The Majority End Up in Landfills: Advocates Say We Can Do Better
It’s a sad truth that a majority of the products we purchase, use and discard end up in landfills. Every day, we generate nearly 4.5 pounds of waste per person in the United States alone. While recycling and composting have been on the rise, the fact remains that only about 34% of the waste we generate is diverted away from landfills.
The waste we generate can have a huge environmental and health impact. Landfills emit greenhouse gases, such as methane, which contribute to climate change. They also can contaminate groundwater, and create air and noise pollution.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the amount of waste we generate and prevent it from ending up in landfills. Here are some of the most important strategies to reduce and divert waste from landfills:
1. Reduce: The best way to reduce the amount of waste we generate is to buy only the items we need and to use them for as long as possible. We can also reduce waste by shopping in bulk, reusing containers and packaging, and using refillable items.
2. Reuse: Reusing items helps us reduce the amount of waste we generate. We can reuse items like bottles, jars, and containers for storage and other purposes. We can also donate items we no longer need to thrift stores, or give them to friends and family.
3. Recycle: Recycling helps us divert materials from landfills and transform them into new products. It’s important to make sure that we recycle the right materials, and to avoid contamination.
4. Compost: Composting is a great way to divert food waste from landfills. Composting can be done at home or at a commercial composting facility. Composting helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce water and air pollution, and create nutrient-rich soil.
Advocates believe that we can do better when it comes to reducing, reusing, recycling and composting our waste. By taking individual and collective action, we can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. We can start by reducing the amount of waste we generate, reusing items, recycling materials, and composting food waste. Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future.
