American trash.

Happy Earth Day!
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​What better way to celebrate Earth Day then to talk about American Trash! I don't know what compelled me, but a few months ago I started taking pictures of full trash cans that I would see. I wasn't crazy obsessed about it or anything, but my friends (& strangers) have definitely looked at me like I'm a touch cray cray.

I started to wonder how much trash we produced in the United States. I asked my smart friend Google & she said "Every year, the United States generates approximately 230 million tons of "trash"--about 4.6 pounds per person per day. Less than one-quarter of it is recycled; the rest is incinerated or buried in landfills."

Sometimes I'm too lazy to recycle & I'm not exactly sure what is recyclable to be honest. I was in elementary school when they taught me those specifics. 

​Luckily, I watched Captain Planet so I remember "Recycle, Reduce, Reuse & close the loop"

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I asked Google what I can recycle & she said: 
Recycle

• Rigid Plastics/Bottles. - Any plastic bottles or containers found in your kitchen.
• Paper and Cardboard. - Cereal/snack cardboard boxes. ... 
• Metals. - Tin, aluminum, and steel cans.
• Glass. - Food containers or jars. ... 
• Loose Plastic Bags. - Plastic shopping bags. ... 
• Polystyrene Foam Cups or Containers. ... 
• Soiled Food Items. ... 
• Other.

So now I kind of get it.

Good thing there are people like this woman I saw in the East Village! There are men & women all over the city collecting recyclable items to earn some cash. I think they should get a ton of money. With my luck, I would catch scarlet fever reaching into some of those trash cans.

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​I was really inspired by Lewis Howes episode of "The School of Greatness" with Lauren Singer "The Zero-Waste Guide to a Simple Life"

I don't know that I'll get down to zero-waste anytime soon, I can hardly lose my last 10 vanity pounds. But I'm definitely going to try. Hope you will too. :)

Happy Earth day to everyone, but especially to whoever made this!