Our August Letter to the Editor: Tips on waste reduction before our landfill fills up

Our latest letter to the editor was sent to the press this week. It is reproduced below. For previous Letters to the Editor and other publications in the press, click on our “CPC in the Media” page above.

“Tips on waste reduction before our landfill fills up”

Dear Editor, 

We have about two years before our Calaveras County landfill reaches capacity. So now is the time to reduce waste! Here are three easy ways to reduce your landfill waste: 1) recycle, 2) compost, and 3) avoid trash in the first place. 

Recycling saves resources, energy, and scarce landfill space. So keep a recycle bin next to your trash can. You can even get your CRV deposit back on bottles (and treat yourself to something!).

Nearly 20% of garbage is food waste, which is actually one of the worst things to throw away. This is because organic waste in landfills produces a lot of methane, which warms our planet over 20 times as much as carbon dioxide. Instead, compost your food waste and turn it into rich nutrients for your garden. Many composting styles exist and some are truly quite easy. (Link below)

Most importantly, avoid new trash whenever you can. Provide your own reusable shopping bags and mugs for coffee. Throw a container in your car for restaurant leftovers. Shop at a farmers’ market, because it usually means little to no waste plus boosts the local economy. Shopping online? Wait and buy more than one item when possible to reduce packing materials.

The less you do to help, the more the burden will fall on our government, and the more taxes we’ll have to pay. Visit www.calaverascap.com and click “CAP Climate” for resources.

Austen Thibault

Outreach Coordinator, Calaveras Community Action Project

San Andreas