My wife and I began sorting our trash about two years ago, and we were literally shocked by the result. Through recycling, I was able to reduce what had been a flood of garbage down to little more than a trickle.
Check out this article on reducing your carbon footprint for some of the other tips I got started with in my house and saved some bucks, too!
Reducing your personal carbon footprint
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How much Real Trash?
Started by Don, Oct 07 2011 03:16 PM
trash collection trash disposal waste pickup
17 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 11 October 2011 - 06:29 AM
We are a family of two adult and two children and two cats living in a city. We recycle all of our paper, metal and plastics that are recyclable and we put our yard waste out for collection on yard waste day. The city turns yard waste into mulch which anyone can take as much as they want for free. I have a worm farm in my basement and all my non-meat, non-dairy food scraps go into that. After all that, we fill about two kitchen trash bags each week, most of that trash being from hygiene purposes, cat waste and non-compostable food waste.
#3
Posted 28 October 2011 - 04:36 PM
I am in a very similar situation to milkdonormama apart from the children! We don't use litter trays so we don't have to deal with the cat waste but it also means it's not a good idea to grow any veg in our small garden. Instead I grow veg in pots and fertilise with the compost I make in the composter I built last year. The composter takes care of a huge amount of waste. I shred any paper and put that in for the carbon balance and all the organic wast gets easten up. I am amazed at how much the composter reduses everything. Its about 2 cubic meters made from an old picket fence. In the 18 months I've had it I would say its reduced about 400 cubic meters of newspapers, bills, tea bags, veg peelings and general organic matter into about 4 cubic meters of high quality compost! My partner thinks I'm a bit obsessed by the composter but I just think its amazing.
Our wheelie bin only needs to go out about every 6 weeks or so and then it's never usually full. A few years ago it was full every week. I don't have a wormery yet but intend to build one very soon.
Our wheelie bin only needs to go out about every 6 weeks or so and then it's never usually full. A few years ago it was full every week. I don't have a wormery yet but intend to build one very soon.
#4
Posted 30 October 2011 - 05:20 AM
We also reuse and recycle as much as we could. We reuse water from doing the laundry and bathing, using it to clean the bathroom and flushing toilets. We also keep and separate all kinds of waste that we can sell to the junk shop such as tin cans, glass and plastic bottles, plastic cups and scrap metals. It lessen dumped waste and at the same time saves money and earn some money too.
#5
Posted 01 November 2011 - 06:11 AM
It was unbelievable the difference when we started composting (we have always recycled). The trash went from being taken out ~once per day (apartment building) to closer to 1-2x per week! It was incredible! Amazing the amount of *stuff* that people just throw out without thinking of where it's going or how it will impact the world.
#6
Posted 02 November 2011 - 03:47 AM
Thanks for the article link, I've been recycling for a while now but i'm aware there is more i could do to help out the environment from my home.
I recycle everything that i can, but to be honest, there's a lot that i could recycle but the government wont take it, i don't really understand it to be honest.
I recycle everything that i can, but to be honest, there's a lot that i could recycle but the government wont take it, i don't really understand it to be honest.
#7
Posted 29 November 2011 - 12:29 PM
We have very little trash as we are not super-consumers. Much of our stuff comes from the local thrift store so we don't end up with a lot of packaging. Our neighbor has a compost heap and lets us donate to it. We filter our water and reuse glass bottles for drinking. The coffee grinds and old tea bags end up being fertilizer.
#8
Posted 29 November 2011 - 03:19 PM
Germs, on 02 November 2011 - 03:47 AM, said:
there's a lot that i could recycle but the government wont take it, i don't really understand it to be honest.
It all comes down to that-always.
Manpower, trucks, fuel to pick it up and more manpower to sort it, more trucks, more fuel to ship it elsewhere.
#9
Posted 29 November 2011 - 08:03 PM
When I first started recycling -- I had to bring my recycling to work because there were no bins at my building -- I realized I only needed to take out the garbage once every few days, if I waited for the bin to be full. I still have bags and bags of recycling every week, compared to just a couple of trips to the garbage dumpster.
#10
Posted 30 November 2011 - 03:53 AM
And it's not just the massive amount of trash that goes to the landfills, but
trees being cut down and often not replaced for the paper packaging of the products we buy-
the oil and gas that is used for plastics,
and all the food waste that could easily be composted to feed more gardens, for more food.
Not to mention the water used to produce all these products.
trees being cut down and often not replaced for the paper packaging of the products we buy-
the oil and gas that is used for plastics,
and all the food waste that could easily be composted to feed more gardens, for more food.
Not to mention the water used to produce all these products.
#11
Posted 30 November 2011 - 10:08 AM
One of the really sad things to see is when recycling is offered in a town and ignored by a large part of the population. Fines notwithstanding, some people just can't seem to be bothered with separating their refuse stream.
As if it's that difficult ...
As if it's that difficult ...
#13
Posted 30 November 2011 - 03:47 PM
ConservativeGreen, on 30 November 2011 - 02:06 PM, said:
You should try to drop a Pepsi can into the trash at my house. My four year old will set you straight. I guess adults are just harder to educate.
#14
Posted 15 March 2012 - 06:58 AM
When the city started their recycling program, it gave a perfect opportunity to reduce what went to the dumpster over 50%. I have also started to reuse things, like plastic bags for freezing, etc. My garbage is actually been reduced at least 75%. And, through sites like this one, I am learning more all the time. My goal is to reduce to at least 95%.
#15
Posted 16 March 2012 - 12:13 AM
I have been recycling for most of my life and sometimes I don't even throw things into my trash can for a whole day. I compost for all of my fruits and veggies waste, I recycle everything that I can and reuse or repurpose a lot of things. I sometimes only throw out a few trash bags a week while my recycling bin is over flowing and I have to ask my neighbor if I can use his.
#17
Posted 12 April 2012 - 08:12 PM
Good for you! My family also produces little trash. I recycle all that I can (take out recycle more often than garbage). I wish I could compost, but at this time it is not an option so all food material goes down the garbage disposal. Producing very little trash lets me know I am doing some of my part to be friendly to our environment.
#18
Posted 13 April 2012 - 03:15 AM
btatro, on 12 April 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:
I wish I could compost, but at this time it is not an option so all food material goes down the garbage disposal.
http://www.slate.com..._disposals.html
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