Part 1: Garbage
Most people probably don't spend much time thinking about how much garbage they throw away in a single day. We throw away food wrappers, packaging, tissues, and countless other things without really considering where they end up. For this assignment, I kept track of the items I disposed of over a 24-hour period. I wanted to see how much waste I actually produced and how much of it could have been handled differently.
My trash company is Dale Levitt Disposal, located in Urbana, Illinois. After looking into where my garbage goes, I found that the waste is ultimately taken to a landfill outside the immediate Urbana-Champaign area. This means that most of the items I throw away do not simply disappear. They become a part of a much larger collection of waste that has to be managed.
During my 24-hour period, I threw away a variety of everyday items. Some came from home and school, while others came from my workplace. One of the biggest contributors to my waste was my job. Because I am required to use disposable plastic gloves, plastic wrap, and paper towels while working, these materials added up quickly. During my three-hour shift, I already went through approximately 36 individual plastic gloves (18 pairs).
Here is my inventory:
Plastic gloves: 36
Pieces of plastic wrap: 12
Food wrappers: 3
Paper napkins:3
Paper towels: 16
Food packaging: 4
Plastic bags: 2
Receipt: 3
Cotton swabs: 2
Feminine products: 5
Food scraps: 2
Toilet paper cardboard tube: 1
Torn rag: 1
Bobby pins: 1
Plastic bottles (recycled): 2
Aluminum cans (recycled): 4
Cardboard boxes (recycled): 4
In total, I disposed of 99 individual items over the 24-hour period. Of those, 89 were thrown into the regular trash, while 10 were recycled. Looking at the list, I was surprised by how quickly smaller, everyday items added up. My workplace contributed a particularly large amount of waste because of the items I am required to use.
When looking at my pie chart, people should notice that the majority of my waste ended up in the landfill rather than being recycled. Out of the 99 total items I disposed of, only 10 were recycled. This means that approximately 89.9% of my waste was landfilled, while only 10.1% was recycled. The largest part of my waste came from disposable items, especially the plastic gloves and plastic wrap I used at work.
Overall, I was surprised by how even the little things I dispose of add up so quickly. Before doing this assignment, I probably would not have thought much about throwing away a paper towel, food wrapper, or a piece of plastic wrap. However, when I started counting everything, I realized that even ordinary daily activities can produce a lot of waste. I think this shows how much of our waste is connected to things we use for convenience or because they are required for certain activities.
If I made a greater effort to recycle, reuse, and compost, I believe I could have diverted a larger percentage of my waste from the landfill. For example, my food scraps, paper towels, and napkins could potentially have been composted. I also could have recycled the cardboard tube and found another use for the torn rag at work. Including the 10 items I already recycled, these changes could have diverted approximately 33.3% of my total waste from the landfill. Of course, this would depend on what materials local recycling programs accept and if I have a space to compost. Even though I would still have waste that could not easily be avoided, this shows that there are ways I could reduce the amount of items I send to the landfill.
Part 2: Stuff
For the second part of this assignment, I decided to take a close look at my bookshelf. My bookshelf has four shelves that hold some of my books and a couple of LEGO sets. I have had it for approximately six years, and I originally bought it from IKEA for around $30. Although it is not a very large piece of furniture (3.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide), it holds quite a bit of my stuff. While it is starting to break with age, I still use it.
When I think about how much I use my bookshelf, I would say it has been worth the money. I have used it for years, and it gives me a place to display things that I enjoy. Having my books and LEGO sets displayed makes me happy, and I like being able to show my collection. However, there are also resources that went into making it. The materials had to be collected and manufactured, and the finished bookshelf had to be transported to the store before I could buy it. Even though I only spent $30 on it, its production required more resources than the price tag would suggest. Eventually, it will also have to be disposed of when I no longer use it.
Looking at my bookshelf does bring me some joy. I enjoy displaying my books and LEGO sets, especially because of the time I have put into building my collection. However, moving the bookshelf around my room can be stressful because the back is starting to break. Because of this, I can't really add to my book collection: if I add more books, it will probably break completely. Overall, I enjoy having it, but I also wish it were a little sturdier and bigger.
Looking at my storage was relatively easy, since I did not have to move anything around on my shelf to find something. The main thing I noticed was that my bookshelf is a little small for everything I own. I have more books that I would like to fit on it, but there is simply not enough room. This made me realize that even though I already have a place to store and display things that make me happy, I still find myself wanting more space for more items.
Part 3: Reflection
Solid waste is often associated with affluence, especially in North America, because people with more money generally have more opportunities to buy things. When people have more disposable income, they may purchase more clothing, electronics, decorations, food, and other products. Overall, they are more likely to purchase a lot more "stuff." Many of these products come with packaging and require materials, energy, and transportation to produce and deliver. People also tend to replace items in North America even when their old ones still work. All of this creates more waste. In places where people have greater access to consumer goods, it is easy to accumulate more stuff than they actually need.
I do think that what I desire impacts how much stuff I own and how much waste I produce. When I keep wanting new things, I am more likely to buy them, even if I already have something similar. This can create waste both from the packaging of new products and from eventually getting rid of older items. Sometimes, the things we buy are not necessarily things we need, but things we want because we find them new or interesting.
I definitely think that "stuff" is an area where I could work on reducing my ecological footprint. Although I do not buy new things regularly, I still own a lot of items and find myself wanting more. This is especially the case when it comes to my LEGO collection. I could make an effort to be more intentional about what I purchase and think about whether I actually need something before buying it. I could also take better care of the things I already own instead of constantly wanting to add to my collection. I do not think I need to stop buying things altogether, but I could be more thoughtful about what companies I am supporting or what products I am bringing into my home.
One example of solid waste becoming a major issue can be found in Accra, Ghana. The city has struggled with collecting and properly disposing of its growing amount of garbage. According to a World Bank report, the Greater Accra Region generates around 2.500 to 3.000 tons of solid waste every day, but only about 75% of that waste is collected. Limited waste collection services, insufficient recycling programs, and a lack of disposal space contribute to the problem. Some garbage ends up in open drains, waterways, and illegal dumping areas. This is especially concerning because garbage blocking drainage systems can make flooding worse. This demonstrates how important it is for communities to have effective systems for collecting and managing waste. Even when people throw their garbage away, it still has to go somewhere. Without proper management, it can become a serious environmental and public health issue.
- Leeza Unzicker
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