The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Whether it is straws, coffee cups or candy wrappers, the trash we create adds up. The average American produces 4.4 pounds of waste each day, equating to 1,606 pounds a year, according to a 2013 Environmental Protection Agency report. Rob Greenfield, environmental activist, illustrated this statistic by strapping every piece of trash he used onto his body and carrying it with him for a month. By the end, he looks like a trash monster, the bags are so full that he can barely waddle along. The effect is a sobering visualization of volume of waste created by each of us.
Yet, there is an opportunity to drastically shrink the amount of waste we produce. Packaging and containers alone account for nearly 30 percent of municipal solid waste, according to the EPA. This means we have can greatly reduce our trash footprint simply by buying non-packaged foods.
The bulk section of the co-op is a great place to begin a venture into waste free eating. Here, you can bring your own container and fill it with staples like rice, pasta, nuts etc. This is where investing in some glass jars is worthwhile, they are cheap and easy to find at Goodwill and other thrift stores. Another pantry essential is Tupperware and glass containers, for storing leftovers without plastic wrap and bags.
When I began shopping in the bulk section it took some adjusting. It meant thinking about the foods that I enjoyed and figuring out how to create them from ingredients in bulk. Hummus for example was a food I used to buy premade. Now I buy bulk chickpeas from the coop and use them to cook my own hummus. This takes more time, but it creates less waste and allows me to experiment with different flavors every week. Rosemary chipotle is my favorite thus far!
One of the biggest challenges in reduced waste eating is resisting the convenience foods. We have all been there, they are a life-saver in college. Pre-boxed meals and plastic-wrapped snacks are irresistibly easy, especially for those crazy busy times. This is where bulk nuts and granola are a great substitute. Oatmeal is another miracle food available in bulk, you have got a meal in just 90 seconds.
Beyond the magic of the bulk isle, fruits and vegetables are food that naturally comes plastic free. So, one way to reduce packaging is by eating a more plant-based diet.
Drastically reducing personal waste is doable and being conscious of food packaging is a first step. As Rob Greenfield proved, the small bits of trash we generate each day really do add up. This illustrates that personal lifestyle decisions really do have an impact.
Naomi Albert
Environment Editor
nalbe203@uwsp.edu
