Prioritizing Zero Waste

The U.S. generates more waste per capita than any other nation. Data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed there were 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 (the last year the data was reported). This equates to almost 4.9 pounds per person per day.

Of that annual total, about 146.1 million tons of MSW were landfilled, with food being the largest component at 24 percent. Plastics were next at about 18 percent, while paper and cardboard made up 12 percent of the landfill waste. Rubber, leather and textiles comprised over 11 percent of the total. Discarded items like yard trimmings, glass and metals made up the rest.

Here are some simple substitutions that can help you minimize waste:

• Single-Use Water Bottles: Instead of single-use water bottles, carry a reusable water bottle that you can easily refill. Most public places have water machines that can fit larger water bottles and even count how many bottles that machine has saved from entering landfills!
• Plastic Utensils: Plan ahead when bringing your lunch to work, or carry a set of reusable utensils in your purse or bag. Keep a washable set in your desk for convenience.
• Plastic Straws: Try reusable stainless steel straws, or forego the straws entirely if you can.
• Plastic Bags: Instead of using plastic bags, purchase reusable bags to use when shopping. They’re especially beneficial for grocery shopping. Keep them in your car so you don’t forget them. Instead of plastic bags, try reusable sealable bags or store items in glass containers. Save old jam or salsa jars to reuse for this.
• Food Waste: Using all parts of the food we buy limits what goes into landfills and, in some ways, can save money! If you can, create a compost pile or look for recipes that use leftover fruits and vegetable scraps. For example, use fruit peels for things like teas or simmer pots and certain vegetable scraps for homemade vegetable broth.

Every small step we take helps reduce the waste we produce. Try implementing these tips, and recycling whenever and whatever you can, to help save our environment.