To curb the escalating waste crisis, all of us must start consuming way less than we do now. It's better to “prevent than cure” the problem—there’s no “cure” for the climate impacts supercharged by today’s overconsumption. Needless purchases yield the garbage we dump shamelessly onto the Earth. People buried their trash underground, tossed it in rivers, and incinerated it to deal with refuse ages ago, as historians argue. But not much has changed, given we still practice these and mismanage waste as it accumulates.
In a staggering 2018 report by the World Bank, only 19 percent of the total collected municipal waste worldwide was recycled, while eight percent was disposed of in regulated landfills. The rest ended up choking the planet—37 percent of global waste sat in landfills, 31 percent was openly dumped, and 11 percent was burned up. This disturbing trend went on for years and will only continue to worsen disasters unless urgent action is taken.
“There has been no noticeable acceleration in the transition to a circular economy yet,” a 2024 UN report on Global Resource Outlook noted. “Current recycling is predominantly low-value recycling, and there has been no structural decrease in the amount of material use.”
It’d need all of us to help tame climate change’s fury by starting at one of its sources— people’s consumption habits that inadvertently worsen global warming. While overpopulation has played a role in this rise, our unquenchable thirst for resource use has tripled over the past 50 years, a 2024 report by the UN Environment Programme alarmed.
In turn, it’s vital to keep our buying practices in check.
“Before making a purchase, it's prudent to question whether the item is a necessity or merely a desire. The principle of ‘living more with less’ should guide us in all aspects of consumption,” Rodolfo Romarate II, managing partner at environmental consulting firm EnviSynergy, told Manila Bulletin.
Starting this National Zero Waste Month in January, challenge yourself by committing to producing as little trash as you can. This means making a conscious effort to be as sustainable as possible in all facets of life. Here are ways people have inspired others to join the zero waste movement.
Local action as inspiration
Iloilo unveiled its 5Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, rot) campaign on January 6 to help its communities adopt proper waste management practices.
To mark its festival “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan” 2025, the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office will assess the event’s solid waste management compliance from January 20 to 26, after which there will be “a benchmarking of solid waste management technologies and facilities being implemented by the province.”
Senator Loren Legarda, in a statement on January 7, called on all government agencies "to take the lead in finding innovative ways to reuse everyday products and reduce waste," urging the need to transition the country to a circular economy by 2030.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department marked the first year of the SariCycle on January 10. The program aims to cut down on discarded single-use plastics (SUPs) with the help of recycling and local sari-sari stores. Some 16 million single-use sachets have been recycled through the program, the department said.
It also mentioned it will promote its trash-to-cashback program to its citizens to incentivize proper waste disposal. The “Kuha sa Tingi” refill hubs found in the city, including those in Pasig and San Juan City, also help champion a circular economy by helping reduce reliance on SUPs.
The spotlight has also shone on Tagumpay 83Zero Waste Association, a group of informal workers in Manila that tidy up waterways and recycle waste, such as hard plastics and SUPs, from five schools and 24 villages in the city.
“Aside from reducing plastic waste in our community, we also help our members earn extra income for their family,” Catherine Gabriel, president of the association, expressed to Thomson Reuters Foundation, highlighting the value of the junk shop they built to earn cash and be sustainable.
“The informal waste sector plays a key role in waste diversion but faces challenges like lack of support and access to landfills. We can help them by embracing sustainability through promoting waste reduction and resource recovery, building partnerships and support systems, minimizing environmental impact, and improving livelihoods for informal waste workers," the Department of Environment and Natural Resources posted on its Facebook page to grace the country’s zero waste month, as if it hears out waste workers’ demands.
Pain in the eyes
Zero waste advocate EcoWaste Coalition condemned the rampant waste dumping that happened amid the celebration of the Feast of Jesus Nazareno, where no littering ban was imposed. Some waste collected included plastics, cigarette butts, urine-filled bottles, and diapers.
A total of 100 trucks were filled with garbage in five days during Traslacion 2025.
“As our nation is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, we are challenged to integrate our duty to care for God's creation in all aspects of our lives, including in the celebration of our faith," the group said.
Some people learn too late, and now isn't the time to add to that problem. Start with a tote bag and a reusable water bottle, and you'll be surprised by how much waste you've curbed without exerting monumental effort. Urge your peers and family to be more mindful of the effects of their consumption habits. Ultimately, resist the impulse to buy what's not needed; seek to be trash-free. When done collectively, these seemingly small but important choices help prove that change starts with us and ends in groups.