Don't let your waste waste the planet!

It's no secret that the way we live adversely affects the planet. From climate change to global warming to natural resource depletion, we know major problems that need addressing. But there's one area of environmental degradation that often goes overlooked: waste!

The average person generates 4.51 pounds of waste every day. That might not seem like much, but considering 7.53 billion people on the planet adds up to a lot of garbage. In 2016 alone, the world generated 2.01 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). And the problem is only getting worse; it is estimated that by 2050, we will be generating around 3.40 billion tons of MSW per year!

The Impact of Our Waste on the Environment

?When it comes to waste, there are two main types: biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Biodegradable waste, as the name implies, can be broken down by natural processes into harmless molecules. Food scraps, paper, and yard clippings are all examples of biodegradable waste. Non-biodegradable waste, on the other hand, cannot be broken down by natural processes and persists in the environment for centuries. Plastics, metals, and glass are all examples of non-biodegradable waste.

According to some estimates, the vast majority of MSW—between 60% and 80%—is composed of biodegradable materials like food scraps and paper products. However, due to our reliance on single-use disposable items like straws, coffee cups, and plastic bags, an ever-increasing amount of MSW is composed of non-biodegradable materials like plastics. In fact, it's estimated that between now and 2050, plastic waste will increase by 700%.

This is problematic for several reasons. First and foremost, when biodegradable waste ends up in landfills, it emits methane (a greenhouse gas that's approximately 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide).?

In addition to emitting methane, biodegradable waste also takes up valuable space that could be used for other purposes. For example, between 1990 and 2010, the amount of land devoted to landfills in the United States increased by almost 50%.?

?As for non-biodegradable materials like plastics, they persist in the environment for centuries—which means they have plenty of time to wreak havoc on ecosystems, both on land and water. Studies have shown that nearly 90% of seabirds have plastics in their stomachs; similarly disturbing numbers have been found for turtles and fish. And those animals that don't directly ingest plastics often become entangled in them or mistake them for food; either way, their health is put at risk.

?Bottom line?

Waste, once out of sight, is out of mind as well. We put our trash in bags and send it off to be taken away without giving it a second thought. But the truth is that our waste has real consequences for the environment and the animals inhabiting it. If we want to protect our planet (and ourselves), we need to be more conscious about our consumption and do whatever we can to reduce our reliance on single-use disposable items.