The average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day. That’s 29 pounds (13 kg) per week or 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year. And that’s only the waste we produce in our households — it doesn’t even include the much greater amount of waste produced by industries and businesses each day. That’s a lot of waste, which means there’s a lot of room for doing things better.
Reducing waste:
- Protects the Environment
Household waste in the U.S. is comprised of everything from food scraps, paper, plastic and metal to the hazardous chemicals in oven cleaners and garden pesticides. When these are buried in a landfill, or even worse, burned in an incinerator, it not only wastes valuable resources, but also pollutes our air and water, and even contributes to climate change. - Protects our Health
Many of the chemicals released by landfills and incinerators are linked to health impacts ranging from asthma to cancer. So reducing waste also reduces these health threats to our communities and families. - Saves Money
Remember, we paid good money for all the stuff that we then turn around and throw away – often only after using it a few minutes. Reusing and repairing stuff, instead of throwing it away, helps our household budget stretch further.
