By saying no to every environmentally toxic convenience, this 23-year-old has turned a zero-waste traveller
Mallika Arya has the year off to become a zero-waste traveller; (inset) with her entire landfill of waste from two weeks' travel
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When Mallika Arya was a Teach for India fellow a few months ago, conducting sessions on how to be eco-friendly, she realised that she was practising a fraction of what she was teaching. For the first time it hit her that she needed to make some tough choices to actually live the lessons she was imparting in her classes. Once done with her fellowship, the 23-year old decided to take the year off to travel and see if she could become a zero-waste traveller. Turns out she did.
Over the two months that she went on to spend in Himachal and South India, Mallika set some strict rules for herself that didn't leave any room for comfort. “It's not like I killed myself,” she says. “On the contrary, I lived better because I lived healthy. But zero-waste travelling is not about me, it's about others,” adds Mallika, who recently got chosen by renowned environmentalist Robert Swan for his Antartica expedition next year.
Zero-waste, Mallika says, is about showing zero-mercy — towards yourself, that is. The green crusader shares a six-pronged approach on how it's done:
Think minimal:
This is imperative to a zero-waste lifestyle. Do I need everything that I buy? People don't want to stop at anything while they are on a holiday. They want to eat everything, they want the maximum comfort they can afford. But pause and think what impact your visit is going leave on the place. Just because you didn't litter on the roads, that doesn't mean you have not harmed the environment. Look at the amount of plastic you consumed. Keep the long term picture in mind.
Don't buy water:
Nobody cares to carry water while travelling, as one can so easily purchase it. But, how difficult is it really? I always carry two litres of water with me. Yes, there have been times when that got over. But, you can always refill at a restaurant, or worst case scenario, knock on someone's door and ask them for some water. Point is, there is always an option. Had there been no bottled water available, you would have done it. You need to push yourself and think in extremes.
Sample local fare, not packaged goodies:
While we do that for large meals, during snack-time we still reach out for a packet of chips. Make it a point to eat as much local food as you can. That also helps encourage local produce, and reduces your carbon footprint. Buy fruits. Why opt for a packet of biscuits when you easily get those locally baked cookies kept in glass jars at every roadside tea stall? Problem is our mind is conditioned to associate packaging with hygiene.
Use public transport:
I only travel in buses; when there are no buses, I go for shared vehicles. If walking is an option, I do that. If you get caught in the rush of convenience, it won't work. If you set a target for yourself, it certainly will.
Non-AC living:
Most people would sneer at this, but this is one of the most effective zero-waste practices. I always ask for a non-AC option wherever I am staying. We were not born in an air-conditioned world. It is something that has only crept into our lives over the last decade or so. It is really not impossible to go back to old ways if we try hard enough.
Minimise sanitary waste:
This one's of course for women only. Sanitary waste is made of enormous amounts of plastic, and one way to do away with it is to opt for menstrual cups. They are recyclable, clean, convenient, hygienic and easily available online.
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