On April 22, 1970, America celebrated an extraordinary event for the first time: Earth Day. This landmark occasion was a triumph for Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, whose passionate environmental advocacy inspired the creation of this celebration. Across the nation, events promoted a vision of a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly society, championed by a slogan that still resonates today: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
For those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, this phrase became as familiar as the Pledge of Allegiance. It adorned murals, echoed through prime-time television, and was endorsed by celebrities of the era. The slogan quickly became an emblem of the sustainability movement.
Reduce your waste. Reuse items whenever possible. Always recycle.
Today, the concept of turning trash into treasure has sparked a wave of creativity and innovation. The results are often stunning, showcasing both artistic brilliance and practical utility. This niche community isn’t just driven by artistic gratification; their efforts bring tangible benefits, highlighting the ongoing relevance and importance of sustainability.
Trash to Treasure – Is it worth it?
Many would argue that the benefits outweigh any possible downfalls. Whether you’re coming from a creative standpoint or an environmentally conscious one, the effort to make that change is a personal choice. Here are 10 reasons you should do it:
1. Reduces Waste in Landfills
Did you know the average person generates 4.5 pounds of waste per day? In a year, that would be 1,642.5 pounds of waste per person. If people live for an average of 60 years, that would mean each person will die with roughly 98,550 pounds of waste. For a population the size of New York City, that would be 837,675,000,000 pounds or 418,837,500 tons of waste generated in a 60 year life span.
For context, New York City has approximately 8.5 million people, which is 2.56% of the total population of the United States. One city will generate the equivalent of 1,147 Empire State Buildings, 70 Great Pyramids of Giza, or 4,188 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers worth of waste in a lifetime.
If a person reduced their waste by 10%, we would see 164.25 pounds less waste per year and 9,855 pounds less waste per lifetime. That means, we would successfully see 82,767,000,000 pounds, or about 41,383,500 tons, of less waste in an average lifespan for the population of New York City. For context, look up the Sanitation Strike of New York City in 1968.
No matter how we look at it, garbage is not a naturally occurring event. We, as humans, generate it by manipulating nature to fit our needs. Without us, the Earth would still be beautiful, green, and garbage free. The idea that our existence has such a negative impact on the environment should concern us. It may not be our children that deal with the consequences, but it will definitely be our grandchildren that do.
There are 8 billion humans on Earth, and experts predict that number to grow to 9.8 billion by 2050. Can you imagine how many tons of waste that will be? It’s no wonder Hollywood depicts the future as a waste filled barren land; numbers like those don’t lie.
2. Conserves Natural Resources
The production process requires the consumption of natural resources. Even eco-conscious practices will not eliminate this need entirely. To better understand the issue, I will explain it using a single roll of toilet paper.
The average roll of toilet paper is approximately 227 grams or 8 ounces. There are two main ingredients in toilet paper: wood and water. To produce paper, wood is ground into a pulp and then It takes about 2.5 times the weight of finished paper to make the paper pulp. Therefore, to produce 227 grams of toilet paper, you need approximately 567.5 grams of wood pulp.
On average, a tree will produce 50 to 70 kilograms of wood pulp, which translates to 50K to 70K grams. Taking the midpoint of 60K grams, we would be able to produce 106 rolls of toilet paper. The average person uses 4 to 6 rolls of toilet paper a month. For a population the size of New York City, that would be between 408 million to 612 million rolls of toilet paper a year.
To supply New York City with toilet paper, you would need to harvest between 3.87 million to 5.78 million trees a year. It would take between 5.7 to 8.5 central parks to meet that demand. Imagine that number on a national scale.
Since many products are single-use, these numbers are far from unique. Changing how and where we buy products can make a huge impact on the environment. Instead of throwing away containers, find creative ways to repurpose them. For example, shopping at a zero waste market can give those containers a new purpose. Instead of taking plastic bags, purchase reusable bags to keep in your car.
3. Lowers Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. By lowering our need to consume these things, we naturally lower greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s more about it from the EPA and Project Drawdown.
To better understand this issue, I will explain it using an average vehicle.
The average fuel efficiency for cars in the United States is between 25 miles to 30 miles per gallon. That would leave us with 27.5 miles per gallon as a midpoint. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, the average person will drive between 1K to 1.2K miles per month. That would leave us with 1.1K as a midpoint.
With those numbers, we could safely calculate the gas consumption at 40 gallons per month. On average, burning 1 gallon of gas produces roughly 8.89 kilograms of CO2. That means, at 40 gallons of gas per month, the average person is responsible for 355.6 kilograms of CO2 per month.
The population density of New York City does not directly correlate to the number of registered vehicles on file. According to statistics, there are 2 million registered vehicles on file. At those numbers, the city would produce roughly 711,200 metric tons of CO2 emissions a month.
If people in New York City were to travel like the typical American, they would need an additional 4.5 million vehicles. At that number, New York City would produce 2,314,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per month. A single metric ton of CO2 will occupy roughly 556 cubit meters. The volume of Freedom Tower in New York City is 1.3 million cubic meters. If you were to fill Freedom Tower with the CO2 emissions from the city, you would need roughly 991 Freedom Towers.
4. Reduces Pollution
Have you heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? For those that are unfamiliar with it, it’s trash that follows the ocean currents around the pacific ocean. It’s comprised of microplastics and larger items that don’t fall to the ocean floor. An estimated 80% of plastics that pollute the ocean come from land-based sources.
More importantly, this trash washes up on beaches like Kamilo Beach in Hawaii and Freedom Island in Manila, Philippines. More recently, microplastics have been discovered in human placenta.
5. Saves Energy
Reducing our environmental impact by reusing old items is a solid idea given the evidence presented above. When we demand less on the environment, we give it time to recover and heal from our interference. While everyday changes can make an large impact, providing yourself a creative outlet is rewarding.
Click here to discover companies actively working to save the environment.
6. Promotes Creativity and Innovation
There is something rewarding about breathing life into old items. Take a toilet paper roll for instance; these could be made into lanterns, organizers, and fun craft activities for children. The creativity and innovation to look at that item and see possibilities is an attitude we can take into our daily lives.
7. Economic Benefit
Anytime you can save money on everyday items is a powerful reason to do it. Living paycheck to paycheck makes wasting money a luxury that your average American can’t afford. This need to save money has made YouTube channels like Coolirpa rather popular. Whether you’re avoiding fast fashion or saving money, the end result is the same.
Nearly half of America would agree with you too. According to The Hill, a stunning 43% of American households participate in recycling.
8. Supports Local Community
Reducing trash that is sent to landfills is a great way to clean up your community. It’s a small decision that makes a big impact. It’s an approach to sustainable living that is easy for anyone to get involved in.
9. Provides invaluable education
Did you know that a species of beetle larvae that can consume polystyrene was discovered earlier this year? There is an enzyme in their gut that breaks down the material without issues. In fact, scientist are reporting that it will change the face of recycling forever.
Polystyrene is a synthetic resin that is a polymer of styrene. It’s used to make lightweight rigid foam and film for packaging. Unfortunately, polystyrene is not biodegradable and releases harmful chemicals as it decomposes. This process takes 500 years to complete. It’s a dangerous air pollutant that poses a serious threat to human and marine life alike.
As you recycle and upcycle items, you learn these tidbits of information. As you learn to work with different materials, you learn more about their basic composition. Their durability and compatibility with other items becomes important to know because it keeps you safe when working with them.
10. Personal Satisfaction
As busy adults, we forget what it was like to be children and enjoy the small moments in life. Being able to slow down and take a moment to enjoy something simple is an important way to stay connected to our inner selves.
Give It a Try
Now that you’ve read our reasons to recycle and reuse your old items, how do you feel about trying it out? The experience is still rewarding, and it takes a few moments of your day to do. Have a little fun with simple projects, and then work your way to larger projects like furniture restoration.
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