Five Ways to Lose 2.2 Pounds per Day.

Throw away 50% less by Reducing. Reusing. Recycling. Renewing. Regifting.

Each American throws 4.4 pounds of trash away every day, adding up to 1,600 pounds of your waste going into landfills every year, according to WM Recycle America. Oh, and that doesn’t include the waste you toss at work, where you eat out, or any kind of industrial waste – just want you toss when you are home.

Want to cut that amount in half?

Here are five things any Ordinary Environmentalist can do to reduce their waste by 2.2 lbs per day. Ask yourself, in this order if you can:

1. Reduce.
You don’t really need to take a plastic bag for one or two items, and no your kids do not need the happy meal plastic toy they will rip open, play with for 30 seconds and lose in the pile of cheap toys. Don't bring as much into the house.

2. Reuse.
OK, I am NOT crafty, so this one is a bit tough for me, but by asking this question, I have found I can be creative; for example, plastic mushroom containers make great paint buckets for small projects, and check my blog on how you can repurpose Styrofoam containers. http://ordinaryenvironmentalist.blogspot.com/2010/06/packing-up-your-plants.html

3. Recycle.
Think beyond plastic bottles and aluminum cans and remember to recycle the things like the paper towel tube and tissue boxes, along with the paper backing found in most packaged goods. Think even further, for example, any smelly used tennis shoes can be dropped off at Nike stores to be recycled into new sport surfaces. Check it out.

4. Renew.
Every year, each American throws out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage that can be composted. All of your stale bread, coffee grounds, and fruit peel; basically, anything from your cupboard or refrigerator, that is not protein or fat, can go into the compost bin and be renewed into incredible soil for your trees, garden, and flowers.

5. Regift.
That old army jacket from Ragstock or the ugly lamp from Aunt Sophie can all go to charity, to your nephew who is headed to college, or you can try selling it at a consignment shop or online (your trash is someone else’s treasure!)

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Renew. Regift. Five things any ordinary environmentalist can do to lose 2.2 pounds from their garbage bin every day.

More information on landfill waste can be found at CleanAir.org