WAT's Sustainable, Waterloo? Welcome to the official Sustainability Office's official podcast: WAT's Sustainable?
On Episode 02 of the podcast, we answer the question: WAT is zero waste? We discuss the concept of zero waste living, the difference between zero and low waste living, the challenges contributing to our global waste problem, and what you can do as an individual to reduce your waste!
Referenced resources
- Ecological footprint explanation from the Canadian Index of Wellbeing
- Zero waste according to the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and the Zero Waste International Council
- Sustainable Development Goal #12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Waste-Free Ontario Act and Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario
- Kitchener-Waterloo's Bring Your Own Container (BYOC) Directory
Additional resources
- Shift: Zero – UW Zero Waste Action Plan and Sustainability Office’s Waste page
- Campus A-Z Sorting Guide and Region of Waterloo Waste Whiz
- ShareWaste – for those living in apartments to find places to compost locally, or for homeowners to offer their composting services to those without it!
- Zero waste shopping in Kitchener Waterloo: Full Circle Foods
- IKEA's Scrapsbook for zero-waste cooking
Tips for reducing your personal waste
- Sort your waste properly
- Carry a reusable bag wherever you go
- Use reusable masks (if your community/workplace permits)
- Meal prep more to minimize takeout
- DIY products instead of buying from stores
- Reuse or repurpose products before disposal
- Go thrifting to extend the lifespan of products
Listen now
Go to our podcast feed to listen to episode two now!
Download the transcription (.docx) with time stamps and resources. A .txt version of the transcript is also available for accessibility (scroll to bottom of page).
We want to hear from you!
Do you have any ideas or topics you'd like us to cover, accessibility concerns or feedback on a particular episode? Email us at sustainability@uwaterloo.ca.