Types of common household waste

1. Organic Waste: This includes food scraps, garden waste, and other biodegradable materials. Organic waste can be composted to create nutrient rich soil for plants.

2. Recyclable Waste: These are materials that can be recycled and used to make new products. Common recyclable items include paper, cardboard, glass bottles, plastic containers, and metal cans.

3. Hazardous Waste: Household hazardous waste includes items such as batteries, paint, chemicals, electronic waste (e-waste), and certain cleaning products. These items can be harmful to the environment and require special disposal methods.

4. Non-Recyclable Waste: Also known as residual waste, this category includes items that cannot be recycled or composted easily. Examples include certain types of plastic packaging, diapers, and sanitary products.

5. Bulky Waste: Large items such as furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronic devices that are too big to fit in standard waste bins. Bulky waste is usually collected separately from regular household waste.

The United States is the biggest generator of waste per capita, worldwide. According to the EPA, the per capita waste production was 4.9 lbs per day, as of 2018. While recycling and repurposing would most certainly help the reduction of household waste, the most effective way to reduce waste is by reducing consumption.

Reducing consumption can be a touchy topic for many people because fear of deprivation can result in defensiveness and an unwillingness to reduce consumption. I'd like to challenge those who fear minimalism into reframing their mindset. What if reducing consumption resulted in freedom? Not only freedom from the environmental consequences of unchecked consumption but psychological freedom from the belief that one more inanimate object will make one's life better.