Meetup with a Zero Waste Instagram star and advocate

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Industrialization. Ozone Layer. Pollution. These are some of the environmental buzzwords I got used to during my childhood days. It added more flare to the “environmentalist” side of me back then.

As I grew older, I became more aware of other factors that negatively impacts the environment. Namely:

• Animal agriculture
• Deforestation
• Overpopullation
• Lack of waste management discipline

The last part though - Lack of waste management discipline - hits most of us harder than the rest for most of the time (will talk about this later on).

As such, sustainable living has grew in me overtime. Following like minded personalities on social media become a thing for me.

One of them is Manuela Baron a.k.a The Girl Gone Green who travels the world learning how different cultures practices sustainable living.

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So when I found out she is coming to Manila and having a small meetup last Saturday night, I happily went to join in

Sadly, there’s only a few people in Manila who are either busy or has less interest in sustainable living to pay a visit to the meetup. Even more surprising is the gender gap I have noticed on the meetup - I was the only male attendee.

Still, however, I’m very happy to meet a person I have admired for quite sometime as to how she is so passionate about her advocacy in sustainable and zero waste living.

But what about me? How do I contribute to a more sustainable and less waste in the planet that we live in.

My Small Zero Waste Habits

Here are some of the small, tiny things that I consciously do to make a contribution to a zero waste living

• I'm a sucker for using eco bag during grocery shopping. Like literally, I would almost always bring my eco bags when going to the grocery. This way, I minimize my plastic bag usage footprint.

• I would rather bring my heavy, glass bottle wherever I go than buy a plastic bottle along the road.

• Since I live a plant based diet life, I literally save hundreds of junk food wrappers being thrown away each month. And sometimes, my vegetable leftovers - if any - I just throw in our backyard, to be used as organic compost.

State of Waste Management in the Philippines

When I say lack of waste management discipline hits us faster than the other factors that negatively impacts the environment, well, because it really is..

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A river covered with garbage under a bridge in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Imagine this same tons of garbage clogging our waterways and then typhoon season come. Where will the barage of water go in?

This is why its important, specially for parents, to raise their kids early on on how to live a disciplined and environment friendly life. Because those responsible for this garbage pile up surely has no idea that one day, the garbage they throw will come back and haunt them (in the form of huge floods).

Impact on the environment

Mismanagement of waste not only impacts us, humans, but the other living beings we coexist with

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In Copenhagen, the swan’s female made a nest of garbage and laid eggs in it

Every step counts, small or big

As Manuela discussed during the meetup, every step creates a ripple effect. This is most specially true if we share our zero waste passion with others and they then see a whole new perception of things.

As for those who don't give any importance to zero waste and sustainable living, as the saying goes, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Make a step towards the latter for a livable generation to come.