The Case for Waste Reduction

The Case for Waste Reduction

by Cathy Donohue, for the CVSWMD Times Argus column

Home and office renovations and equipment upgrades have the potential to create a lot of waste. Scrap lumber, out-dated equipment and appliances, and desks, couches, and tables that no longer fit the space or your needs are just a sampling of the materials that may flow from homes and offices to the landfill. But unwanted materials may still be quite useful to someone. Funneling such materials to reuse and recycling keeps them out of the wastestream.

Vermonters currently generate about 600,000 tons of waste each year, according to the VT Agency of Natural Resources. This translates into almost one ton per person each year. Through reuse and recycling, residents kept about a third of these materials out of landfills in 2001. That means we still had 402,000 tons of waste to put somewhere.

And that "somewhere" is mostly landfills. According to the VT Solid Waste Management Program, 75% of the state’s solid waste was disposed of in Vermont landfills in 2001, and the remaining 25% was shipped to landfills and waste-to-energy facilities in New Hampshire and New York.

We bury and/or burn a lot of natural resources that are tied up in unwanted, out-dated or broken products. While some of the products may not be reusable due to their condition or age, many likely are. Each time you donate, resell, recycle or otherwise don’t “waste” an item, you help to conserve all of the resources needed to extract, transport, process, manufacture and package those items.

And by shopping reused, you may also save money. Previously owned items typically cost less because the first owner absorbed most of the production costs, but the quality may be as good as new.

Let's take a look at a few common items, and ways to reduce waste with each.

1. Appliances

Refrigerators, freezers, coffee pots, toasters, microwave ovens, ranges—home, school and restaurant kitchens all use one or more common appliance. Add air conditioners and hot water heaters, humidifiers, and air purifiers to that list and appliances can have a large impact on resource use. Did you know US manufacturers ship nearly 54 million major home appliances each year—more than 147,000 every day? Or that approximately 95% of the materials in refrigerators and freezers can be recycled. This includes the metal cabinet, plastic liner, glass shelves, and the refrigerant and oil in the compressor.

  • Check the District’s online Reuse Business Database for area businesses which accept appliances for repair and/or resale
  • Try to repair broken appliances before replacing them.
  • Buy reused appliances when possible, particularly for low-use items such as toasters or blenders.
  • Look for the most energy-efficient appliances available in your price range. See energystar.gov for more information, including listings of energy efficient appliance models by category.
  • Residents can recycle appliances at the District’s Recycling Depots See the District’s Web site or call for information. (Schools and businesses: please call the office for assistance.)

2. Construction Materials.

Most construction discards from building and demolition projects currently go into landfills. Did you know over 20% of Vermont’s trash (90,000 tons) is waste from new construction, renovation and demolition projects each year? Or that building construction worldwide uses 40% of all the raw materials extracted from the earth?

3. Furniture

Couches, chairs, tables, dressers—home and office furniture can be large budget items. Did you know the generation of waste furniture and furnishings has increased from 2.2 million tons in 1960 to 8.1 million tons in 2001? Or that inexpensive “wood” furniture, which is usually made from particleboard, often contains toxic substances that can off-gas into homes and offices? Formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen used in adhesives, paints and varnishes, is one such substance.

  • Shop reuse businesses and material exchange networks instead of buying new. See the District’s Reuse Business Database and Freecycle for information.
  • Spruce up your old furniture with slipcovers or have it reupholstered instead of replacing it with something new.
  • Choose new furniture made from wood harvested from a sustainably managed forest. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent organization that certifies sustainable forest management operations. See the following Web sites for more information: www.nwf.org; www.fsc.org; www.vtwoodnet.org
  • Donate furniture you don’t need to folks and organizations that do. Local non-profits, charities and social service agencies often have lists of items they need, as well as lists of people in need of certain items.

4. Computers and Electronics

Cell phones, computers, fax machines, televisions—the list of common home and office electronics is a long one. And electronic waste is a growing environmental problem. Did you know an estimated 63 million personal computers are expected to be “retired” in the U.S. in 2005 alone? Or that TVs and computers can contain an average of 4 lbs. of lead, as well as other potential toxics like chromium, cadmium, mercury, nickel and brominated flame retardants?

  • Upgrade or fix existing equipment, or buy refurbished equipment, instead of buying new.
  • Donate or resell unwanted working equipment. See the District’s Reuse Business Database or contact local non-profits, schools and social service agencies.
  • Recycle broken or outdated equipment. The District currently accepts electronics for recycling at its Barre Town Recycling Depot. Call the District for directions and prices. Or see our — Electronic Waste
  • When buying new, choose equipment that can be upgraded to meet your long-term needs.
  • Choose energy efficient equipment and components; see www.energystar.gov for help.
  • Encourage manufacturers to accept responsibility for electronic waste! Contact manufacturers you buy from and share your view.

Please contact the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District for more information—802-229-9383.