Trash & (Zero) Waste in a Disposable World: My Trash & I

Trash & (Zero) Waste in a Disposable World: My Trash & I:          I live in a world ruled by plastic. To be more specific, I live in a world that is enveloped in a neatly sealed and labeled pla...

One Week Trash Documentation

Date	list of trash		Total weight
9/24/2012	several napkins, a couple of water bottles, a gum container, plastic utensils, paper plates, and paper towels		.0512 lbs.
9/25/2012	a couple napkins, a coffee cup, a water bottle, a straw rapper, a cream cheese package, a plastic knife, a paper bag, some paper towels, a sushi plate, chop sticks, and soy sauce packages		.1403 lbs.
9/26/2012	a couple napkins, a few water bottles, a plastic cup, a sheet of paper, plastic, and a to-go box		.222 lbs.
9/27/2012	napkins, water bottles, a gum-rapper, a plastic bag, and paper towels		.021 lbs.
9/28/2012	napkins, a coffee cup, a cream cheese container, a plastic knife, a paper bag, and a Coca Cola bottle		.521 lbs.
9/29/2012	napkins, and a plastic cup		.011 lbs.
9/30/2012	napkins, an Arizona can, and a Pringles can		.031 lbs.
Weekly Total:			.9975 lbs.

        Monday, September 24th was the beginning of my one week project to document every single piece of trash I disposed of. I attempted to discover not only how much trash I would produce, but also what kind of patterns I could deduce from my recordings and how I might be able to change those habits. Over the next week my mind would be wrapped around trash and the conclusions that would be formed about me. In Edward Humes’ Introduction to Garbology he states, “trash is nothing less than the ultimate lens on our lives, our priorities, our failings, our secrets, and our hubris” (Humes 6). The waste one produces on a day to day basis affects everything from the environment to the economy and can ultimately tell a lot about that certain individual. Day one of keeping a record of my trash, I disposed of several napkins, a couple of water bottles, a gum container, plastic utensils, paper plates, and paper towels. On day two, I threw away a couple napkins, a coffee cup, a water bottle, a straw rapper, a cream cheese package, a plastic knife, a paper bag, some paper towels, a sushi plate, chop sticks, and soy sauce packages. Just by analyzing the records kept from day one and two, I noticed that all my garbage revolved around food and drink. Now by using the “lens” I was able to conclude that I prioritize food over a lot of things to balance out my day. Although I don’t produce a lot of waste, there is always room for improvement. For example, I realized that I dispose of at least one water bottle a day and that I could use a reusable bottle instead of a plastic one. Trash can tell a lot about an individual including their habits, social class, gender, and even what they do during the day. If someone were to analyze my garbage output they would most likely assume I was a College Student. Since the only trash consists of food packages and drink containers they could conclude that I am not making my own food for I don’t use glass cups or plates, thus, eating in a school cafeteria.

            As the week carried on and the patterns continued to show up as planned, I noticed that society as a whole functions in the same matter. Each individual goes about their day almost as if it was planned a year in advance. Schedules are made, habits are followed, and routines are set. It’s almost as if I throw away the same objects every day and even at the same time of day. People subconsciously dispose of the exact same products of garbage, which makes it nearly impossible to adjust one’s waste production. On day three, I disposed of a couple napkins, a few water bottles, a plastic cup, a sheet of paper, plastic, and a to-go box. Day four my results included napkins, water bottles, a gum-rapper, a plastic bag, and paper towels. This so called bad habit is what sends trash production through the roof. People are so used to throwing out certain waste products that they only take into account the extra trash or unplanned trash as their waste production. Therefore, people always underestimate their total accumulated trash and are programmed to believe everyone else other than themselves are blame for the trash epidemic. The problem ultimately begins with education. Students are never taught in a way that allows them to experience reality; rather they are forced to listen then to actually act. In David Orr’s book, Earth in Mind, he states that “students are taught that they are part of or apart from the natural world” (12 Orr). This statement ties into the idea of Eco literacy, which claims that human beings are only a small fragment of the circle of life. If students were taught to view the human race as a part of life rather than being the center of life, then each individual would realize that keeping the earth healthy will give us an understood permission to live.

            During the 1900s people began to shift away from time consuming habits and towards “cleanliness and convenience, which supported the notion that throwing things away not only was all right but could make a positive contribution to the quality of life” (Strasser 170). Companies caught on like wild fires and began mass producing items that fit the criteria of quick use and easy disposal. The save your trash project started to come to an end and even during the last three days I started to notice a change in my habits. I substituted water bottles for a reusable canteen and I cut down on my paper towel use by using a cotton towel. I started to realize that the alternatives were available; I just needed to take the initiative to spark change in my patterns. I navigated my way around “planned obsolescence,” which is something designed for temporary use, and found other ways that allowed me to reuse a certain object many times. With a new mindset, I analyzed my trash production over the last three days and found I produced much less. On day five, I disposed of napkins, a coffee cup, a cream cheese container, a plastic knife, a paper bag, and a Coca Cola bottle. On day six, I threw away napkins, and a plastic cup. Finally, on the last day of the project I recorded tossing out napkins, an Arizona can, and a Pringles can. I noticed that my trash production dwindled as the week progressed, however; there is still room to improve and awareness to be held.

            Self-reflection, education, and recycling go a long way when it comes to increased trash production worldwide. If each person were exposed to the reality of what is actually being thrown away on a day to day basis, then maybe they would stand an even chance in the fight against waste. Forming a habit doesn’t take long and it takes even longer to break one. Society’s goal should be to break those habits and transform them into new habits focused around recycling and less consumption. It is safe to say that trash production is an addiction. In order to loosen the ties each person has with waste, he or she must cut deeper into one’s subconscious and constantly remind one’s self to think rather than react.

Works Cited

Humes, Edward. Garbology. New York: Penguin Group, 2012. Print.

Orr, David. Earth In Mind. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1994. Print.

Strasser, Susan. Waste and Want. New York: Metropolitan Company, 1999. Print.