 |
Zero Waste 2017! This is not altogether doable. However, it is try-able.
Did you know that every day, the United States generates 1.3 Billion pounds of trash?
Did you know that recycling, while meritorious, is only a band-aid for a bullet wound, because many plastics can only be
recycled ONCE? That’s right, even the plastic you put in your
recycle bin will eventually - and probably sooner than later - become garbage.
Did you know that plastic bags take 1000 years to decompose? That Americans use 50 million tons of paper each year? That scientists project by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish? That we use 2.5 million plastic bottles every HOUR?
That the new head of Environmental Protection Agency does not acknowledge the reality of climate change?
Did you know that plastic bags take 1000 years to decompose? That Americans use 50 million tons of paper each year? That scientists project by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish? That we use 2.5 million plastic bottles every HOUR?
That the new head of Environmental Protection Agency does not acknowledge the reality of climate change?
What’s a conscientious earth-dweller who likes biodiversity
(we're not the only ones who live here, you know) to do?
In grade school, we all learn REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. Many of us REUSE (Repurpose! Thrift! Trade!). A fraction of us RECYCLE. We all forgot to REDUCE. And we forgot to RE-THINK. Rethink what you
want. Rethink what you need. Rethink your relationship to the natural world
that made you, and rethink whether you are contributing to its depletion or living in a
way that is sustainable – for your wallet, for your community, and for our planet.
We are embarking upon a journey toward Zero Waste this
year. The biggest step toward Zero Waste is reducing our consumption, especially of non-recyclables and plastics.
While I don’t expect us to produce exactly Zero Waste in this plastic world, our goal
is to produce only one kitchen garbage can of waste (5.5 gallons) for the full year. This is
ambitious. We may fail. But we will make a difference. The average American produces 4.3 pounds
of waste per day. That equals almost 1600 pounds of waste per person,
per year. Add that up and 319 million Americans produce over 500 billion pounds - or 255 million TONS - of trash per year.This is crazy, dangerous, and unsustainable.
 |
| Read more about waste projections at smithsonianmag.com |
If you don’t recycle, start. If you don’t reuse, start. (Say
it with me: I do not need single-use products! I don’t need a bag, thanks! I
don’t need a straw, thanks! I brought my own coffee cup, thanks!) If you don’t
reduce, now is a great time to start. Choose an activity other than shopping - or shop secondhand.
Reduce your consumption of meat! (Animal agriculture is a leading cause of
greenhouse gases and climate change; a plant-based diet is better for your body
and the earth.) Reducing all forms of consumption is kind to your wallet; it is
kind to the planet. Rethink your needs. I’ll bet that air in your lungs is at
the top of that list! Overconsumption is causing massive deforestation. Without
trees, we can’t breathe. I like breathing. You like breathing. My dog likes breathing. This is something we can all agree on. So why can't we agree that the health of our planet is paramount?
I’m reconsidering my priorities.
Follow our journey; try it yourself! Incorporate bits and pieces into your life. Each
week I’ll report on our consumption, waste production, and how we are replacing
the unsustainables in our household. It’ll be interesting. Come watch! It’s always fun watching people try new things.
Here’s to a better 2017.
