Did you know that the average American generates 4.9 lbs of trash per day? Much of that waste cannot be handled sustainably. Instead it fills our landfills and our oceans, while polluting the air and adding to climate change.
All that trash and waste negatively affect us in three major ways. First it contributes to the growing climate crisis. Trash dumped in landfills releases methane gas, which traps heat 28 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Second, it impacts and hurts our wildlife that confuse trash for food, which damages the entire ecosystem. Third, it effects overall human health.
So what can we personally do to help? A realistic goal is to aim to reduce your trash by 25%. 4.9 lbs. of trash per day ends up being about 4,700 lbs of CO2 per year. If you divert 25% of that, you can save about 1,100 pounds of CO2 emissions per year, or 56 gallons of gas! How can you do that? Here are some quick tips (many of which may look familiar from previous week challenges):
- Use reusable bottles, cups, cutlery and avoid single use plastic
- Use reusable bags
- Purchase fewer items, especially those requiring special shipping or that have heavy packaging
- Compost organic waste or bring that food/yard waste to community gardens
- Buy secondhand items (and donate your items as well)
- Curb paper including newspapers, magazines and junk mail
- Recycle paper, plastics and glass
For “how to” resources and even more creative ways to reduce your waste, check out this blog.
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Ready to take action? We will track your emissions for you and send you regular reports.
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