Earth Day Zero Waste Household

Is it possible to have zero waste? In our households, this sounds practically impossible. However, there is hope in that not all waste is garbage. Recoverable products (paper, plastics, and organic material) represent 82 percent of material disposed in landfills according to a CNN article, Downtown Atlanta recycles self into a Zero Waste Zone. While the Zero Waste Zone focuses on businesses, the practice of recycling and composting can be applied to our households. Three ways of separating solid waste will help us empty our trash cans.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/17/gsif.atlanta.zero.waste.zone/index.html

1. Recycle Paper, Plastic, Glass, and Metal

Recycling options are growing fast especially for paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Urban areas admittedly have more convenient options available from curbside pick-up to drop-off locations at local businesses or schools. With a little research, a convenient drop-off location might be just around the corner from your house. Some areas no longer require sorting items, making it easier than ever to recycle. There are companies also offering to recycle printer cartridges and other household electronics.

2. Person to Person Reuse of Household Items

With a little creativity, the remaining products that might be thrown in the trash can be reused around the house or passed along to someone else. Clothing can be shared among families or donated to charity. Socks with holes are useful as cleaning rags. Garage sales and Craigslist are both great ways to find a new home for items that still hold value. Reuse of items at the end of the day simply saves money and helps our neighbor.

3. Composting Food Waste

After recycling food containers and reusing household items, the majority of solid waste remaining in the trash is food scraps as well as summer yard waste including leaves and grass clippings. Composting is a natural process of allowing organic material to decompose over time into a nutrient rich fertilizer used in gardening. There are a variety of options available on the market to compost from a compact container sold at Target that can be stored indoors to rotating barrels placed in the yard. With a sizable yard, composting can be as easy as designating a location to pile the organic material or build your own storage container from wood.

After applying one or more of the three practices, post the amount of waste removed from your trash. How close can you get to zero household waste after applying all three steps?