Sustainable Students: Waste Management

In 2017, the EPA found that Americans produced 267.8 million tonnes of solid waste of which 35.2% percent was recycled and another 52.1 percent was sent to landfills. Not all solid waste decomposes and even when it does, it contaminates the soil, air, and water. On top of that, there is a major pollution issue that reaches all ends of the globe, harming ecosystems and the species inhabiting them. There are five major offshore accumulation sites of trash, the largest being the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) which covers a surface of 1.6 million square kilometers, equal to twice the size of Texas. While trying to consume more recyclable goods seems like a good idea, not even half of these goods end up being recycled. Here are some helpful tips to consider:

Compost! Not all schools have a composting program but if the one you attend does, it is extremely feasible to collect organic waste and drop it off at a composting site. The easiest way to do this while avoiding the smell of rotting food is by keeping a large tupperware in the freezer and adding waste from fruits and vegetables to it over time, then taking it to a composting site when full. If your university doesn't have a composting program, your city might!
Bring your own utensils - I always keep a set of utensils including a reusable straw in my bag. This can be as simple as grabbing a couple utensils from home and wrapping them in cloth. By doing so, you can avoid having to use single-use plastic utensils.
Bring your own bag - the most obvious one. Opt out of plastic and paper bags by bringing your own to the grocery store, the mall, and anywhere else you plan to buy thins you will need a bag for. The best option is going to a second-hand store and purchasing cloth tote bags instead of buying plastic reusable bags that many grocery stores offer.

Reusable bags for produce are also important. Usually, I just leave my produce free but for certain things like kale and other leafy greens, I like using a bag. Some can be purchased on Amazon or for a more ethical (but expensive) option there is this website and others.

Bring your own cup - if you like to buy coffee every morning, bringing your own cup greatly reduces your consumption of single-use products. I encourage you all to make your coffee at home instead of doing this. Costco is one place where customers are able to get coffee beans in bulk, free of plastic packaging, and they have a grinder on-site for customers to make their own coffee grounds. One could then use a stovetop coffee maker or Moka pot to make their own coffee every morning with no waste created in the process.

Whatever you do, AVOID using a Keurig.

Reuse whenever possible. Before throwing out anything, consider the possibilities.
Dispose of goods properly. Every city has different rules for the disposal of certain products. It is important to be informed on what can be thrown in the regular trash and recycling bins to avoid hazardous wase from entering landfills.

VAPE PRODUCTS: this is one thing that I think about often. Too many people are depending on disposable vape products and end up throwing these devices into normal garbage cans as if the product isn't hazardous waste due to the nicotine residue inside and the lithium battery that powers it. Disposal of lithium-ion batteries varies by location so it is important to be wary of this. There are steps one should follow to recycle the cartridge of the disposable vape which I will link here.