Cebu City – After the bright festivities that transpired in the last month, we somehow always find our trash bins brimming with wastes from Christmas decorations, PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles from all the drinking, disposable food packaging or containers, and not to mention– food leftovers.
January has been declared as the National Zero Waste Month, through Proclamation No. 760 pursuant to the Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. This was made by our former President of the Philippines, the late Benigno S. Aquino III. Zero Waste as an advocacy was created with the hopes of encouraging the Filipino people to become more environmentally aware and make sustainable actions in lessening the volume of waste produced every day.
Bringing the campaign to light, zero waste doesn’t limit itself to the famous “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, or the “Say NO to using plastic straws” agenda, nor the “Bring your own cutlery” movement. According to the data from the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute, there are 1,717 metric tons of food wasted daily in the Philippines. With the alarming quantity of food wasted, building good habits as a consumer could significantly contribute to decreasing the waste being generated.
The following are simple and doable ways to avoid food wastage:
Eat only what you can. Contrary to the famous “Eat-all-you-cans” here in the Philippines, this is another way to avoid food waste. Eating out is one convenient way to dine because it saves us time, but more importantly, consumers are reminded to only consume what they can to avoid any food waste. If there are any leftovers, it is recommended to bring them home for takeout.
Plan your meals ahead of time. If you’re the type to do grocery shopping weekly, this is your chance to plan out your weekly menu before shopping. Following this method, you’ll be aware of the exact quantities needed for your ingredients and prevent you from overbuying. Another cost-efficient tip from your RND – you could also use this opportunity to plan out meals that use similar ingredients!
Maximize every part. This means that you should cook every part of an ingredient, as long as it’s edible and has retained its nutritive qualities. Use the leaves, they make a good base for your salad bowls. Some stems and skins can be used in cooking too! They can bring your dish to a whole new level through the change in texture and consistency.
Proper food storage. This step is often forgotten, especially in its implications for preventing food waste. Knowing how to properly store your goods can save you a penny. Storing fresh doesn't require plastic wrappers, you can always opt for clean unused clothes or newspapers. Too many plastic containers? Don’t worry, you can use them to tightly store your leftovers in the fridge.
Be aware of expiration dates. Minimizing food waste doesn’t only mean fresh goods. It could also refer to non-perishable goods like canned foods. Being aware of the expiry guides you on what to use or consume first.
Compost. When you can no longer reuse the parts from your produce, one environmental-friendly way is to create your own compost filled with your vegetable scraps, and fruit leftovers. This would eventually turn into rich and fertile land you can use for home gardening to grow your own crops.
Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia once said, “To do good, you actually have to do something.” Barging into the new month of January, we always make it a point to make new resolutions and create positive habits. So, how about promoting and practicing a Zero Waste Lifestyle as a start? // DMO II Patricia B. Dalan, RND
