“Every year, Americans throw out 265.3 million metric tons of trash — an average of 1,788 pounds per person …directly to landfills, incinerators, or other countries polluting our earth, air

and water.” (Trash in America)

Ever wondered what your personal impact equates to on the trash to landfill scale? I did, so I decided to experiment for a year to see how much I could NOT throw away. Here are a few things I learned:

• Food scraps need to find their way into a local compost or a Zero Food Waste Bin.
• “Single-use” plastic food containers make great organizers.
• Doritos and Takis bags are super fun to use in art as shiny stars, for crafting kaleidoscopes, etc.
• Trash has COLOR in it – for use in collage crafts, and various other types of art mediums.
• I switched to The World’s Best Cat Litter, which boasts a septic-safe flushable alternative. (It’s made from corn, so when the world gets on board with composting, I’ll be ready).
• Frozen meat comes in varying amounts of foam vs. plastic single-use waste. I saved the leftover trays and used them as art pallets, or for large amounts of paint when using a rolling brush.
• Soft plastic makes fluffy, 3D clouds!
• Just say NO to single-use utensils. Your junk drawer can thank me later. If you forget, or your local favorite eatery just gives it to you without asking, use them in crafts to make puppets.
• Recycle Utah partners with some very responsible companies that help take back plastic toothpaste tubes, single-use batteries, and many other unique items.
• FullFilled Lifestyle Co., a local refill store located at Junction Commons, offers refill options for varying soaps, toothpaste, floss, sans the plastic container, and many other sustainable items to help alleviate the single-use hygiene items that are not recyclable.
• If I don’t have a trash bin in my home, then I will take responsibility for what I bring into my home because I know I won’t be throwing it away.

When, exactly, did we decide that it’s normal to have a trash bin in the house, on every street

corner, and that every place of business needs a gigantic trash for all its unsellable items? Take OUT the trash!

Inspired to make trash art? Good, me too. Let’s make cool art together.

By Indigo Love