altogether is the best answer to our waste management problems. This means
reducing our personal consumption levels and changing some of our buying habits.
When shopping, choose products that use the least packaging, and buy products
whose packaging is wholly recyclable. Packaging makes up approximately 30% of
all U.S. garbage. Many grocery stores now carry a significant amount of food in
bulk, allowing consumers to reuse durable containers for food rather than
disposable cardboard or plastic containers. An easy way to change wasteful
habits is to put a note by your home’s garbage and recycling center. Every time
you throw something away, ask yourself if it could have been replaced by
something reusable like a sturdy container or cloth rag. You’ll soon find
yourself collecting and using reusable items for many common tasks that once
required disposable materials. You can also extend your garbage-awareness to
your work place. Advocate for a double-sided printer, for instance, if you work
in an office. A convincing letter to your boss (if you’re not the boss) might
convince him or her that the amount of money saved in paper will eventually pay
for the printer. When you go to the grocery store, bring your own bags instead
of using paper or plastic. Consumers often wonder which of the two is better;
the answer is: neither. When shopping for smaller items, tell the clerk not to
give you a bag (frequently their default action) if you can simply carry the
item in your hand. Buy durable, quality items that will last and lend themselves
to repair when broken. When things do break, remember that fixing is almost
always cheaper than replacing, and you’ll have the satisfaction of minimizing
your garbage output. When you no longer need something, give it away instead of
throwing it away. Organizations like The Salvation Army will gladly accept
almost any used household item. Remember that Benjamin Franklin’s maxim, "A
penny saved is a penny earned," goes for the environment, too. Every time
we reuse something, we’ve saved another like it from having to be made. Every
time we recycle something, we’ve saved energy, pollution, and the materials from
being mined from our natural resources.