Day 1 - The trash-o-shame

The chagrin on my face is due to an early observations in this trash experiment: trash accumulates quickly. The bag is the waste that will be recycled, the trashcan's contents are land-fill bound (see the link to learn where it goes... ugh). http://www.cabq.gov/solidwaste/our-department/about-cerro-colorado-landfill

Something that has surprised me is how knowing my trash has an audience is making me feel more accountable and conscious of the waste I generate. I use reusable bags and I try to limit my trash, but I can definitely do better than this.

A tangible step that I can take right away (sadly I hadn't really thought much about this before) is to take "packaging" into account when making purchases, and if possible by the less-packaged option whenever possible. This has potential economic benefits as well: sometimes items with less packaging are also more affordable. For example, butter in one lump pound instead of sticks comes without a box and without individual wrappers, and today was 60 cents cheaper than the more intensely packaged option. 

The second obvious thing I should do is compost. I suffer from compost-phobia...Where to put the bin? How to keep it from stinking to high heaven? Not to mention the potential for "critters" and other "interesting" things growing in there....That said, I would love to learn. Anyone offering a composting club/class? Sign me up!