Tough Times = Less Trash
The sagging U.S. economy apparently causes people to not only tighten their belts, but to throw away less stuff.
A recent ABC news report said solid-waste managers across the country have been seeing noticeable declines in the amount of trash their communities generate … anywhere from 3 to 12 percent over the past few months to year.
Some of the managers attribute most of the decline to the struggling housing market. Fewer homes being built (or torn down to make room for newer, larger houses) mean less construction waste heading toward landfills. Others say increased recycling efforts might also be making a dent in solid waste hauls.
But some say they also see signs that U.S. citizens are buying less — especially when it comes to more expensive goods — and, therefore, throwing away less.
Another factor is probably the rising value of metals like copper, tin and aluminum: more penny-pinchers are realizing they could earn a few bucks for the cans and other objects they once threw into the garbage bin.
Clearly, hard economic times make people think twice about buying stuff they don’t need, or throwing away things that are better repaired, reused or recycled. Here’s hoping such habits — along with more home gardening, do-it-yourself projects and less driving — stay with us even when the economy rebounds.
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