Over the Course of Three Days, Keep a Detailed Record

Essay

Over the course of three days, keep a detailed record of all of the wrappers, containers, bottles, cans, vegetable matter, and other items that you (a) throw into the garbage or (b) throw into a recycling bin. Record each item on a separate line, noting its size, weight, and makeup (animal, vegetable, mineral, paper, etc.). On the third day, compare your list to that of three or four classmates. How much of the waste was directly linked to popular culture? How might you change this pattern in the future? And in what ways did this project affect your habits-that is, did you throw away less waste because you were paying special attention, or were other factors involved? How would you judge the environmental impact of your classmates in comparison?