Let’s talk about trash to honor Earth Day
You might be surprised to know that the average American produces almost five pounds of trash each day, most of which is made up of recyclable materials like paper, glass, and plastics. Add that to the population and multiply it by days. According to the most recent data from the Environmental Protection AgencyThe United States produces 268,000,000 tonnes of waste annually. There are 69 million tons that are recycled and 25,000,000 tons that are composted.
These numbers are significantly greater than those of residents in other countries. According to the EPA, an average European person produces just over 1,000 pounds per year, compared to nearly 2,000 in the United States.
There are many easy ways that anyone can reduce their daily waste.
You can easily swap paper and plastics such as newspapers, magazines, packages, cartons and bottles for more sustainable options like digital subscriptions, filterless coffee machines, reusable containers and bags, and you can also swap out plastics such as cardboard and plastics. Other products containing textiles that contribute to Nearly 20 percent of all wastewater is exported worldwideMetals and wood can also be dealt with by making more thoughtful purchases, and finding more practical ways to store and reuse goods.
Data is data until we can see our individual contribution to the problem. Yahoo Life created this interactive AR tool to help users better understand how much waste is being generated every day and make better decisions to limit it.
It’s possible to experience it for yourself
Click on any category of trash to see a visual representation. You can then learn how to reduce your waste contribution and watch your garbage pile shrink.
AR experience created by Tim Chaffee and Jacquie Colsgrove, Becky Horvath. Henry Keyser. Radek Michalik. Fabian Rueckert.