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.

Make Space for Single-Use Item Alternatives

Let's start with everyday single-use items that often fill our trash cans: paper towels and paper napkins. Can we limit our reliance on these things? To make the transition from single-use items easier, it is essential to design spaces in the home that visually remind you to prioritize multiple-use items. For example, consider switching out that disposable paper towel holder hanging on your kitchen wall. Replace it with a small container or box that holds your washable dishtowels, reusable rags, and cloth napkins. For grocery bags, place a hook on your side door where you can remember to take your reusable cloth bag with you on your trip to the supermarket.

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.

Bottom line

It takes time, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to reducing garbage, but it is not that hard if you plan. Recycling your construction and debris waste from home renovation projects, space planning for reducing on-going waste, and filtering your water are all essential strategies that will help your household get closer to the zero waste ideal.