We are concerned residents of the Republic of Armenia who urge the heads of supermarkets to:

• Sell zero-waste products in Armenian supermarkets such as beeswax wrap, steel/bamboo straws, bamboo toothbrushes, and reusable bags.
• Ban the practice of pre-packaging produce in plastic in Armenian supermarkets.
• Allow customers to bring containers for weighing bulk products, resulting in a decrease in the use of the plastic bags which are provided.
• Ban the use of styrofoam in Armenian supermarkets as it breaks down into undetectable pieces that harm wildlife when ingested.
• Require staff to ask customers if they would like a bag, allowing people the time to consciously think about their practices.

                                   

Did you know that only 9% of all plastic gets recycled? Most of it goes to landfills, where it sits and decays for years, sending gases like methane into the atmosphere. And the rest gets burned, also sending gases like methane into the air. These terrible gases are contributing to global warming. So what is the solution? Creating less waste to start with.

Why Recycling Isn’t Enough

Just recycling is not enough to save our planet. According to the UN, we have only 11 years left to prevent irreversible damage to our planet from climate change. We need more drastic and effective solutions.

There are three main problems with recycling: (1) it requires the use of energy and resources, (2) it carries a waste footprint, and (3) there is a small demand. 

(1) The monitoring of collection sites, the transportation of recyclables, and the recycling manufacturing process itself all require energy and resources.

(2) Also, recyclable materials, particularly plastic, are sensitive to heat and light and have what is called a  “heat history.” This means plastic and other materials can only be recycled a finite number of times.

(3) Lastly, recycling works if someone wants to buy recycled material and currently there is a small demand.

Only 9% of recyclable material has actually been recycled. So the other 91% either sits around on landfills for 400+ years or gets burned. In order to reach the deadline and reverse the effects of global warming before it’s too late, we need to do more.

What is the Zero Waste Movement?

The Zero Waste Movement focuses on reduction--reduction of single-use plastics and non-biodegradable products. The aim of a zero-waste lifestyle is to send no waste to a landfill, incinerator, or the ocean. Currently, we live in a world in which a linear economy exists of take, make, waste. The raw material is extracted from the earth, manufactured into a product and sold, and then disposed of in a landfill when it breaks, is used up, or once the consumer no longer wants or needs the product. On the contrary, the Zero Waste Movement encourages a circular economy of make, use, return. A material or product can biodegrade and return to the earth or is recycled into a new product at the end of its life so that there is no waste. 

By making some swaps of your everyday items, you can live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. For example, when you go to a restaurant, instead of accepting a plastic straw you can bring a reusable steel or bamboo straw. Rather than using plastic water bottles, you can get a reusable steel one. Another simple one is using bar hand soap packaged in paper instead of a plastic, pump hand-soap. You can use a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one, beeswax wrap instead of plastic wrap, and canvas bags for your groceries in place of plastic bags. These are only a few swaps...there are so many more!

Together We Can Make Change. Be a change-maker: join us and sign on to our movement. Once we have people signed onto our zero waste campaign, we will approach supermarkets, asking for the sale of zero waste products such as the ones mentioned above. Once supermarkets see that there is a large demand, they will act!

This is a United Student Council effort. We are a youth organization and our mission is to connect and improve Armenia through student-led efforts. 

instagram: united_student_council

facebook: United Student Council

                                      

Parker, Laura. “A Whopping 91% of Plastic Isn't Recycled.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 20 Dec. 2018, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/

Somerville, Madeleine. “Yes, You Recycle. But until You Start Reducing, You're Still Killing the Planet.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 Jan. 2016, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/19/eco-friendly-living-sustainability-recycling-reducing-saving-the-planet

“Benefits of Zero Waste.” Toronto Environmental Alliance, www.torontoenvironment.org/zerowaste_benefits

“Only 11 Years Left to Prevent Irreversible Damage from Climate Change, Speakers Warn during General Assembly High-Level Meeting | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases.” United Nations, United Nations, 28 Mar. 2019, www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12131.doc.htm