Talkin’ Trash
This guy loves trash. And he’s not just talking trash, he’s collecting it.
Bizarre, right? Why would someone save their trash for an entire year? Perhaps he’s looking to usurp Oscar the Grouch. Or maybe he’s making a point. His point? We don’t have to be nation of garbage-addicts.
In a fit of procrastination I came across this news story, which chronicles the year during which Dave Chameides and his family saved every last piece of trash that they accumulated. Biodegradables were composted, but recyclables and straight-up garbage was stacked and stored. He’s got the pictures, in which his trash is more organized and orderly than the bookshelves in my living room. I’ve got to think that there are a number of lessons to be learned in facing down, all at once, a year’s worth of wine bottles consumed, shoe boxes purchased, and hard plastic wraps wrestled from birthday gifts or beading kits. It would be humbling.
Or, as Dave explains, it would stepping up and taking responsibility. Which he did in a big way when he carted his vacation-based refuge home with him. This guy is committed, or should be committed. Either way, there’s a lesson there.
He stored his collection in the basement. His wife had to be grateful that the family created nowhere near the American average of 1600 pounds of trash, and not just because it earns them some serious eco-bragging rights.
When it comes to eco-bragging, I won’t be doing much for a while. Sure, we’ve done well by ridding ourselves of the paper goods. Gone are the plastic grocery bags. But I’m lugging around some guilt regarding my silence during the recent spate of holiday parties at the elementary school.
I sat, and I kept quiet as convenience won out over consciousness. Scores of ubiquitous water bottles filled the classroom, enough for every child, sibling and parent to drink his weight in water during an hour-long party. And so, inspired by “Sustainable Dave,” I hereby promise to stand up (or at least sit down and send off a fiery email) suggesting we use pitchers for school parties next year.
It’s a little crusade, but I’m making it mine.
Check out Dave’s site 365 solutions for some great tips on cutting down on household trash. Just promise to send me a picture if you decide to knit a sweater from shed dog hair.
9 Replies to “Talkin’ Trash”
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Boy, that REALLY is being conscious of your waste! I have to show this to the hubby. He is obsessed with ‘I wonder what a year’s worth of popcorn eating would look like in one pile’, and similar ponderings. He should appreciate this story.
I’m finding children’s birthday parties are reall issue.
I am always looking for ways to reduce our waste. We pay by the container for our sanitation service here, so we request the smallest container available. This forces us to cut down because we have a very tiny trash bin!
And the 365 solutions link is awesome. I am asking my husband to get us a CSA membership. I never would have knows these existed!
The school thing grates on my nerves too! But, being a class mother, I got to have some say about the waste we created so far. I am sure I am not loved for it but oh well!
That’s a great idea to bring to light, saving your trash for a year! Thanks for writing about that.
I’m going to check out his trash tips. It makes me crazy to think of all the trash each of us generates. And yes, stand strong for the pitchers!
I am working on reducing our trash too but it is a slow battle (and there are some things I will not do – like cloth diapers. . .). I won’t be saving our trash for a year. Dave has a blog too?
Ok – I am a little slow – the blog is by Dave C. the trash collector not your Dave. I am with the program now. . .
This is cool. I love the links to useful sites. My sister Sarah took Brady to Ski Dubai a couple of days ago and felt so guilty for the energy required to allow us to have fun in this desert. I told her she needs to do some active offsetting for the next few weeks, like no disposable products of any kind (including water bottles) and not using her car.
Thanks for the link to Dave C’s blog. It gives us all something to think about and definitely challenges me. I appreciate how you challenge me. I am not ready for cloth diapers either. I think we may only have about six months left until potty training. Yippee!