Waste Series: Part 1: Intro

One of the most pressing environmental issues today is the mismanagement and overproduction of waste, which can ultimately be traced back to overconsumption. In this series, I hope to explore different industries’ impact on waste production (globally and in the US) and how we, as individuals, can make an impact through more environmentally-conscious decisions in our everyday lives.

Due to the rise of fast fashion, continually pushing consumers to “buy, buy, buy”, American women have triple the amount of outfits as women had in the 1930s (Forbes, 2015). Other consumption industries are also responsible for the colossal waste produced by Americans: food and drink (through the rise of single-use plastics/containers), cosmetics and personal products, and many other industries.

Today, however, I will begin by discussing American waste today. How has it changed over the years? What makes up the largest portion of American waste? Are the growing efforts to compost, to recycle, and to reuse enough? What are the environmental harms of mismanaged and/or colossal waste?

American waste can be broken down into several groups, as categorized by the EPA.

It might be surprising that plastics do not make up the largest category of waste in the US because they are so often talked about. Yet, it is critical to remember that plastics pose a much larger threat to the environment because of their lack of compostability, while paper and cardboard are easily recyclable/compostable and biodegradable.

It is also important to note that the above chart (EPA) only recognizes municipal solid waste (MSW), and does not include the large amount of waste that unfortunately reaches the ocean.

Luckily, a good portion of the US waste can be recycled, reused, or composted to cut down waste production. Textiles can be donated, yard trimmings, wood, and food can be composted, paper and paperboard can be composted or recycled, and plastics, metals, and glass can be recycled. It is evidently unrealistic to expect such a large and immediate elimination of waste, but it is important to remember that reducing waste is not impossible when further explored.

So is the average American doing enough?

Unfortunately, the US struggles heavily with waste management. As a large, developed country, we are bound to have high levels of consumption and thus high levels of waste, yet we should be taking more action to improve our habits.