Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

We’ve all heard the old saying- “out of sight, out of mind.” Unfortunately, this phrase rings true to how most of us approach consumption and disposing of consumer products.

Maybe you are a clean and organized person. You go through your house on cleaning day, bag up unwanted items and trash, tuck them neatly in plastic bags, and place them in a trash bin for the garbage man to collect. You rest easy knowing that your cleaning is done and your house is sparkling. As for your trash, well it’s not your problem anymore because it has gone off to a landfill. Out of sight, out of mind!

But it shouldn’t be out of mind completely, because sitting in the landfill doesn’t make your trash go away. Your trash is still there, sitting, taking up space. And the plastic you threw away will sit there for a long, long time; slowly releasing toxins into the earth and potentially seeping into water supply. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American throws away around 29 pounds of garbage per week, equaling 1600 pounds per year! This is not ok. And for the rural folk that burn their trash, burning it still releases a plethora of toxins into the air.

So at the rate we send junk to the landfill, how long will it take before the earth is one giant garbage disposal? It’s up to ALL of us right now to start rethinking what we purchase and throw away. You can start by decreasing your reliance on single-use plastics: straws, saran wrap, Ziploc bags, plastic tampon applicators, plastic shopping bags, and the list goes on and on. Once you have done that, start looking for ways to incorporate reusable items into your daily routine, such as brewing your own coffee and using a thermos or opting to use cloths instead of paper towels for cleaning. Finally, make a point to buy less. Do you really need to buy your kid that new plastic toy when they have plenty already? Do you need that new plastic cell phone cover when your old one works just fine?

Remember, “out of sight” should not mean “out of mind”. Cutting down on what your purchase and throw away will help your wallet and the environment in the end. And that’s Better Lifestyles, Greater Planet.