Recycle
In 2005, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 245 million tons of garbage, which is approximately 4.5 pounds of waste per person per day. That is up from 2.7 pounds per person per day in just the last 35 years. When you consider the energy used to transport waste to the landfill and the landfill gases that escape into the atmosphere, each pound of waste we create generates roughly 1.5 pounds of greenhouse gases. Recycling half of all household-generated waste can reduce your CO2 footprint by 2400 pounds per year.
Most everyone has heard the phrase "reduce, reuse and recycle." This advertising campaign captures the main components of a strategy aimed at reducing the amount of waste we generate.
Reducing or preventing waste means consuming and throwing away less. It includes purchasing durable, long-lasting goods, seeking environmentally friendly (non-toxic) products and packaging, and redesigning products to use less raw material in production, have a longer life, or be used again after their original use. By reducing waste, we prevent greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollutants, save energy, conserve resources, and reduce the need for new landfills and combustors.
Reusing items also reduces waste, and not just by preventing an item from being thrown away. Waste is generated throughout the life cycle of a product, from extracting the raw materials, transporting them to processing facilities, and manufacturing them for use as a finished product. Repairing items that are broken, donating unwanted items, or selling them saves energy and raw materials used to make a new replacement. It also saves money. Examples for reusing every-day items include refilling bottles, using cloth napkins and towels, and using ceramic coffee mugs.
Recycling converts used materials into valuable resources, preventing them from contributing to landfill waste. Recycling is one of the best environmental success stories of the late 20th century. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling diverted 79 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2005, up from 34 million tons in 1990. By 2002, almost 9,000 curbside collection programs served roughly half of the American population. Curbside programs, along with drop-off and buy-back centers, resulted in a diversion of about 32 percent of the nation's solid waste in 2005.
Composting is another form of recycling, in which food and yard waste is converted into humus, a soil-like material, which can be used in gardens, landscaping and other applications. "Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 24 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. That’s a lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial compost instead! Composting keeps organic wastes out of landfills, provides nutrients for the soil, protects soils from erosion and reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides.
"By recycling, you can make a positive impact on our planet and reduce the amount you throw away. Last year, Indianapolis citizens recycled over 28 million pounds of recyclable items. By recycling, we conserve natural resources, prevent and reduce pollution, save energy, create jobs and stimulate the development of greener technologies."
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Solid Waste , found at www.epa.gov/msw/facts.htm .
- David Gershon, Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds, p. 7 (2006).
- Environmental Defense, found at: www.fightglobalwarming.com/content.cfm?contentID=5114.
- Nuvo, Indy's Alternative Voice, Guide To Recycling 2007 , in collaboration with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.