Reduction In My Waste Production

     Ever since I started taking this class, I have noticed that most Americans have no regard for the trash they produce and simply forget about it as soon as it leaves their hand into the trash can. Most people do not care about how many plastic bottles they throw away, or how much paper towels they use simply to dry their hands or clean a small mess, then assume it is no longer useful. Some people throw away stuff they haven't even used! In this weeks assignment I will be keeping track of my trash for 2 days, implement some waste reduction techniques, then see if there was a reduction in my waste production.

  Trash 11/8 - 11/9

• 1 plastic bottle
• Approx. 5 paper towels/napkins
• 2 Styrofoam cups
• Couple of plastic bags
• 3 chip/candy wrappers
• 2 Noodle cups
• Ate fast food twice which includes paper bag, cup, wrappers, straw
• 1 aluminum can
• 3 pieces of writing paper

That's about it!

Trash Reduction Techniques

• Instead of using paper towels or napkins I had a handkerchief in my pocket for drying/cleaning my hands.
• I reused the plastic bottle from the previous day for my water.
• Went out and bought groceries which eliminated the need for fast food
• I tried to buy items with the least amount of packaging.
• Reuse plastic bags

Next 2 days... 11/10-11/11

• 2 Hot pocket wrappers
• 2 chip/candy wrappers
• Shampoo bottle
• Deodorant stick
• Plastic lockset packaging (work)
• 1 aluminum can
• 1 plastic bag

How did I do?

     I feel like there was a definite reduction in my trash using these strategies I implemented. Although I did observe that when I went out and bought groceries, I replaced all the items that I needed and discarded the old ones plastic packaging. It was so hard finding food with less packaging at the store, so I decided to just cut certain ones out like those cupped noodles which produce so much trash; the cup is covered with a paper tab, wrapped in plastic, with a cardboard outer display for advertisement. But I couldn't resist those convenient and delicious Hot Pockets which come in a cardboard box and individually wrapped. I reused the plastic bags they gave me by putting them in my smaller trash cans, acting like trash bags. I don't think I used anything that was recyclable. I will definitely continue to carry my handkerchief around to reduce my paper waste.