Uncovering the Solid Waste Story

Fact

Did you know every Wisconsinite creates an average of over 1,700 lbs of waste each year? This adds up to 4.6 million tons of waste, just in our state alone. So what is all this waste? It’s discarded food, packaging, furniture, electronics, construction material, paint, cleaning products and much more – everything that has ever been manufactured or purchased goes somewhere, and most is thrown away.

1,700

Trash every person in Wisconsin creates per year

700,000 - 800,000

Average tons of reported recyclables each year.

In recent years, we’ve become better recyclers, and that’s great. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 94% of Wisconsin households recycle and feel it is worthwhile, and 32% of us are recycling more now than we did two years ago. But even recycling has limitations and managing our waste has become more and more complex.

Problem

Despite strong recycling programs, Wisconsin residents and businesses continue to landfill over 9 million tons of waste a year.

Getting individuals and businesses to think about their daily waste, and then choose better management and/or disposal methods, will have a direct impact on our environment.

Solution

Your Actions Matter!

Working together we can help reduce our waste by following these 5 easy steps!

Reduce
The first and most important step is to reduce your use of products that create waste. Choose a reusable cup instead of getting a paper cup at the coffee shop each morning. Use less packaging by purchasing in bulk, and recycle packaging correctly. Plan ahead to reduce impulse buying and always keep a reusable shopping bag in the car. Think about all the ways you could reduce waste everyday – start simple, learn from friends and neighbors, and start reducing waste today!
Reuse
There are countless ways to reuse everyday items! When you get a delivery, instead of recycling the box you could pack holiday decorations or seasonal clothes in the box. Take magazines to a nursing home for others to read and enjoy. Try shopping as second-hand stores, repaint old furniture, and donate items that are in good shape. Reusing things takes little effort but makes a big difference.
Recycle
Recycling has never been easier as urban and rural communities both enjoy curbside collection. Most recycling programs offer single stream recycling or co-mingle recycling, which means less sorting and fewer trips to the curb. Office buildings, schools and public places also offer recycling bins. Be sure to contact your local municipality to find out how to recycle right in your community.
Repair
In our current “throw-away society” it often seems easier to toss items in the garbage and buy new. But as we’ve learned, that is wasteful. With a little tender loving care, an old bike could last for years with a little extra time oiling the chain and tightening the brakes. Mending clothes and fixing electronics will not only cut down on waste, but will save you money!
Compost
Mother Nature is the greatest recycler of all. Organic material such as lawn clippings, leaves and garden debris, and certain food scraps, can be piled together and with the right amounts of water, oxygen and microorganisms, will decompose into a soil amendment called compost. Composting can be done in most backyards, at community gardens, and inside your home using worms. Some areas of Wisconsin even have a curbside pick-up service that can be added to your garbage and recycling service. Organic material in the landfill creates methane, a greenhouse gas that is expensive to capture.

Education

Together we can reduce waste for sustainable economic and environmental benefits.

Wisconsin has several waste and resource management organizations that work cooperatively with state, county, and local units of government, nonprofit organizations, and private sector companies involved in solid waste, recycling, and organics diversion programs including:

Wisconsin Counties Solid Waste Management Association (WCSWMA)
Solid Waste Association of North America – Badger Chapter (SWANA)
Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin (AROW)

These three organizations have been pleased to partner with Discover Mediaworks to create an episode for their Emmy Award winning TV series “Into the Outdoors”. The episode Becoming Stewards: Uncovering the Solid Waste Story, educates viewers and will hopefully spark an interest to “become stewards” of our environment.