No one likes this word: landfill. While they are a necessary part of life in our consumer society, landfills are out of sight, out of mind for the most part, and we do not give them much thought. However, our planet’s landfills are a source of greenhouse gases such as methane, which scientists believe are contributing to global warming. Everyone should be thinking about what they throw away and how to either reduce or eliminate the amount he or she contributes to landfills. And given these uncertain economic times it makes more sense than ever to examine our consumption habits. There is an old saying, probably from the Great Depression era, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Here are a few ideas:

1.  Turn your kitchen scraps into the best fertilizer money can’t buy—compost.  You don’t need any fancy equipment aside from a shovel.  Items that can be composted include vegetable and fruit scraps and peels, egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, leaves, and newsprint.  Avoid putting dairy products, meat, and glossy paper into your compost pile or bin. Turn the contents over with a shovel every few days, letting the sun heat it up and break it down into rich nutrients your plants can easily access.  Well-composted organic matter does not have any significant odor, so do not be put off by the notion of decaying items in the back yard. You could purchase a compost bin if you prefer a very contained operation. There are even earthworm compost kits available in which you load a tray with scraps, and the worms silently turn it into solid earthworm castings and very dark liquid “compost tea” that you can use on everything from houseplants to hostas. 

2.  Transform your old tennis shoes.  If you have a pair of shoes that are in good condition, donate them to charity or take them to a resale shop; someone is bound to want them.  If those shoes have seen better days, they can be recycled under special programs.  Companies such as Nike are doing innovative things like turning them into playground and athletic court surfaces.

3.  As with old shoes, you can sell or donate unwanted clothes. Heck, you can buy someone else’s unwanted items yourself—there is truly no shame in it, and it can be as fun as a treasure hunt. Yesterday’s cast-off is today’s “vintage” item, is it not?  Ever come across a like-new J. Crew sweater for six bucks at Goodwill? Talk about a cheap thrill! Seriously, though, this planet currently has enough clothes already produced to keep its inhabitants clothed for years to come. (If you make a rule of selling or donating an item for every one you buy, someone else can have access to your items and your closet will stay under control, too. No landfill required!) Clothes not fit for wearing anymore can be turned into everything from quilts to cleaning rags to bedding material at the nearby animal shelter. 

4.  Make a trade instead of throwing away. Craigslist is a great resource for people who are willing to wheel and deal to get what they need.  Another way of trading is to set up a “community box” in your neighborhood with people you know.  The way this works is that you place your unwanted items in the box and pass it on to the next person on the list. He or she chooses items, and adds unwanted items to the box and sends it on its way. When the box makes it back to you, any of your original items get donated to charity, and you start again.

5.  Repurpose creatively around the house. A cracked old mug becomes a pencil holder.  Odd plates become coasters for houseplants. Odd spoons are turned into paint mixers and potting soil scoops. Wrapping paper scraps, paper towel tubes, bits of ribbon can be saved in a container for last minute school projects. The point is, instead of pitching, think of an alternative use.

6.  Use reusable grocery bags rather than plastic or paper. Untold numbers of plastic bags end up in our oceans and lakes, not to mention the landfills, every year. Paper bags are not much better although they are biodegradable, considering the amount of energy used in the manufacturing process. Think about this: with a reusable bag, you purchase it one time. Contrast that with how many thousands of paper and plastic bags you have already been through in your life.  We think of those bags as free, but they are not. The cost is built into the price we pay for our groceries, our department store purchases, et cetera.  Imagine if enough people consistently use reusable shopping bags, eventually it may have a positive effect on the price of food. And who knows, you might even get lucky and find a deal on a reusable grocery bag on your next trip to a resale shop!