Every day the media outlets report on the ever-growing pollution, the impact on the environment of the carbon footprint, the emission of gases that

contribute to global warming.

So, what can we do as individuals to stop harming the environment? The first step and the possible right answer towards switching to a more sustainable lifestyle can be  Zero Waste. Mr Rossano Ercolini, an elementary school teacher, has begun a public education campaign in the waste field and is a leading name of the zero waste movement in Italy. As a result of his efforts, his home-town Capannori (LU) was the first European city to declare the goal of zero waste by 2020. He has helped the Zero Waste movement grow beyond the Italian borders into what is now the Zero Waste Europe movement. In 2013 Mr Rossano was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, considered the “Green Nobel PrizePol” for his contributions to the Zero Waste movement in Italy. I had the pleasure and for that, I want to thanks the headteacher of the Lyceeum I attend because, this morning students and of course me were invited to a meetup and to have a talk with   Mr Ercolini who, with his oratory skill, has told us about his great campaigns and his famous books to promote a zero-waste philosophy and to share insights. The meeting was broadcasted in live streaming on youtube.

According to Mr Ercolini waste is one of the most important problems of our society, even if it is often overlooked.

Here are a few measures, to be precise ten  steps if you want to be part of the solution:

  • source separation,
  • door-to-door collection,
  • composting,
  • recycling,
  • waste reduction,
  • reuse and repair,
  • punctual pricing,
  • waste recovery,
  • research and redesign centre,
  • waste zeroing.

In addition to these suggestions we can implement the 7 RS:

  • Refuse the things you don’t need.
  • Reduce consumption and purchasing and try to just by stuff that is really indispensable.
  • Reuse and Restore, and try to repair, as many things as possible. Give them a second life.
  • Recycle everything you can.
  • Rot, meaning “recycle” all organic materials, turning them into compost you can use fertiliser.
  • Revive a green technology to re-use and produce sustainable alternatives to products such as coffee grounds, palm oil and so on.

In addition to these tips, we must try to reduce packaging and plastic consumption to save the world.