| Efficiency Equals Reduction | | | | inefficient and more polluting than vehicles on the |
| (400 words) | | | | move. Garbage collection fees are more easily |
| Imagine that if at the grocery store the person | | | | maintained by the company due to reduced costs |
| bagging your purchases left empty, unused spaces in | | | | per bag, and some companies even offer a discount |
| each bag causing you to carry 10 instead of 5 bags | | | | for those who produce less waste. Also worth noting |
| out to your car then into your home. You would be | | | | is that the household will go through fewer plastic |
| investing some extra time, energy and space when it | | | | garbage bags. |
| was unnecessary. Now transfer that thought to the | | | | Some kitchen waste disposal units tend to put |
| waste and recycling industry. Instead of filling a trash | | | | unnecessary pressure on overtaxed sewage plants. |
| bag or bin with large empty spaces, we can all do | | | | A much better option is to practice composting or |
| some simple acts to help keep transportation costs | | | | vermiculture methods instead. Composting organic |
| down while reducing fossil fuel consumption and | | | | waste reduces household trash by approximately |
| saving ourselves some time and money. | | | | 30%. Go one step further by reusing various plastic |
| The flattening of boxes greatly increases space | | | | bags to isolate smelly meat, bones and pet waste. By |
| efficiency in a bin. This does not just apply to | | | | controlling odors in the garbage, the bag will not have |
| cardboard boxes, but also includes any paperboard | | | | to be put out on the curb as often. |
| (cereal or pet food) ones as well. Crushing cans | | | | So, imagine that if your waste and recycling was |
| before recycling is much more easily done if it is | | | | now half the size that it typically was before. That |
| possible to remove both the top and bottom lids | | | | means in theory the waste pickup service would |
| first. Foil products are easily flattened by hand. | | | | decrease costs by 50%, the landfill would be |
| Periodically crush your garbage bag down to its true | | | | receiving half of what it used to, fewer trips to the |
| size — you will find that it does not need to | | | | recycling depot, less pollutionÂ… |
| be placed on the curb as often. Fewer trips to the | | | | Well you get the picture. It is easy to make a |
| dump means less fossil fuel consumed and reduced | | | | difference and we can all start at home. Right where |
| curbside idling — idling is known to be terribly | | | | we are. |