I am currently reading a book (Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough) that discusses how we make products to be one time use, and we design them to wear out so that consumers will throw out their old product and buy a newer one within a set time frame.This, of course, creates a lot of waste. The book suggests that instead we create a new model in which our products actually benefit nature and can be indefinitely recycled. To help explain this, the book uses a cherry tree metaphor. A cherry tree will produce thousands of blossoms and fruits in hope that at least one pit will grow into a new tree. These blossoms will litter the ground, but nobody considers that inefficient and wasteful because the plant materials decompose and nourish the soil and organisms around it. So what if we could live our lives that way, and not produce harmful waste? We aren't anywhere close to that yet, but one thing that we can do for sure is compost. I have posted about compostable bags and containers, but I haven't posted about just plain old composting in your home. I'll bet that you produce more food waste than you think. So don't throw it out. Pick up a compost bin from your local DPW, buy a few compostable bags to put your waste in, and begin! It feels really satisfying to have a whole bag of waste that's not going away to a landfill. This waste can be reused right in your own garden! As Cradle to Cradle says, "Waste equals food" (for the environment), so don't throw out good food!
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