In the United States, most of what we consume ends up as garbage in as little as a few minutes. Just ponder these U.S. consumption facts:
- Almost 240 million tons of solid waste sent to landfills each year, or an average of 4 1/2 pounds of trash, per person, per day!
- Nearly 20 billion disposable diapers, more than 90% of which end up in landfills each year, or 10,000 tons of disposable diapers thrown into our landfills each and every day! The manufacturing of these single-use diapers alone requires a staggering 1+million metric tons of wood pulp and 75,000 metric tons of plastic each year.
- A standard showerhead utilizes somewhere between 4 to 6 gallons of water a minute, so the average household uses more than 700 gallons of water every week. The energy required to heat this water is staggering, and puts additional pressure on greenhouse gas emissions, let alone your household energy bills!
Here are a few things we can do differently to change these particular habits:
- Reduce, reuse and repurpose the everyday things in your life. Think twice before you throw that thing away. Ask yourself if you can reuse it or use it for some other purpose. Less waste means less pollution, lower carbon emissions and extra money in your household.
- Consider using disposable diaper brands that are biodegradable and chemical-free. Investigate the resurgance of reusable diaper services. There are some great, earth-friendly, entrpreneurs who found their niche in this area. Look them up and place your orders!
- Change your shower habits. If you keep your shower time to 5 minutes or under, you can save a considerable amount of water, and reduce the energy and emissions associated with heating what you're not using. It's also fashionable to use your toothbrush in the shower, or to invite a loved-one in with you. Scrub, brush and share together!
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