how to girl:
Let's Talk Trash
Article By Sandy Perlic, Journey Contributor

The first thing you notice is the mountain of trash. Stretching from one end of the room to the other and reaching far above your head, garbage dominates the room. Empty cereal boxes are jumbled in with home decorating discards and old shoes. Castoff clothes are heaped next to old milk jugs and broken toys.

A demolition project? Nope. This, my friend, is the Garbage Garage. And the enormous pile of trash represents what an average family of four throws away over the course of a year. For you trivia types, that's approximately 6,570 pounds of garbage.

You can see it for yourself at the landfill on South Taft Hill Road. In order to bring home to local residents just how much waste is sent to the landfill, and how much doesn't need to be, Larimer County built the center several years ago and opens it regularly for public tours.

Even those who are conscientious recyclers may be surprised at how much needless waste is being sent to the landfill. The statistics displayed throughout the garage’s exhibits are startling: nearly 44 percent of what is sent to the landfill is paper and 28 percent is food and yard waste. Plastic, at 12 percent, and metals, at 5 percent, are also in surprisingly great abundance.

Perhaps even more surprising is the contrast between what we in the United States consume compared to the rest of the world. Would you believe that Americans make up only 4.6 percent of the world's population, but use 39 percent of the world's newsprint, 38 percent of the computers, 33 percent of the plastic and 32 percent of all motor vehicles? Are you seeing a pattern here?

That's exactly what the folks at the Garbage Garage want. Taking a look at our own consumption patterns and scrutinizing what we're sending to the landfill can help preserve the earth's resources. Consider adopting one or two of the following ideas, because even the smallest of changes can make a big difference.

Shop Smart

A good place to start is by giving some thought to what you buy. Packaging consumes a lot of space in landfills. By purchasing products with recyclable packaging, such as cardboard, glass, or No. 1 or No. 2 plastic bottles or jars, you will help ensure our natural resources aren’t depleted unnecessarily. Also, look for products or packaging that are made from recycled materials. Think twice before buying products that are packaged individually, since much of that packaging is waste. Buying in bulk and portioning it out as needed is a good way to conserve as long as you place portions in reusable containers instead of individual bags.

Try to get into the habit of thinking about whether you really need something before you purchase it. Do you really need more shoes or another pair of jeans? If so, do they have to be new? There are many great sources for used items that are in top condition. Think thrift stores, eBay or garage sales for clothes, toys and some furniture items. Try Habitat for Humanity’s Home Supply store for building or remodeling supplies. A wide variety of household items can be found at local flea markets.

Pitch Prudently

Now, take a look at what you throw away. If you currently toss your newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans or plastic bottles in the trash, request a recycling bin from your trash service. If you don’t want to pay the monthly fee to recycle curbside, toss these items in the trunk of your car and take them to the Larimer County Recycling Center or Fort Collins’ recycling drop-off. Most trash haulers and recycling centers also accept junk mail, flattened paperboard such as cereal boxes and corrugated cardboard that has been broken down into sections approximately two feet square.

If you have something you no longer need that can’t be recycled, hold off on consigning it to the trash. If the item can be put to good use by someone else, put it aside for one of the many charitable organizations that accept donations or sell it online. Another option for finding your unwanted items a home is to post them on www.freecycle.org. This list allows you to post a message and choose a recipient for your giveaways from the replies you receive. It’s a good place to find a home for that old grill or an opened bottle of shampoo.

These small steps, from making thoughtful purchases to recycling more of what you use, can dramatically shrink the mountain of trash you contribute to the landfill this year.

What do you want to learn to do?