International Zero Waste Day
On 14 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 77/161, designating 30 March as ‘International Zero Waste Day’. It aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, support societal change towards a circular economy, and raise awareness of how zero-waste initiatives contribute to sustainable development.
Between urgency and utopia
The unsustainable production and consumption practices that continue to prevail today are having a devastating effect on the planet. Households, small businesses and public service providers generate between 2.1 and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal waste each year (packaging, electronic goods, plastics, foodstuffs, etc.). Only 61 to 62 per cent of this waste is managed in controlled facilities. Humanity must therefore act urgently, for if no measures are taken, municipal solid waste production will reach 3.8 billion tonnes per year by 2050.
This year, International Zero Waste Day highlights the need for action in the fashion and textile sector, where production doubled between 2000 and 2015. A staggering 92 million tonnes of textile waste are now generated worldwide every year! This equates to a refuse lorry full of clothes being incinerated or sent to landfill every second, and accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions – not to mention the astronomical quantities of water (215 trillion litres) used in manufacturing. Doubling the number of times a garment is worn would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44%.
Consumers could significantly reduce their environmental impact by choosing to reuse, repair and recycle, or simply by abandoning ‘fast fashion’ to preserve our planet’s resources.
Local initiatives
To mark International Zero Waste Day, the Clean St Martin association is organising its eco-citizen clean-up this Sunday 29 March, from 8.30 am to 11.30 am, in partnership with the Nature Reserve. This new clean-up, on the Bay of l’Embouchure (southern part of Le Galion), is open to everyone, including children (a great opportunity to raise their awareness!). Please bring a water bottle (now is the time to ditch the plastic bottle), good sun protection, closed-toe shoes and gloves. The meeting point is on the path leading to the beach (after the Surf Club junction, straight on for 50 metres).
