Can a Home be Zero Waste?

Why Should We Care About Household Waste? 

Waste Hangs Around

The glass bottle you throw into the garbage might take upwards of one million years to decompose in landfills. Those daily disposable diapers that are a staple of families with small babies could take up to 450 years to decompose. Your soda can might be in the ground for 200 years before eventually disappearing back into the earth. Archaeological sites of past civilizations are full of beautiful pieces of pottery and earthenware. In contrast, future societies will marvel at the sheer amount of non-biodegradable trash our culture created.

Waste Contributes to Climate Change

Another problem with the garbage that leaves our homes is that it contributes to global warming while slowly decomposing. According to the EPA, landfill gas is around 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gasses. It is considered to be about 30 times stronger than CO2 in accelerating global climate change. The garbage that flows through our homes, then, is leading to excessive methane gas being released in landfills, to the tune of 130 million metric tons each year.

Landfills Will Contaminate Our Groundwater

Legislation was passed in the 1980s and 1990s to try to control leaching from landfills. The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that all landfills will eventually leach potential toxins and pollution into the environment. Groundwater contamination is a concern of communities across the country and one reason why it is becoming increasingly difficult for municipal authorities to find locations for new landfills. 

Is It Possible to Get Rid of Garbage? 

For a home renovation project, especially a kitchen renovation, it's best to plan to help reach a zero-waste home's lofty goal. Rise spoke with zero-waste expert and blogger Kathryn Kellogg, founder of goingzerowaste.com, and she recommends starting with your very own waste audit.

Buy Bulk to Reduce Packaging Waste

Next, while we may bring our reusable bags for shopping when heading to the grocery store, the amount of plastic packaging we bring home is often considerably higher than the plastic bags we avoid. However, to prevent packaging waste, we need an area in our house to store food that we purchase in bulk. Planning a space that can hold large bins or containers for bulk food storage is one way your household can reduce packaging waste.

Compost Organic Waste

The EPA estimates that over 61% of all municipal solid waste is organic. Paper accounts for 27% of our waste stream, while food waste is almost 15% of everything we throw away—yard clippings and wood account for 13.5% and 6.2% of our waste, respectively. Organic waste in landfills leads to anaerobic decomposition (without oxygen). This process is what causes the majority of methane to escape from our landfills into the atmosphere. Organic waste of all types, however, can be composted or used at home. We can choose from many strategies, beginning with simple composting techniques or a worm compost bin. We can also rent a wood chipper to turn your yard trimmings, leaves, and fallen branches into mulch. Using these tactics, homeowners can reduce their waste stream by up to 60%. Instead of releasing methane into the air, composting your home's organic waste will increase your soil's fertility.

Filter Your Water

Here at Rise, we believe that water filtration is a crucial component in a sustainable home. Clean, good-tasting water is vital for your health, and once you've got the best water in your home, you will not want to purchase any more bottled water. This approach not only saves money but also reduces a lot of waste. Even if you recycle your water bottles, not buying bottled water in the first place is much better for reducing your ecological footprint. As Kathryn Kellogg says, "living a zero-waste lifestyle isn't about recycling more; it's about recycling less." Meaning, we need to reduce single-use items upfront. So, when planning a kitchen remodel, prioritize water filtration and make room for storing reusable water bottles.