Most Americans are aware that there is a consumption crisis, but few can actually explain why it’s happening or what’s causing it. Here’s a look into waste in America and why it’s such a big issue.
The waste we create
Municipal solid waste is garbage made up of everyday items including paper, food, metals, glass, wood and plastics. The U.S. creates more municipal solid waste than any country worldwide. Each person in the U.S. creates about 5 pounds of solid waste per day—twice the amount it was in 1960.
Non-biodegradable waste has to go somewhere, and we’re running out of places to put it. Because of this, it often ends up in oceans, hurting wildlife. The problem of waste in America is also contributing to the climate crisis (waste produces methane gas which heats up the planet) and has a negative impact on human health. Let’s take a look at some of the most detrimental forms of waste we’re creating.
Plastics
What’s going on
- The U.S. is the largest creator of plastic waste
- Plastics only get recycled 8.7% of the time
- Plastics account for 12% of solid waste — 35.7 million tons
- 50% of all plastic is single-use only
- In the past 10 years, we’ve made more plastic than in the last century
Why it’s bad
- 8 million tons of plastic enter oceans each year
- 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone
- Plastic lasts forever unless we find a more sustainable way to reuse it
- Chemicals in plastic, including BPA and phthalates, can contribute to reproductive abnormalities, endocrine disruption, heart disease, and diabetes in humans
What you can do
- Limit your single-use plastic consumption—this is where the biggest problem for the environment and our health lies!
- Buy PET plastics
- Sign petitions focused on plastic consumption
- Educate yourself on what’s going on
- Learn how to properly recycle
Food
What’s going on
- 30–40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted, the equivalent of $161 billion worth of food
- In 2010, 218.9 pounds of food were wasted per person, that’s about a month and a half’s worth of food
- The average family of four throws away $1600 worth of produce per year
- 43% of food waste comes from homes, followed by restaurants, then farms, then manufacturers
- Only 4.1% of wasted food gets composted
- If food waste was its own country, it would be the third largest behind China and the U.S. in greenhouse gas emissions
- 11% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to food waste
Why it’s bad
- The resources needed to produce food get wasted (think: water, soil, fertilizer, feed, plastic, gasoline, etc.) contributing to the climate crisis and the municipal waste crisis. This is equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions of 37 million cars per year
- We’re wasting food that could go to people who need it—around 35 million people in America suffer from food insecurity, a number that could rise to 50 million in 2022
- We could feed all the hungry people in the world with the food that is wasted between the United States, United Kingdom and Europe.
- The U.S. is losing about $750 billion dollars a year as a result of food waste
What you can do
- Understand expiration date labels—we often throw food out too early when it’s still good
- Plan ahead and buy less at the grocery store
- Compost leftover food scraps
- Add wilting food to smoothies, juices and soups to keep it in use
- Donate unused food to community fridges and food pantries
- Be ok with food that doesn’t look perfect
- Join organizations and sign petitions—several states are creating legislation in efforts to lower food waste, including banning food scrap waste altogether and expanding trash separation rules. Being part of the voice that carries this movement can make an impact and help get more states on board
- Educate yourself and others
Furniture
What’s going on
- Over 12 million tons of furniture are being tossed every year—up from 2.2 million tons in 1960
- Of that, most of the furniture being tossed was manufactured in the last 10 to 15 years
- 80% of furniture that gets tossed is sent to landfills, with 20% of it being combusted for energy recovery
- 5% of landfill waste is made up of furniture
- A survey in the UK found that one-third of people threw away furniture that could be sold or donated
Why it’s bad
- Like plastics and food waste, the resources needed to manufacture and distribute furniture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, waste pollution
- Fast furniture and furniture waste (or f‑waste) contributes significantly to deforestation
What you can do
- Buy high-quality, timeless pieces of furniture that aren’t influenced by the latest trend
- If you want to follow trends or need to buy furniture, opt for used furniture instead of new to promote circularity
- Make sure to sell or donate any furniture you’re getting rid of
- If you have to leave it on the curb, add a note that it’s free and alert any “curbing” or “stooping” blogs or social media accounts
- Avoid fast furniture at all costs
The problems we face with waste in America are no joke. As the world population grows, so do our needs for these widely consumed products. If we don’t find a way to lessen the environmental impact now, we may be too late in twenty years. Governments and businesses around the world are starting to pay attention to this issue and are pledging to create change in the near future. Making small changes now and spreading the word about our consumption habits is the best way to start on a personal level. Let’s get going!