42 Ways to Reduce Waste

Collin Beavan, star of environmental movie, No Impact Man, came out with his list of 42 ways to not make trash. Collin did a one year experiment of changing he and his families behaviors to a more green lifestyle that he profiles in No Impact Man. One of the goals was to be zero waste and he came pretty darn close!

The average American generates over 1,600 pounds of trash per year- more than twice the garbage of the average European. If all Americans recycled paper, plastic and glass bottles, and aluminum cans, this would divert over 51% of the waste in our current landfills. If all Americans composted food scraps and yard waste this would divert another 25%.  Each American has the potential to divert over 75% of their current waste just through recycling and composting.

Companies are trying to do their part. A report by McKinsey and Company called Reducing Our Footprint found that global companies have already taken measures to reduce more than 1.5 billion pounds of packaging waste since 2005.  However there is still room for a lot of improvement. According to research published by the Natural Resource Defense Council, annually, airlines throw away 9,000 tons of plastic, enough aluminum cans to build 58 Boeing 747 jets, and enough newspaper and magazines to cover a football field 230 meters deep.

Another great website to learn more about reducing waste is Reduce.org.

No Impact Man: Recommended Documentary

No Impact Man is a story about Colin Beavan who decides for one year to eliminate his personal impact and change he and his family’s lifestyle to be more green. They makes some hard sacrifices such as giving up electricity for 6 months, no elevators, toilet paper or cars. The first reaction seems extreme, but through his chronicles you realize that humans have a great capacity for adjustment. His wife, Michelle, initially struggled although she was supportive of the project. At the end you clearly see she is happier, they have improved communications and really became a convert for the lifestyle.

Another great chronicle of how living life sustainably doesn’t have to be hard, it is just different. A big payoff is the money savings but more than that you see a family who enjoys  each other and life again.

You can purchase the DVD from Oscillcope Laboratories or Whole Foods. It is also available for rent at local video store.