GoingTrueGreen.com recently received an email from a GTG member asking for more information about how I reduced the amount of garbage that I put out for collection. For the overall majority of the year, I put out 1 garbage can per week, while comparable neighbors put our two garbage cans, twice a week. This GTG blog will try to break down how I accomplish reducing the amount of garbage on a weekly basis.
 One Garbage Pail, Once A Week | VS |  Two Garbage Pails, Twice A Week |
I estimate about a 40% reduction from being more acutely aware of Recyclables:
- Recycle all cardboard by flatten and tie up boxes ranging from deliveries to tissue boxes.
- Recycle those cardboard paper towel tubes, cardboard backings to paper pads, and even your cardboard toilet paper rolls.
- Recycle Milk and OJ containers along with the juice packs.
- Buy eggs in the cardboard cartons, not in plastic containers that may or may not be recyclable.
- Then use the cardboard egg cartons to plant seeds in the springtime so you can start growing your own food on that window shelf, backyard, or rooftop.
- Recycle all electronics with E-Waste collection days, including lights bulbs.
- Recycle paint cans, and unused medicines, with Hazard Waste collection days.
Fresh Made Compost !
I estimate about a 20% reduction by Composting the following:
- Scraps and remains of fruits.
- Scraps and remains of vegetables.
- Add trimmed plant life, but NO diseased plants or flowering weeds.
- Add grass clippings like the way you use salt and pepper, use very little, yet grass is not necessary.
- Add leaves every now and then, but avoid twigs from tree branches.
- Coffee grinds and paper coffee filters are great to add into the mix each day.
- Never compost Meat, Dairy, Fish, Bones, Cheese, Oil, Fats, Diseased Plants, Coal, Cat Litter, Plastics, Ash and Paper with Ink or print.
- Have a grass lawn, try mulching with a mulching lawn mower! Thus, no yard waste to put out and no plastic bags.
Homemade Hat Rack From Reused Items
I estimate another 15% reduction in garbage by Reducing and Reusing:
I hope and trust this information is helpful, and at least a good start to cutting back on the amount of garbage produced. Thank you.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
- Reduce garbage by using cloth napkins and reusable towels instead of paper.
- Reduce by using Soap Sheets for washing clothing instead of liquid soap in a large plastic jug.
- Buy olives, tuna, and juice in recyclable glass jars, and bottles. Glass does not put contaminates into food or drink.
- Do Not buy a "bill of goods" aka, Water in plastic bottles or jugs. Buy a counter top Water Distiller.
- Sweep floors and put the dirt collected back outside in the dirt where it came from.
- Avoid using plastic and plastic bags as much as possible.
- Take an extra netted bag or cloth bag to the supermarket for your fruit and veggies. Don't use the plastic bags and stop buying products in plastic containers. Most of which are not recyclable.
- Reuse brown paper lunch bags or buy reusable lunch boxes / bags.
- Donate old clothes, and furniture, to your church or an organization.
- Sell items no longer needed online.
- Use glasses for drinking at home and steel containers for your Distilled water going out with you.
- Use dishes that you wash, avoid plastic dishes of all types.
- Do not buy paper or plastic dishes and cups. If you have a party and need to - do not buy plastic, buy paper dishes and cups.
- Reuse hangers, and old shoes in creative ways, such as garden planters, and making hat racks.
- Old eye glasses, sunglasses, and eyeglass cases, drop in collection box at Pearl Vision Centers for those in need.
I hope and trust this information is helpful, and at least a good start to cutting back on the amount of garbage produced. Thank you.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
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