Taking Out the Trash

No, this isn’t a fictional story or imaginary goal: a town in Japan possesses no garbage cans, no dumps within driving distance and a composting/recycling system that would put most to shame. The word “trash” is almost irrelevant! How do they do it?

There are 34 categories for composted “waste” and recyclables, including Styrofoam and plastic bottles, but not one thing is actually thrown away. For edible items that aren’t compostable, such as meat, one resident offers a solution: “When I can’t use the whole vegetable or meat, I try to cook it again with wine and so on. It makes a very good soup.” It sounds so simple—and it is—but a lot of people in the U.S. wouldn’t think twice about tossing out the “extras” from the cooking process.

While this recycling system is extreme to say the least, it’s worth learning from: DO think twice the next time you are throwing away something and think about an additional use for it. It might be recyclable, so check your town’s local requirements if you’re unsure. Are there any household items you used to throw away, but now re-use? [Gimundo]