Step #3 - Reduce your garbage print

We all produce garbage, and we probably will until we find the perfect balance of utilizing everything over and over. That’s probably not going to happen in the near future. However in the meantime, we should be conscious, and try to reduce our garbage print. 

Most of the garbage found in the Patch is in form
of debris, however big pieces can also be found.
Photo from NationalGeographic.com

As a human race we have polluted almost everything that can be polluted and a big part of our pollution is in the form of garbage: rivers, oceans, mountains, etc. The best (or worst you might say) example of the garbage print is the well-known Great Pacific Garbage Patch. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, the Pacific Garbage Patch is a huge loose, free floating dump that “lives” in the Pacific Ocean. The Patch is characterized by high concentrations of pelagic plastics, chemical sludge, and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre. Its size is mainly determined by the degree of concentration of debris in the water. However, the current measurements go everywhere from the size of Texas (700,000 Km2) to more than twice the size of the US continental land (+15 million Km2). In any case, whatever the agreement is on the size, you can be sure it’s huge! And this is just one of the “known” garbage disasters.

So what can we do today to reduce our garbage print and reduce our already generous contribution to the planet’s pollution? Here are some suggestions to reduce your garbage, which could save you time and money at the same time:

• When shopping look for minimum packaging. Choose aluminum, tin, or paper as they’re easily recycled.
• Don't take a bag unless you absolutely need one.
• Watch your plastic bags. Get your own bag and bring it with you to the grocery store.
• Avoid disposables. This only translates into more money for companies and more waste in our landfills. Always use items that last.
• Avoid buying foods in single serving packages.
• Buy in bulk. The more you can buy in one package, the less packaging you’ll waste.
• Reuse when you can. When possible, put old packaging and goods to use.
• Borrow or rent—don’t buy. If you only need a big ladder once a year or so—borrow it from a neighbor.
• Keep things in good repair. Many people throw out old things because of a fixable problem, or simply because they aren’t wanted anymore. Instead of throwing repair or give away.
• Compost. When you do yard work, don’t put your old leaves, grass clippings, and branches in a plastic bag. Instead, create a compost heap and decompose old yard waste. Your compost heap can become a healthy soil for your garden.
• Recycle. Recycling has never been more important than it is today. Your cardboard, paper, glass, and aluminum can all be recycled.
• Get off junk mailing lists. Many of us get lots of junk mail every day—and we automatically throw it away.

Sources:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/photogalleries/pacific-garbage-patch-pictures/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch
http://www.professorshouse.com/Your-Home/Environment/Recycling/Articles/How-to-Reduce-Your-Household-Garbage/