Buying Our Way out of the Garbage Problem

The modern idea of garbage comes from the confluence of synthetic materials (which make for useless outputs) and chronic consumerism. To solve garbage we first must embrace the fact that we vote for it every day by buying stuff—especially disposable stuff.

Let’s start outsmarting waste by being conscious consumers. Let’s start buying stuff that results in useful outputs rather than useless ones—and buy only what we really need. When buying consumables like food, avoid packaging; it makes up a tremendous volume of our daily waste, and fresh food is better for you anyway. When buying non-consumables like a mirror or lamp, try to find something durable; and if you have to buy something durable, buy something used rather than new. And before you buy anything, ask yourself: do I even need this?

Be conscious when you buy. If you aren’t, it’s like going into a voting booth and randomly picking who will be the next president. Every dollar you spend is the most powerful vote you will ever cast.