Green Living Tip Tuesday: Trash Audit

Most of our everyday activities create trash. From morning coffee in a paper cup, to TV dinner box for those of us too tired to cook, hardly even noticing, we fill up trash can after trashcan with waste that accumulates in our landfills, or even worse ends up in our streets, fields and oceans.

A trash audit could be an eye-opener for most of us, and is a necessary step to really getting a hold on what you currently throw out, and more importantly, what you can save from the trashcan. The audit itself is simple, just follow these easy steps:

• • Pick a time period – A week is a good place to start.
  • Get everyone in your household on board and go about your normal routine, and throw away what you usually do.
  • Weigh your trash each time you take it out.
  • Check daily to see what you threw away that could have been recycled, composted, reused or avoided.
  • Check with local government, who provides your recycling services, and get a list of what materials you can and cannot put in your curbside bin.  To find out about DC recycling program, go to http://www.recycle.dpw.dc.gov/recycle/cwp/view,a,1374,q,617354.asp
  • For everything that can’t be put in your curbside bin, check Earth911’s recycling database for drop-off locations near you. This includes items like paint, batteries, CFLs and pesticides.
  • Avoid buying products in excessive packaging -opt for containers that can be reused and refilled.

And remember: the best way to reduce trash is not to create it at all!

Photo Credit: Flickr CC User basmati – authentic help