Thanks to consumerism, we are living in a world what the ancients might call as dreamland. We can buy so many things that we desire. Most of the everyday items are inexpensive and are accessible to the masses. No matter what your financial status is, a burger from McDonald’s and Coca Cola are the same for everyone. Despite advancements like these, we still cannot say that we are on the road to becoming better than our forefathers. On the contrary, with inviting modernism we are inviting new problems. We are consuming resources at an accelerating pace and most of it goes to waste. If we don’t find ways to reduce landfill waste as soon as possible, we might be in for a huge problem.
Nine easy ways to reduce landfill waste
You of course know how important it is to make earth-friendly decisions, but it can sometimes be hard to know where to start. With so many ways to contribute to landfill waste, where should you begin when you want to reduce your contributions to your local landfill? Try something simple first.
1. Shop smarter at the grocery store
When you eat real ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, etc, not only your body becomes healthier, but you also send less waste to the landfill. Think about it. How much waste does an apple or a bag of beans leave behind? In contrast, how much space does the package from processed cookies take up in your trash can?
Shop for and cook with real ingredients more often to reduce your impact on large landfills such as Arrowhead landfill in Alabama.
2. Stop using plastic water bottles
Once in a while, you may find yourself thirsty with no option but to purchase a plastic bottle of water, but try to plan ahead. Purchase few reusable water bottles: one for each car, one for each member of the family, and one for your backpack or purse, and use those instead. Just do Google image search for “What is the impact of water bottles in landfills” and you’ll never want to use a plastic water bottle again.
3. Recycle
You’ve heard about it for years: Recycle, recycle, and recycle. How are you doing in this area? Chances are you can improve a little bit. Maybe you don’t recycle the cardboard tubes from toilet paper because it’s easier to just toss them in the bathroom trash instead of walking them out to your recycling bin. Make it easy on yourself by keeping a recycling bin next to every trash can in your house. (If you want to know more about recycling, scroll down to the second portion of this article?
4. Look at the packaging of your products
Many companies use recycled materials in their packaging, and they’re proud to let you know. It isn’t hard to look at a package to discover if it’s been made with recycled materials or not. If all other factors are equal, go with more eco-friendly packaging.
5. Clean smarter
Marketers have done a wonderful job in convincing us that we need a separate cleaning product for every surface and every room in our house. Break away from the propaganda, and make your own cleaning products from baking soda or vinegar. It’s cheaper, and it doesn’t produce bottles laced with chemicals that need to be sent to the landfill.
6. Use reusable bags
Once you’ve purchased enough reusable grocery bags (sometimes you can get them for as little as a dollar), you won’t need to use plastic bags anymore. Do a Google image search for: “what is the impact of plastic grocery bags on landfills” if you need any more motivation to stop using plastic grocery bags.
7. Compost
Americans throw away so much food. Instead of doing it, you should send your kitchen scraps to the compost rather than the landfill. You’ll create nutrient-rich food that you can feed to your plants, and you’ll feel better you’re keeping food out of the trash.
8. Use thrift stores
Send your gently used items to the thrift store, rather than throwing them away. Keep a box in your closet where you can toss something you no longer want. Once it’s full, donate it.
9. Keep batteries and electronics out of the landfills
Use rechargeable batteries rather than using and tossing battery after battery. And instead of tossing your outdated phone when you upgrade, find an organization that accepts old phones.
You can’t save the world on your own, but with just a few small changes, you can make a big difference on the impact you leave on the environment and not contribute more waste than is necessary to your local landfill.
10 – Items you must recycle for an eco-friendly future
Recycle is the last and the most important part of the three R’s. This is a list of items that can be easily recycled and make our future greener and healthier.
1. PET Plastic Bottles:
USA statistics claim that its citizens dispose 80 percent of 25 billion single-serving bottles of water bought every year. They end up in the landfill instead of being recycled. Manufacturing new bottles takes up two-third more energy than recycling, so it is time to stop discarding the bottles.
2. Newspaper:
One-third of American municipal waste is paper only, so recycling it is essential. It not only causes less pollution and reduces landfill waste but also saves enough trees and reduces deforestation. It is wise to set up a recycling bin next to the garbage, which can be dedicated for the paper only.
3. Corrugated Cardboard:
Old corrugated cardboard is 13.8% of all the municipal waste discharged in the USA. As much as 29 million tons have been discharged in 1996, majority being from areas not related to residency.
4. Aluminum:
This metal can be recycled as many times as you want. Yes you heard it right. It’s limitless and recycling aluminum consumes 95% less energy when compared with manufacture new aluminum.
5. Steel cans:
80 million tons of steel undergo recycling every year as this metal can be recycled innumerable times like aluminum. It is time we move up from recycling cans to automobile parts, the details of which you can read on the Steel Recycling Institute website.
6. HDPE plastic bottles:
First tip is you have to know how much recyclable is your high-density polyethylene container. A common ingredient of soap, bleach and milk containers, this high density plastic have three arrows drawn like a triangle as identifiable mark. Numbers 1 and 2 indicate that recycling is possible while anything between numbers 3 to 7 indicates partial recyclability.
7. Magazines:
95% less air pollution can be achieved by recycling paper.
8. Mixed paper:
17 trees could survive and 7,000 gallons of water would not be wasted if one ton of paper was recycled. Think about it.
9. Computers:
Donate old machines if it works and make sure it does not land up as municipal waste. Recycling centers accept the machines which do not work.
10. Glass containers:
If you recycle glass, you gain 50% energy which is equivalent to illuminating a 100-watt bulb for four hours. Drastic reduction in air and water pollution as well as 250 pounds of mining waste can also be reduced by the recycling process only.
So, what do you wait for? Arise, Awake and take the realm in your hands!