are burned to sustain them. Taking measures to reduce our energy consumption–like switching off our appliances when not in use–will benefit the environment in the long run. Plus, being conscious of our energy consumption is a smart way to manage those electricity bills.
CONCLUSION
We need to responsibly manage our homes while remaining mindful of our environment. Doing so will not only potentially benefit us financially (by regulating our consumerism) but will also benefit the planet at large. The application of the 3 R’s-–Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—are key to manifesting a sustainable domestic lifestyle. Recycling what we have; reusing what we can and reducing your waste altogether make the possibility of an efficient, sustainable, environmentally friendly future all the more feasible.
The joint impact of our collective effort can make a difference for a healthier earth.
Author: Alexis Keke