The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. By reducing and reusing, consumers and industry can save natural resources and reduce waste management costs. Unfortunately, the amount of waste generated in the United States has been increasing. Between 1960 and 2009 the amount of waste each person creates increased from 2.7 to 4.3 pounds per day. This results in about 243 million tons of waste generated in the US in 2009.
Waste prevention, or “source reduction,” is the strategy behind reducing and reusing waste. By designing, manufacturing, purchasing, or using materials in ways that reduce the amount or the toxicity of trash created, less waste is generated and fewer natural resources are used. Reusee is often part of the waste prevention strategy, stopping waste at the source due to preventing or delaying a material’s entry in the waste collection and disposal system.
Source Reduction and Reuse Facts
- There are reuse centers in most communities, ranging from specialized programs for building materials or unneeded materials in schools to Goodwill centers and the Salvation Army.
- Since 1977, the weight of 2-liter plastic soft drink bottles has decreased from 2.4 ounces each to 1.8 ounces. That means that 250 million pounds of plastic per year has been kept out of the waste stream."
There are many different ways to reduce the waste that is created during everyday lives, but the most effective is of course to not create it at all. However, the amount of waste that is created in the United States increases every year. Between the years 1960 and 2009, the amount of waste created per person increased from 2.7 to 4.3 pounds per day.
This article is about the increasing amount of waste produced every year. Between the years 1960 and 2009, the amount of garbage produced per person went from 2.7 to 4.3 pounds. Additionally, our population is always increasing meaning people producing waste. If everyone would recycle, we could save more natural resources, and reduce waste management costs. Recycling prevents waste, and preventing the amount of waste produced means economic savings for communities, business, organizations, and individual consumers. With the condition of our economy today, everyone could use some economic savings.
"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." epa.gov. US EPA, 25 Jan 2011. Web. 26 Mar 2011. http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/reduce.htm
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