101 Ways to Go Zero Waste

Beyond our overconsumption problem, landfills themselves are toxic. They’re responsible for 16 percent of methane emissions in the US, and methane is 30 percent more powerful than average greenhouse gases like CO2. Because landfills aren’t aerated for proper decomposition of organic material, the organic matter is stuck in limbo, releasing methane into the atmosphere. Furthermore, toxins from cleaners, batteries, small electronics, and other items that shouldn’t be landfilled leach into the soil and can run off into the ocean and groundwater when it rains.

On average, a piece of clothing is worn 7 times before being discarded, and plastic bags are only used for 15 minutes. “Convenience” items like coffee cups and paper towels use valuable resources, and our resource supply is finite. T

According to the EPA, the average American sends 4.4 pounds of trash to the landfill every day.