What if Your Garbage Had to be Stored in Your Backyard?

Paging Earth is a climate communications blog dedicated to demystifying, depolarizing, and educating the public about climate activism and climate science. Now that we’ve discussed the nuances of the climate crisis, let’s talk about viable solutions.

A Mountain of a Problem

Garbage. It piles up, it smells, and each week we leave it at the curb to be taken away. Once it’s gone, it’s forgotten about and there’s room in the bin for next week’s waste. Out with the old, in with the new. Well, sort of. That process might be what we see at home, but what’s happening on a larger scale?

Each year, the US sends approximately 140 million tons of garbage to landfills, more garbage per person than any other developed country in the world. When this waste piles up, it releases methane gas into the air, which contributes to climate change similarly to carbon emissions. Methane traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere, causing the planet to get hotter. The waste also has the potential to pollute water, air, and land.

Pile of garbage in a landfill. — Source: Minute Media

Historically, waste facilities have been placed in low-income neighborhoods and have contributed to disproportionate health problems in BIPOC communities. New “mountains” in many regions are actually landfills that have been excavated for the sole purpose of depositing trash. The effects of this waste will eventually affect all of us by contributing to rising global temperatures, but it can be difficult to understand the magnitude of this problem because the changes are both slow and invisible.

Many people struggle with the idea of changing their lifestyles to become more environmentally sustainable. This is in part because people feel disconnected from the issue of climate change. While 72% of Americans believe that climate change is happening, only 43% believe that climate change will harm them personally. This concept is referred to as “psychological distance,” meaning that people conceptually understand climate change, but believe it will only happen in distant places or far in the future.

Climate Change Affects All of Us

As it stands, climate change is creeping into many of our backyards. It might not take the form of waste facilities – it could be extreme weather. National Geographic cites climate change as a cause of hotter heat waves, bigger forest fires, more extreme hurricanes and cyclones, more floods and droughts, and polluted water. Climate change will also harm human health in a variety of ways. It will contribute to respiratory disease, malnutrition, and clean water shortages.

If you feel lost trying to help solve this issue, you’re not alone. It’s difficult to wrap your head around it. So, let’s break it down to something smaller. I pose to you this question: What would you do if all of your garbage had to be stored in your backyard? How would your shopping patterns change? Would you be more mindful of what you really need?

The average American produces 4.4 pounds of plastic waste every day. It’s easy to ignore how much this is when we tie it up in a bag and have it taken away by a truck. But if we had to keep all of it in our own yards, we’d quickly realize how much we’re wasting. And this isn’t just environmental waste, it’s financial waste too. Spending money on items that go into the trash unused can be a drain on one’s budget.

Rob Greenfield wears 30 days of trash on his body to make a statement about waste. — Source: https://www.robgreenfield.org/trashme/

Becoming Part of the Solution

So, what does it mean to be more mindful of your shopping habits? You certainly don’t need to start by switching to zero-waste, going 100% vegan, or selling your car to start making an impact. The goal is simply to reduce the amount of plastic, packaging, and food waste that you spend money on just to throw out a few days later. Here are a few ideas to try:

Take note of the fresh foods that end up going bad in your refrigerator week after week. Next time you’re at the store, be mindful of what you will really use.
If you have leftovers, eat them! If leftovers aren’t for you, try scaling down your recipes while you’re cooking to match your hunger level.
At the grocery store, choose items that aren’t over-packaged. Skip the produce bags when you can, for example when buying naturally packaged produce like bananas and oranges
Buy in bulk so that you fit more food into one container. Bonus points if you bring your own container.
Sort your recycling properly according to local regulations. Consider composting food scraps.
Buy more durable clothing and household items. Repair old things rather than replacing them.
Slow down while online shopping. Consider what you need.

By setting and achieving attainable goals like these, you can build confidence in your ability to go further. Your actions can also impact those around you, creating a butterfly effect of climate action and shifting social norms towards sustainability. If you find yourself feeling like climate change is a distant issue, consider coming back to the question: What would you do if all of your garbage had to be stored in your own backyard?