This might seem like a lot, but consider how much organic waste is produced in America each year. The current numbers for municipal solid waste (garbage from homes, offices and retail outlets) estimate that about 168 million tons are produced annually. This is the equivalent of about 24 million elephants. It is difficult to overstate how much waste that is. Nearly half of all that organic waste can be composted as well, meaning that the discarded food, yard trimmings and paper could be turned into nutrient rich soil. Instead, most is sadly buried in dumps and landfills where it degrades into methane gas, which in turn contributes to global warming.
It’s wild to think that measures as seemingly insignificant as trashing your leftovers can contribute to rising sea levels, but small actions add up on a grand scale. Fortunately, there are easy ways to reduce your personal impact. Steps such as planning meals more carefully, starting your own compost pile and switching to cloth napkins and towels can have a big impact on how much waste you create. Take a look at the following infographic to learn more about the impact of organic waste.
|____________________________________________________________|
home remodeling reference (links to internal page)
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
directory | photos | forms | guide |
Helpful article? Leave us a quick comment below.
And please share this article within your social networks.