Did you know the average American creates about 4.4 pounds of waste every day, which adds up to 258 million tons in American landfills annually?
Kathryn Kellogg, founder of goingzerowaste.com, can fit all the trash she’s thrown away in the past two years into one mason jar. Here’s what she recommends for reducing personal waste:
- Buy less. By simply consuming less, we can greatly reduce the amount we throw away.
- Don’t throw your food scraps in the landfill. Start a compost pile, look for a city collection or join a community garden.
- Stop paying for trash. Disposable items are expensive in the long run. Switching from paper towels to cloth rags can save the average family $300 a year.
- Keep it real. Use real plates, real flatware and cloth napkins.
- Get your green clean on. An all-purpose cleaner of one-part vinegar and one-part water can be used on everything except marble.
We all know how important it is to reduce our environmental footprint, but it can be daunting to know where to begin. In her 2020 book Zero Waste: 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste, Kellogg shares tips, DIY recipes for beauty and home, advice for responsible consumption and better choices for home goods, fashion and the office.
Her book, Zero Waste Kids, is full of fun ways for kids to make sustainable choices to save planet Earth. Become informed about the crisis we’re in, but more importantly, take action through the 30 achievable child-friendly challenges to reduce waste, including craft activities and lifestyle changes.
