Like any living organism, we each take in resources and expel waste products. Our home environments are not so different. In our daily lives, we consume various goods, and expel what we cannot use or have finished using.
In the natural world, organisms are evolved to be efficient resource consumers; there isn’t much waste. And the biome has developed so that waste from certain organisms can be used by others in virtuous cycles that enhance the Earth’s capacity to support all the life that depends on it.
Steps to reduce our “waste prints.”
Composting
Composting is a process that converts food and organic waste back into a nutrient rich soil-like material that can be used as fertilizer. It epitomizes sustainability because the process is regenerative.
Many individuals and families set up composting in their yard. The availability of residential composting pick-up services is also growing. It’s easy to get started.
Recycling
Most communities now have curbside recycling. These programs offer an easy way to divert waste away from landfills, but may accept only certain materials, e.g., mixed paper, plastics, and/or glass. Local waste authorities may also accept recyclables at specified locations, and provide useful information on how to recycle. For other items, including for example, light plastics and electronics, recycling options exist.