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All animals produce waste just by doing the day to day business of living their lives. It is an inevitable part of exchanging energy. This is what makes the universe go round. However, you and I generate far more waste than is necessary for the day to day business of living our lives. In fact, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each American generates about 1,800 pounds of household waste each year. So, basically we each create an entire SUV-size mound of trash. For myself, living in a household of 4, we are building 4 SUV-sized mounds of trash each year. Let’s keep thinking here. On our block there are 26 houses averaging 4 people per house, now we’re up to 104 SUV-sized mounds of trash. Or 187,200 pounds of trash. You get the idea.
But hey, generating waste is a part of life! So, let’s talk some trash!
Okay, so what? Trash gets picked up each week and goes somewhere else. Out of sight and out of mind. But, not so much. Since a lot of the waste we send to landfills is non-biodegradable (like plastics), those weekly garbage pickups are overburdening landfills. This overfilling can lead to land use disputes, soil and water contamination, and the release of harmful greenhouse gasses like methane. Additionally, overconsumption practices and rise of single-use products strain natural resources. Waste also places a financial burden on cities responsible for collection and disposal, and these costs are passed down to you, the consumer. In some cases, household waste exacerbates health problems by increasing exposure to hazardous materials and pollutants.
In this post, we will consider what exactly is household waste and then I will give you some simple steps to reduce your own SUV-sized mound of trash to something more like a compact car (or maybe even smaller!).
5 Categories of Household Waste
Going back to our SUV sized mound of trash. What kind of trash is in that pile? Basically, there are 5 major categories of household waste. And each category has its own disposal needs and environmental impacts. Of course, depending on your lifestyle, location, and vocation your SUV-sized trash mound will be made up of varying amounts of each category. Keep reading to learn about the categories!
Basically, there are 5 major categories of trash:
- Organic waste is by far the largest category. Because it includes food scraps! But also organic waste can be yard trimmings, and other biodegradable materials. This waste can be composted and allowed to decompose naturally, but it is often chucked in the bin with everything else. When sent to landfills, it can produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. If you do not live in an area where composting is available, or have the space for outdoor composting, try an EPICA Countertop Compost bin.
- Recyclable waste includes materials like paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and certain plastics. Ideally, recycling reduces the need for raw materials and minimizes environmental damage. However, pick-up recycling is not available everywhere. Also, most plastics are not recyclable. Contamination in recycling bins can make it harder to process some of these so-called recyclable materials. So to make it easier to separate and drop-off recycling, create a bin for trash only and a bin for recycling. Another option is a dual trash can, which can be a spacesaver.
- Non-recyclable waste refers to items that cannot be easily recycled, such as certain plastics, Styrofoam, ceramics, and broken or damaged items. These typically end up in landfills, where they can take decades or even centuries to break down.
- Hazardous waste includes items like batteries, paints, automotive chemicals, and certain cleaning products. These materials can be toxic, flammable, or corrosive, and improper disposal can lead to environmental contamination and health risks. Special handling and disposal are required to ensure they don’t harm the environment. Take a moment to review the EPA’s guide on household hazardous waste.
- E-waste, or electronic waste, are items like old computers, phones, appliances, and other electronic devices. E-waste contains valuable materials, like rare Earth metals which can be recycled. But they also contain toxic substances like lead and mercury, which can cause serious environmental and health issues if not disposed of properly. Luckily, some major electronics retail companies, like Best Buy, offer recycling programs for e-waste at no cost.
Take a look around your house. Mentally tag items in your household as being in one of these five categories. Now, you have a better idea about how your stuff will have an impact as waste.
What’s in Your Trash?
If you are looking to reduce your own SUV-sized mound of trash, the first step is to actually know what that SUV is made of. This means conducting a household waste audit. Now buckle-up because it’s no small task, but I bet you’ll find it an interesting one!
How to Perform Your Own Trash Audit
First, find 5 containers, one for each of the 5 categories of waste. These containers can be anything. Empty cardboard boxes, extra storage bins, or trash cans, just whatever you already have handy. Clearly label each container to designate Organic, Recyclable, Non-Recyclable, Hazardous, and E-waste. It’s important to keep your trash disaggregated by category for the duration of the audit.
Next, just go about your regular day to day living. Remember, we know that people generate waste as a normal part of exchanging energy to live! Instead of discarding your trash all in one bin, separate the items in the 5 containers you have designated. Collect your trash in these 5 containers for an entire week, including the weekend. It’s important to not alter any of your purchasing or consumption habits for the duration of the trash audit. The idea is to collect real information about the type of waste your household produces.
Last, at the end of the full week look at your 5 containers and determine which category is your main waste contributor. Again, it is likely organic waste, but after that what type of waste does your household produce. Is it recyclables, like paper, or non-recyclables, like Styrofoam? How much of your trash results from plastic use? After performing this trash audit, it will be much easier for you to understand your waste patterns and then make informed choices for reducing your SUV-sized trash mound.
Simple Ways to Reduce Your Household Waste
Organic Waste: Less Food Trash Means Lower Grocery Bill
If you are like me, then you cringe when you have to throw away spoiled food. I mean, one day the kids will eat nothing but cantaloupe and the next it’s only grapes. Unfortunately, food waste is a problem for individual households as well as large institutions like schools and restaurants. But, you can take steps to decrease both your food waste and your food bill!
- Plan meals for the number of days that makes sense for your lifestyle and then create a shopping list. This way you will only buy what you need for those meals and snacks and get a handle on impulse purchases.
- Buy in bulk and store in airtight reusable containers. It is cheaper to buy foods in bulk, like oatmeal, beans, and rice, and these items typically have a longer shelf life when kept in dry, airtight containers.
- Research proper food storage for perishables, like fruits and vegetables. With just a little work rinsing and storing when you get home from the store, these items will stay fresh, healthy, and delicious much longer.
- Get the family involved in the kitchen! Have fun thinking of ideas for using leftovers creatively. You never know, you may have a chef in the house!
- If you have the space and consider composting your organic waste.
Recyclable Waste: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
More and more municipalities are offering recycling services. Typically, this means a household will be provided a trash bin and recycling bin with designated days for collection. However, it’s important for you to understand your own local recycling availability and guidelines. I recommend either calling your local waste management provider or reviewing their website to gain a complete understanding of what items can be picked up curbside. If you live in an area without curbside pickup recycling services, there may be other options. Do some research and look for non-profit or private recycling services. You may find places that will take aluminum or glass, and some places will even pay for certain materials.
No matter the type of recycling service available, keep these things in mind:
→Recycling materials still requires quite of bit of energy and transport, so the carbon footprint can be significant.
→Some recyclables go to landfills due to contamination, so rinse your items before chucking them in the bin.
→Reuse items if possible to extend the life of the material. For example, food containers can be washed and used for leftovers or toilet paper rolls can be used to plant seeds. There are lots of creative folks out there reusing and upcycling!
Non-recyclable Waste: Ditch Single-Use Items
Globally, humans are creating 350 million tons of plastic waste each year. The vast majority of that is plastic packaging for single-use consumables, like plastic water bottles, grocery bags, and food packages. In the U.S. alone we use 60 million plastic water bottles per day with 80% ending up in landfills. Yet, the vast majority of Americans have access to clean, safe drinking water with a simple turn of the tap.
Switching from single-use water bottles to a reusable water bottle will go a long way to reducing your plastic waste. If you are wondering about which water bottle is best read my Nalgene vs. Hydro Flask post for insight on these great alternatives to plastic water bottles.
Another way to ditch single-use plastic is to use reusable bags when shopping. Reusable bags tend to be more durable, easier to carry, and able to hold larger loads. You may find that more stores are offering reusable bags at checkout. Also, some cities and townships are banning plastic bags, and encouraging citizens to embrace reusable bags.
Plastic is a petroleum based material, and there are great healthier alternatives for your kitchen leftovers and consumables. Beeswax wraps can be used instead of plastic wrap. These wraps are reusable for up to a year and can be composted at the end of life. Also, look at labels and begin buying products in sustainable packaging. Instead of a Styrofoam egg carton, opt for the paperboard egg carton that can be recycled or composted. Little changes will go a long way in reducing your non-recyclable waste.
Mindful Consumption Equals Less Waste
You may have noticed the main idea in common in all these simple ways to reduce your household waste: mindful consumption. We tend to buy lots of things we don’t need or opt for short-term convenience which causes long-term problems. Being a mindful consumer means really looking at what you’re buying, starting with your trash audit, and then reflecting on how those products either enhance or distract your life. I am not advocating for anyone to be a minimalist or adopt a minimalist lifestyle if that is not something you are interested in. Rather, in this post I am encouraging you to think about the lifecycle of the materials you use, and to determine if there are greener, healthier options.
Consider buying only what you need. This makes sense for your wallet and for the trash bin. Also, think long-term and select quality products that are designed to be reused and still maintain their function. Shop around and see if you can find sustainable alternatives for some of your everyday staple products. This means selecting products that use recycled or eco-friendly materials and packaging. If you have children like I do, I know that buying only what you need can be challenging. We like to reward our kid’s good behavior with prizes and gifts. But modeling mindful consumption can help steer them away from the “having stuff” mindset towards more meaningful items.
Out of Sight But Keep in Mind
It’s easy to forget about your SUV-sized mound of trash. Afterall, it’s out of sight out of mind on trash pickup day. But keep in mind, it’s just being taken from one location to another. All that waste still exists, and while some of it will decompose relatively quickly huge amounts will be in existence well past our own lifetimes. So, I challenge you to try at least one of these simple ways to reduce your household waste. Share your progress with me on Instagram @tenderfoothiking! Because even small changes can have a big impact.
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