Water, waste and 'whatevers'

A mini-blog/reflective journal, from a self-confessed air-head.

Water, waste and 'whatevers'

I recall starting a thread not so long ago on The Cauldron in which I stated that water is my element. And it still is. If I could swim daily I absolutely would, damage to my hair be damned. Water is one of the most relaxing of sounds to me, in whatever form it comes. Petrichor is my all time favourite smell (the smell of rain).

I live in an area where the water company has the slogan: "there's not as much as you think".

So, as a lifelong environmentalist, I should definitely do a post about wasting/saving water. Here it is:

I'm aware that there's more to it than just the water itself, you see. There's also the energy and chemicals involved in processing the water to sanitize it.

So when someone wastes tapwater in the belief it's fine (because it's literally on tap, oh and it falls from the sky)... they’re wrong. There's also a waste of energy and other resources taking place.

Similarly, someone might use bottled water in the belief that it's okay if they recycle the bottle after. But in actual fact, even if the bottle did get successfully recycled, there's more to it than that.

There's the energy that went into making the bottle and bottling the water, at the start of its life. Then there's the carbon emissions etc associated with transporting the goods to retailers. And then there'll be all the energy and processes needed to recycle it. (That's if it even makes it to a recycling plant rather than landfill/the ocean.)

It's the same with recycling in general. If you read a newspaper or magazine online*, for example, then there isn't an object needing to be recycled at the end of that. And it's not going to end up as litter in the street or as yet more mass in landfill. (*Using dark theme to save energy, of course. And on a device that you look after so it'll last as long as possible.)

That example's an oversimplification actually, because digital doesn't necessarily mean better for the environment.  (I just learned, myself, that there are aspects of e.g. cryptocurrencies and crypto-art which are really environmentally damaging.  I'm not techy enough to understand it [at] all, but here's a piece that covers it if you're interested.)

Reader, I (and Greta) just want you to consider your consumption.  Really consider it.  Be it bottled- or tap-water, a newspaper/magazine - or, basically, anything else.

Think the 6 Rs:-

- Rethink - Reduce - Refuse - Repair - Reuse - Recycle (comes last!)

Rethink what you buy and reduce consumption. Do you need a plastic bottle of water, or is your tapwater perfectly drinkable (maybe after filtering)?

(Also, do you really need new clothes, or could some second hand items from a charity shop or vintage store do the job?)

Rethink how you use water, as well. Here's a Google doc with some further water saving tips and resources. Share it as widely as you like.

Refuse - does an item come with excessive packaging? Then look for a more sustainably packaged alternative instead. Vote with your wallet. It's even better yet if you can let the companies know of your boycott, and your reasons for it.

Repair everything (until it can no longer be repaired, ideally!) Fix leaking taps and dripping showers before they become a cause of wasted water. Keep your appliances in good condition too, they'll work more efficiently and they'll last longer.

Check if there's a repair café in your area for all your other belongings.

Reuse as much as you can. Buy a good quality reusable bottle, instead of single use. You can even look into Bring Your Own Container schemes for toiletries and produce.

If you're not in a position to reuse something yourself, consider whether it can be donated rather than just disposed of.

Recycle as a last resort, once all the other 5 Rs have been achieved or ruled out.

I'm not here for "whatever" from governments and big business, or for 'greenwashing'; not any more. So please also read the Google doc associated with my 'Nature and my/our role/s in reversing climate change' post, if you haven't already. And do what you can.

Please rest assured that I walk the walk as well as talking the talk. I was out last Saturday (as I write this) protesting on the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice. And I'll be out again the next time, and the next. Until net carbon zero and climate justice are secured.

Photo credits (all photos from Unsplash):

Ocean 1 by Anastasia Taioglou; ocean 2 Ilyuza Mingazova; drought by Redcharlie; water treatment plant by Ivan Bandura; bottle by Steve Johnson; ocean plastic by Nariman Mesharrafa; electricity by Photo by American Public Power Association' vintage sign by Clem Onojeghuo; bubble wrap by David Maier; screwdriver by Steve Johnson; reusable bottle by Bluewater Sweden; recycle symbol by Sigmund; one world placard by Markus Spiske (placard artwork by unknown artist).

Bonus seaweed photos, and coast & islands photo:
Wolfgang Hasselmann, Marco Zuppone and Cassandra Moore respectively.

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