“We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to.”

Terri Swearingen

Humans are the biggest threat to the environment. We are depleting our natural resources, polluting our reservoirs, and producing waste that is largely incapable of decomposition or biodegradation. Before the industrial revolution, many people were aware that it is a privilege to inhabit the earth and believed that it is our duty to treat it with decency.  During the industrial revolution, people began to believe that unused resources were a waste. The 1970s turned another corner, sparking an era to redact all the destruction we caused and put systems in place to lessen our impact on the planet by living more symbiotically with our home as nature intended.

Advances in thought and technology have produced mixed results in our efforts to become more or less aware of our destructive tendencies on the planet. However, with respect to our sustainable tune of change, all it takes is one person to manage their waste in a sustainable manner to allow others to see how simple it is to lessen our environmental impact. To manage your waste sustainably, it starts with sorting the items into the following categories: compostable, reusable, recyclable and landfill.

Composting

Compostable items are capable of biodegradation or breaking down with the help of various organisms. Fruit peels, onion skins, coffee grounds, and eggshells are examples of items that are capable of becoming compost. Some people are leery of composting, either due to the smell or because they have no use for the compost. By keeping the compost relatively covered and avoiding dairy or meat products, you can significantly decrease the stench and the attention of racoons and other creatures. There is a wide range of technology within systems. Some systems are as simple as an “On/Off” button, while others can be created by drilling holes into the top of a garbage bin. Another option for compost is a raised bed that is covered with cardboard to allow proper breakdown and discretion. If you are a gardener, composting is a very efficient and healthy way to get rid of your own produce waste. However, composting is beneficial in every circumstance. Whether you grow your own produce, buy it at the grocery store or market, or buy it from a friend, consider composting your biodegradable waste!

Recycling and Reusing

In a perfect world, items that you recycle are actually put back into the cycle of material. But, as we can see with plastics in the ocean and the cost of recycling overriding the practice, we have clearly hit a wall with the way we recycle items. In the phrase, “reduce, reuse, recycle,” the first two never came across my mind until my involvement with a sustainability nonprofit in Knoxville in 2017. The best way to recycle items is to find a way to reuse them. Reuse jars for storing perishables or as dishware, rather than buying new storage and dishes. Reuse plastic bags instead of buying more. Make an art project out of glass bottles. Use old newspapers as plant pots or donate them to your local, humane animal shelter.  Find a way to get multiple uses out of items that you would otherwise discard. Once a product can no longer be reused, recycle it.

Reducing

Reducing, through reusing items or allowing them to break down naturally, is the key to sustainable living. Reducing is decreasing our consumption overall. Packaged items, regardless of their ability to be composted, recycled, or reused, often create unnecessary waste. To limit the amount of waste that we produce, we must reduce our consumption of items (especially single-use items).

Final Thoughts

It is important to remember and follow the order of the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Managing our waste properly is another simple act that will lead to living a more sustainable life.

Ben DiFilippo
Guest Blogger