What does it mean to think beyond the bin?
Recycling and composting help keep recoverable material out of landfills. When we dispose of things correctly, we support the systems and markets for these materials.
For a greater impact, we need to do more than sort our waste in the correct bins. We need to think beyond the bin. Thinking beyond the bin means finding ways to prevent waste. This means not buying new items and taking care of what we already own so it lasts longer.
Why should we think beyond the bin?
Buying new items signals to manufacturers to make more things. Making new things uses energy and natural resources. The stages of the product’s lifecycle, like extracting raw materials, processing, manufacturing and transportation, can harm people and the environment.
Manufacturers take raw materials from the earth, turn them into products and then transport those products to stores. The process of making new products uses natural resources and burns fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere, acting like a heat-trapping blanket that warms the air, land and sea. Warmer temperatures can harm the environment, threaten wildlife and increase health risks for people who work outdoors in hot weather.
Recycling and composting recover some of the resources from the waste and put them back to use. However, most of the environmental harm occurs before we use those products. By not buying something new, we save energy and reduce the pollution of making new products.
How can we think beyond the bin?
- Before you buy something, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?”
- Borrow or rent items when possible. Ask family, friends or neighbors, or look for community lending programs like a Library of Things.
- Shop for secondhand items at thrift stores, online marketplaces (like Craigslist), or local Buy Nothing groups.
- Choose durable items you can reuse like water bottles, shopping bags and food containers.
- Take care of and repair the things you own. Check out local repair fairs or websites for help.
Get creative and repurpose your items. Find inspiration online for new uses for things you already have.
Applying a beyond the bin approach to food waste
The average U.S. household wastes over 20% of the food they buy. That is like going to the store, buying five bags of groceries and leaving one behind. This wasted food contributes to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Composting food is a good way to deal with food waste. But it does not make up for the damage that occurs in getting food to our homes. The video below shows how a tomato gets from a farm to our kitchens. Most items we buy take a similar journey with different steps. Tomatoes from farm to kitchen.
About 60% of food waste happens at home. Small changes in how we shop, prepare and store food helps save money, waste less and conserve the valuable resources used to grow, raise and process our food.
Here are some simple habits to prevent food waste:
- Freeze food before it goes bad. This gives you more time to incorporate it into your meal plan.
- Get creative with leftovers.
- Check your fridge and pantry before going to the grocery store. Use the oldest food first before it goes bad.
Visit EatSmartWasteLess.com and DontLetGoodFoodGoBad.org for free resources and more tips to help reduce wasted food.