6 Month Waste Audit
Before an individual (or organization) attempts to reduce its environmental impact, they should first measure a baseline of the impact they're creating. One of the most direct ways to do this is by carrying out a "Waste Audit". You can use this link to some YouTube videos that teach you how to do a waste audit at home.
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Simply put, a waste audit is categorizing and measuring the amount of waste that is produced from whatever place you're trying to improve. Categories should be determined by what your local municipality collects, while your unit of measurement can be either volume or mass.
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For individuals, using the same simple "bag" or "tote" count can work if you're just trying to compare your own results before and after the audit, or you can use a standard body weight scale or fish scale if you want to share and compare your audit data with others. In my audit, I had a bag for each category, then weighed each bag with a fish scale (subtracting the bag weight of course) once enough of the bags were overflowing.
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For larger organizations, tracking the amount of containers being hauled might be beneficial if your waste collection partner charges per pick-up of the container. Using a shipping scale might be preferred if you're planning on developing an onsite MRF (material recycling facility) to size your system and forecast the ROI.
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From the EPA on Waste:
"Waste generation, in most cases, represents inefficient use of materials. Tracking trends in the quantity, composition, and effects of these materials provides insight into the efficiency with which the nation uses (and reuses) materials and resources and provides a means to better understand the effects of wastes on human health and ecological condition."
This "trend tracking" is the secret weapon of a waste audit. Performing regular waste audits keeps you accountable and can even help you save some money. Working a waste audit into your weekly routine can be a challenge, but it provides a more complete view on how your consumption changes throughout the year, like during the holidays. Understanding your consumption behavior can help you form a more detailed and proactive reduction strategy. It's a great way to see where and how your spending money as well as understand exactly how the materials leaving your home are impacting the community around you.
From the EPA on Waste Impact:
"Municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, accounting for approximately 16 percent of these emissions in 2016. Methane is one of several non-CO2 gases that contribute to global climate change. Methane gas is released as wastes decompose, and emissions are a function of the total amount and makeup of the wastes as well as management facility location, design, and practices."
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While 16% of national emissions is not a massive chunk of the greater emission pie, the landfill leachate and litter reduction that comes along with reducing material waste is the real issue being addressed. Interestingly, some landfills combat the methane emissions by simply collecting and selling the methane their garbage pile produces.
While yes, it will most likely be burned, this monetization of a once viewed "waste product" is at least a step in the right direction to develop more sustainable circular economic markets.
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The following images are the results of my 6 month waste audit while living in Albany, New York. Looking at the pie chart, you can see my diversion rate was 78.4%! I'm hoping to pump those numbers and get above 90%. Most of the things I sent to landfill were hard to recycle plastics like Polystyrene from packaging, waste from hobby projects and food-contaminated materials. If you want to know more about this audit or how to start your own, Let's connect!
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