Choosing to produce less trash in my life was a decision that had slowly formed over time. I wasn't raised this way, but being interested in sustainability and the preservation of Earth’s resources made it an easy and logical switch. I've also become increasingly devastated by the peer-reviewed science and journalism showing the effects of plastic and other pollution on the health of humans and the ecosystem (more for a future blog post).
My first aha! moment was in 2017 when I saw a video of Lauren Singer @trashisfortossers holding a jar of trash. The caption: Four Years of Trash: One Jar. This rocked my world because I didn’t know something like this was possible, let alone that people had this lifestyle. I learned new terminology like zero-waste, low-waste, and plastic-free.
In no way am I saying that I am zero-waste. I still produce trash, but I try to do so minimally. I am also aware of the trash that I produce and try to find alternatives to avoid this problem. It's a work in progress, and I hope to one day achieve a zero-waste lifestyle!
Why Is it Important?
Humans are producing more trash than we know what to do with. It is building up in landfills, polluting the oceans, and affecting the wildlife. Some countries produce more than their fair share of the global trash (looking at you, United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, and Germany (1)), and other countries are left to clean up the mess. At one point, China was importing up to 70% of recyclables from other countries, until 2018 when China imposed the "National Sword" policy (2). In short, the system was abused, and too much of the imported materials were contaminated trash and rendered unusable, leading to an end to the import.
With China's imports no longer a solution, the trash was suddenly displaced as wealthier countries exported the garbage cheaply to developing countries (for example, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines). These countries are often unable to handle the overwhelming amount of waste, and without the infrastructure, the waste gets improperly disposed, leading to pollution. Countries, the U.S. in particular, were also caught disguising waste in mislabelled containers for export. Developing countries, like Malaysia in 2020, started shipping the materials back, forcing wealthy countries to manage their own garbage. This doesn't solve the issue, however. The non-recyclable and contaminated waste just gets passed around, and without funding infrastructure to handle recycling and waste management, the garbage will continue to endlessly build up.
One major component of trash is plastic, and it's an issue because of its toxic components and inability to biodegrade. Many biological processes break plastic down into microplastics (<5 mm), and these small plastics can be inhaled, accumulating in the lungs (3). In the ocean, giant patches of toxic garbage are swirling about in gyres, the most famous being the Great Pacific Garbage Patch between Hawaii and California, and the effect on wildlife is staggering. Animals get entangled and injured in the trash, they mistaken trash for food, dying with stomachs full of garbage, and they are exposed to the chemicals that plastics release in the water. A famous video featuring the removal of a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nose took the internet by storm, leading to plastic straw bans. However, straws are very small in comparison to the heaps of other plastic products out there in the ocean.
Outside of plastic trash, another culprit that is harming the environment and accumulating in landfills is food waste. One-third of the food produced globally is lost in the food supply chain: 1.3 billion tons and $1.3 trillion worth (4). This means that all the resources needed to produce that food have also been wasted, such as water, land, and fossil fuels, and that food could have supported hungry families. In the U.S. alone in 2020, over 38 million households were experiencing food insecurity (5). While a lot of waste might occur before the food is purchased at the grocery store, consumers can eat food before it perishes, take leftovers home at restaurants, and send food waste to the compost instead of the landfill (among many other solutions).
Furthermore, textile production is very hazardous for the environment, and in 2018 alone, 17 million tons of textiles were produced in the U.S., with 11.3 million tons going to the landfill (6). The entire process of making and dyeing textiles produces toxic chemicals and requires fossil fuels, leading to the production of greenhouse gases. Also, cotton requires the use of pesticides and copious amounts of water, which, in one example, lead to the depletion of the Aral Sea when water was diverted to irrigate the desert (7). Man-made plastic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic can lead to microfibers entering the water system after washing, leading to more microplastic pollution (8). Unfortunately, many textiles are built cheaply, and "fast fashion" is exactly that: fast. Produced quickly, bought quickly, and worn quickly, millions of tons of clothing are briefly worn and then shipped to the landfill, not biodegrading because of the plastic fibers.
Will it make a difference?
It's no surprise. Few companies globally produce most of the world's trash, and it can seem like our individual efforts will be futile. I know that the actions of one individual won’t make a difference, and that can be a tempting reason to not change our lifestyle. However, if millions of people and companies adopted a low-waste mindset (or especially a zero-waste lifestyle), real changes could occur. Moreover, talking to other members in the community and reaching out to our legislators for alternatives can make a difference! Small successes have already started happening, including plastic bag, straw, and styrofoam bans in some states in the U.S.
How to reduce your waste
Trash Audit
It’s important to know where your trash is coming from, what items are taking up the bulk of the space, and what changes you can make with that knowledge. Make note of the items that you are throwing away by unloading your trash and observing the major components. Is there food waste? Recyclable items? Food wrappers? Is most of it single-use plastics?
Trash that is difficult for me to get rid of are the stickers that come on fruits and vegetables, plastic seals on items like milk and yogurt, and single-use wrappers on food like cheese. I am also looking into ways to reduce pet plastics, like the food and litter bags for cats. Additionally, situational waste has been a challenge: going to or hosting a party, workplace waste (laboratory scientist struggles!), and the Covid-19 pandemic causing businesses and workplaces to avoid reusable products.
Easy Swaps
There are many easy swaps that you can do to cut down on trash production, and a lot of it starts with the decisions you make at the grocery store. Choose reusable items instead of disposable items and glass, metal, or paper/cardboard product containers instead of plastic ones. Also, buy items in bulk to get more product for your packaging. If you have time, opt for making things from scratch instead of buying packaged (i.e. bread, pizza, yogurt, natural makeup, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste). Importantly, use what you have before buying new, even if it's plastic. If you need to buy something, go to your local thrift store or buy used from your community first. This is the most sustainable, environmentally-friendly way to acquire new items: keep the items that were already produced in the system before sending them to the landfill. More than 80% of the furniture I own came from Facebook Marketplace or the thrift store, and they are quality items.
Here is a small list of alternatives you can try. Start with ones that are the easiest and then work from there!
Kitchen/Dining
Choose cloth napkins over paper towels
Use reusable water bottles instead of disposable plastic ones
Use reusable wraps like beeswax wrap instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil
Try (glass or tin) Tupperware containers instead of Ziploc bags
Choose glass milk jars (that you can return or recycle) over plastic containers
Choose loose fruits and veggies at the grocery store instead of packaged ones, and don't use the plastic produce bags
Opt for things in bulk (bring your own containers if possible)
Choose reusable coffee cups instead of to-go cups, and don't use disposable Keurig cups
Eat first what is close to perishing to avoid food waste
Compost food scraps
Upcycle food scraps
Bathroom
Buy toilet paper that comes in paper wrappers, not plastic
Try zero-waste beauty routines (many YouTube videos for this)
Make your own products (face scrubs, soap, shampoo, toothpaste). Trash is For Tossers has an excellent YouTube DIY channel.
Choose wooden toothbrushes and hairbrushes instead of plastic ones
Use refillable floss containers and natural, non-plastic floss
Use stainless steel razor blades instead of disposable plastic razors
Cleaning
Make your own cleaning supplies with ingredients like vinegar and baking soda
Use old T-shirts or towels as cleaning cloths
Make your own soap and dish detergent
Make your own laundry detergent
Wardrobe
Buy second-hand!
Clothing swap with friends
Borrow from friends instead of buying
Donate your clothes instead of throwing away
Mend your clothes instead of throwing away
Send your old/ruined textiles to places that upcycle or recycle them
Air-dry your clothing instead of using the drying machine
Beth Terry IG:@bethterry from My Plastic Free Life has a great 100 steps to a plastic free life article!
The 7 Rs Overview
Typically called the 5 Rs (but with 2 additions), these steps will help with trash reduction and allow for a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly lifestyle!
Refuse
If you don't need it, don't buy it. Buying items you don't need increases the amount of items that will end up in the landfill in the future. A major issue with trying to "go green" is that it can be tempting to buy new products that are marketed towards the environmentally conscious. In reality, using materials that are already purchased and in the system will reduce the need for new materials to be produced. In today’s world, we are surrounded by consumerism and fast fashion, and we are told that we need the latest gadgets and clothes to be happy. Don't contribute to the growing landfills and polluted oceans by buying consciously and refusing what you don't need. Of course, you will also save money by not buying anything.
Reduce
Reduce the use and purchase of items that are harmful to the planet. Choose items that can be more effectively recycled (not plastic) and that have a longer lifespan. Glass, paper, and metal are much better for the environment and are easier to recycle.
Reuse
Reuse what you buy. Don't buy clothing and wear it once. Don't choose single-use plastics, paper towels, styrofoam, to-go cups, or plastic bags. Choose reusable cloth napkins, coffee cups, fabric bags, Tupperware containers, and items that aren't in single-use plastics. Reusing the items you have will save you money, too!
Repair
Something broken or ripped? Fix it! There are plenty of youtube videos on how to fix any and everything. You can also learn a new skill and save yourself some money by not buying new all the time.
Repurpose (upcycle)
Is something no longer functional or useful to you? Turn it into something else! Old t-shirts can become a quilt, wooden pallets can be bookshelves, old candle jars can be plant pots, storage containers, or cups. You can even upcycle food by turning the unused bits into something else. The possibilities are endless, and the end result is crafty and unique!
Recycle
When all else fails, recycle the appropriate glass, plastics, metals, and paper that you can. Check your local recycling facility to see what items they accept. No recycling near you? Reach out to your local legislator to make it an issue worth fixing!
Rot
Still have food waste? Compost it! Don't let it go to a landfill to "decompose" because this likely won't happen due to the trash being so compact that air cannot enter to help the decomposition process. When I lived in a city apartment, composting wasn't a viable option for me, but throwing away food scraps was more than cringey. Instead, I chose to keep my compost in my freezer until I could take it to a compost drop-off in a nearby town. So, check locations near you to see if anyone is accepting food scraps for composting. You can have a completely functional worm composting unit indoors (I know people that do this, and it's not as gross as it sounds) that can help you make your own soil for your house plants!
Recommended Inspiration
I will continue to add to this in the future!
Blogs/Accounts
Trash is For Tossers @trashisfortossers and @packagefreeshop
Zero Waste Home @zerowastehome
My Plastic Free Life: @bethterry
Zero Waste Daniel @zerowastedaniel
Zero Waste Guy @zerowasteguy
Movies
Minimalism
The Minimalists: Less is Now
Wall-E
A Plastic Ocean
Seaspiracy
Podcasts
A Sustainable Mind
How to Save a Planet
Hippie Haven
News
Any more suggestions? Please reach out!
References
World Atlas. 10 Countries Producing The Most Plastic Waste. 2021. https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/10-countries-producing-the-most-plastic-waste.html. Accessed: February 2, 2022.
Tiseo, Ian. 2021. Waste trade worldwide - Statistics & Facts. https://www.statista.com/topics/7943/global-waste-trade/#dossierKeyfigures. Accessed: February 2, 2022.
Amato-Lourenço, L. F., Dos Santos Galvão, L., de Weger, L. A., Hiemstra, P. S., Vijver, M. G., & Mauad, T. 2020. An emerging class of air pollutants: Potential effects of microplastics to respiratory human health?. The Science of the total environment, 749, 141676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141676
Principato, L., Mattia, G., Di Leo, A., Pratesi, C. 2020. The household wasteful behaviour framework: A systematic review of consumer food waste. Industrial Marketing Management. 93. 10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.07.010.
United States Department of Agriculture. 2021. Food Security in the U.S. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/#:~:text=In%202020%3A,with%20adults%2C%20were%20food%20insecure. Accessed: February 2, 2022.
Environmental Protection Agency. 2021. Textiles: Material-Specific Data. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data#:~:text=The%20main%20source%20of%20textiles,to%20towels%2C%20sheets%20and%20pillowcases. Accessed: February 2, 2022.
Micklin, P. 2007. The Aral sea disaster. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 35, 47-72.
Sandin, G and Peters, G. 2018. Environmental impact of textile reuse and recycling – A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 183, 353-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.266
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