Items of trash: 111

We recorded our trash for one week and the results are really interesting. The list was long, I split it into four categories:

• Packaging: Containers and padding. Examples: Wrappers, Floral foam, Lollipop sticks.
• Cleaning: Products used for cleaning and the mess they clean up. Examples: Paper towels, dirt.
• Food: Any waste generated during food production. Examples: Pizza, Egg shells.
• Miscellaneous: Anything else.

Here are the results:

So, what does it all mean? The vast majority of our trash results from consumer decisions. This won't come as a surprise to anyone; we spend money to purchase trash which we then throw away.

The question is then how to reduce our household's trash footprint. I had a hunch so I organized the trash into the following chart.

I have never composted before, but this chart tells me that I have a responsibility to learn.