Zero Waste

Awareness & Understanding

## Awareness & Understanding Here's a wild fact: the average American throws away about 4.5 pounds of trash every single day. Where does it all go? Mostly landfills — and Salt Lake City is actively working to change that with its Zero Waste SLC goals targeting 90% waste diversion by 2030. Start by doing a trash audit: for one day, set aside everything you throw away (in a bag) and look at what's actually in there at the end. You'll probably be surprised. Check out **utahrecycles.org** for what's actually recyclable in Salt Lake County — the rules are more specific than you'd think. Watch the documentary *The Story of Stuff* for free on YouTube. You're ready for the next step when you can name your top 3 personal waste categories from your trash audit.

Research & Investigation

## Research & Investigation Now dig into the systems behind your trash. Why does plastic get "recycled" but often end up in landfills anyway? What actually happens at a composting facility? Salt Lake City's composting program accepts food scraps and yard waste — Wasatch Community Gardens at **wasatchgardens.org** also runs community composting workshops. Read the *Zero Waste Home* blog by Bea Johnson at **zerowastehome.com** — she raised a family of four producing less than a quart of trash per year. That sounds impossible until you see how she did it. Make a list of 5 swaps your household could realistically make in the next month. You're ready for the next step when you can explain what happens to 3 different materials (plastic, food scraps, glass) after you throw them away in SLC.

Planning & Preparation

## Planning & Preparation Pick one room or one category of your life to go low-waste first. The kitchen is usually the biggest win: switch from plastic bags to reusable ones, start a compost bin for food scraps, and put a "use it up" shelf in your fridge for food about to go bad. Before you buy any new zero-waste products, check what you already have — an old jar is a perfect food storage container. Map out your plan: what swaps will you make this week, what habits need to change, and what would you need to buy? Utah Recycles at **utahrecycles.org** has a local resource finder for drop-off locations, swap events, and repair cafes in the valley. You're ready for the next step when you have a written plan with at least 5 specific waste-reduction swaps you'll implement this week.

Taking Action

## Taking Action Execute your plan for a full week — and track it. Bring a reusable bag every time you leave the house. Start composting food scraps (even a small container under the sink works). Say no to single-use plastic at restaurants and stores. At the end of the week, do another trash audit and compare it to your first one. Did your trash shrink? What swaps felt easy? What felt annoying? Difficulty is data — it shows you where to problem-solve next. Wasatch Community Gardens at **wasatchgardens.org** runs a community compost drop-off if you don't have a yard. Share your before-and-after weight with someone in your household. You're ready for the next step when you've completed one full week of intentional low-waste living and can compare your two trash audits with specific numbers.

Leadership & Expansion

## Leadership & Expansion You've changed your own habits — now spread the ripple. Design a 5-minute "zero waste challenge" presentation for your class, youth group, or family dinner. Focus on 3 swaps anyone can make this week, back it up with the numbers from your own audit, and make it concrete rather than preachy. Look into how SLC's Zero Waste plan is going — the city's sustainability office publishes annual reports. Write a letter or email to your school or a local business suggesting one zero-waste upgrade (paper towels → hand dryers, plastic cups → reusables at events). Real civic change starts with someone asking the question out loud. You're ready for the next step when you've delivered your zero-waste presentation to at least one group and sent at least one written suggestion to a school or local business.

Impact & Reflection

## Impact & Reflection Look back at everything you've done: the trash audits, the swaps, the composting, the presentation. Calculate your estimated waste reduction — if you diverted 1 pound of food scraps per day from the landfill, that's 7 pounds per week, 365 pounds per year. Write a one-page reflection covering: what surprised you most, what was harder than expected, what you'll keep doing permanently, and what you'd tell a friend who wanted to start. Share it — post it somewhere, read it to your family, or submit it to the Zero Waste SLC initiative. Then pick your next challenge: repair a broken item instead of replacing it, or go plastic-free for a whole month. You're ready for the next step when you can calculate your total estimated waste diverted and articulate three permanent habits you're keeping long-term.