Did Someone Say Zero Waste?
The term “zero waste” was used for the first time in an industrial area, regardless of environmental problems. Paul Palmer, a chemist with a PhD from Yale and founder of the Zero Waste Institute in Vacaville, California in 1970, had an interest in zero waste for a scientific rather than an environmental point of view. Palmer realized that high-tech businesses in the then nascent Silicon Valley were throwing away many valuable, clean chemicals that could be reused. He eventually founded a company that markets waste products. Over time, the company identified new uses for every chemical that was discarded in Silicon Valley. Palmer's definition of zero waste was based on the principle that materials should be reused rather than used once and thrown away.
What is Zero Waste?
Now and in its direct definition, zero waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles to reuse all products. The aim is that no garbage is sent to landfills, incinerators or the ocean. The proposed process is similar to the way resources are reused in nature. The definition adopted by the Zero Waste International Alliance is as follows: Zero Waste is an ethical, economical, efficient and visionary goal, aiming to lead people to change their lifestyles and lead their lives by taking sustainable natural cycles as an example. In this concept, the main idea is to use each waste as a source of another cycle. Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically prevent and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and save all resources, and ensure that waste is not incinerated or buried. If the Zero Waste philosophy is applied correctly, it will eliminate all harmful discharges to the soil, water and air that pose a threat to the planet, human, animal and plant health.
10.08.2021