Compounding our trash problem is that while we may feel good about our recycling and composting efforts \u2013 Americans have increased the amount of recycled or composted paper, cardboard and yard clippings almost five-fold since 1990 \u2013 the market for recycled items is way down. China, the main importer of our garbage, reduced their import of American scrap plastic<\/a> by 90% this year, causing many of the items we believe we\u2019re recycling to end up in American landfills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While reducing, reusing and recycling were noble goals, it appears that more needs to be done to curb the tide of trash. A new movement, calling itself \u201cZero Waste\u201d, adds the words \u201cRefuse\u201d (the verb, not the noun) and \u201cRot\u201d (or \u201ccompost\u201d) to the original 3Rs, challenges people to be like Lauren Singer<\/a>, who claims she has fit all of her trash each of the last four years into a 16-ounce jar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, I just cleaned out my car yesterday and I can assure you that, after carting around two busy teens (and their friends) who often eat on the go, I had more than enough trash to put in a 16-ounce jar \u2013 and that\u2019s just my car after approximately one month. I wondered how in the world Zero Waste folks do it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n My interest in Zero Waste was piqued in November during the General Board of Global Ministries Earthkeepers Training in Salt Lake City, Utah. A fellow trainee and member of the First United Methodist Church<\/a> in Cary, North Carolina, Leigh Williams, was using a variety of interesting Zero Waste products (this was my favorite: https:\/\/ecojarz.com\/classic-drinking-jar-lid-wide-mouth-silicone\/<\/a>) and brought a mason jar along with her so that she could collect all of her food waste and take it home with her to North Carolina. Leigh, co-founder and blogger at Toward Zero Waste<\/a>, says, \u201cIt\u2019s not about the jar!\u201d, but is, instead, about making conscious efforts to reduce waste however we can individually, in our workplaces and in our churches. Inspired by the book, Zero Waste Home<\/a> by Bea Johnson, Leigh and co-founder Dargan Gilmore, created Toward Zero Waste, to \u201chelp individuals, families and communities move toward zero waste by minimizing waste of all kinds, one step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of you have probably already taken that first step by bringing\nyour own bags to the grocery store or taking a refillable drink container to\nthe coffee shop or the gym. Many of you probably also recycle as much as your\ntown or city allows and some of you may even compost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/plastic-bottles-115069_640.jpg?w=696&ssl=1\")
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