Day Six - Paper Weight

The kids had field day today, and it was amazing to see how much trash was generated by one event. Giant trash cans filled with paper cups, plastic freeze-pop sleeves, orange peels, paper towels, and plastic bags. It’s amazing how you become conscious of waste when you’re taking this challenge.

Approaching the end of our first week, I’ve noticed a drop in our trash volume already. But there are plenty of ways we can improve, too. Five-year-old Emma* uses way too much new paper for doodling and drawing. So I’ve put a box on the counter to collect fliers and school papers that still have one blank side, which she can use when she’s not doing a “serious” project.

Ten-year-old Lucy* reaches for juice boxes and bottled iced tea when there are plenty of other drinks in the fridge.

I’m a paper towel waster, much to my shame. I got into the habit of using them long ago, and it’s a hard habit to break. My husband is almost as wasteful with them as I am. Maybe I’ll move the roll to the laundry room, so it will be easier for us to reach for a rag or towel when we’re in the kitchen.

According to Green Seal, a non-profit organization that certifies products that meet earth-friendly specifications, “40% of trash in U.S. landfills consists of paper products,” and “30% of the timber consumed in the U.S. is used to make paper products.” They say that the bleach used to bleach paper products, elemental chlorine, causes the release of compounds that are mutagens, carcinogens, and can be extremely harmful to wildlife and aquatic animals because they build up in the systems of organisms through the food chain.

So the tip for day six is to reduce paper waste, and the environmental dangers from paper products.

Day Six Tip: Choose unbleached paper products made from recycled post-consumer waste whenever possible.