Waste in YQL is an introduction to the problem of waste in Lethbridge and what we can do about it.

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Lethbridge is a beautiful city
with tremendous community pride

But as a resident...

You might be one
of the most wasteful
people on the planet

YES, YOU

As long as large numbers of people have lived together,
we have struggled to deal with our waste

But it wasn't always like that

Historically, we were far better
at reusing materials
than we are today.

With fewer resources available,
we needed to be more resourceful
about what we threw away.

As human populations grew,
so did the amount of waste we produced

We now consume more than ever

because we produce more STUFF than ever.

Unfortunately,

our thinking on how to dispose of waste

couldn't keep up with the pace of manufacturing.

Our cities

became clogged

with garbage

As our waste continued to grow,

we created dumping grounds

People often tossed garbage
down the side of the coulees

Modern landfills are engineered to better protect the environment
from the garbage we throw away

But it can still linger
for thousands of years

Even with recycling and municipal organics composting, which helps combat the problem of mounting garbage,

it's still a struggle for us to put waste in the right place

This is very apparent in Lethbridge's landfill

In 2019, after implementing Curbside Recycling, our residential waste consisted of:[1]

TRASH

RECYCLABLES

ORGANICS

31%

10%

57%

Many of the materials that we are
burying in our landfills are simply

TOO

GOOD

TO

WASTE

Future generations will wonder at our behaviour.

Surely Lethbridge is not as wasteful as
other Canadian cities,

right?

Actually, we produce more waste in Lethbridge than almost
anywhere else in the world

Living in Lethbridge, the average household of 4 people throws away

over 5 pounds of waste

EVERY DAY [2]

We also waste at work...

... and in our free time

There are 110,695 of us in Lethbridge.[3]

Imagine how our waste piles up.

All together, it's enough waste every year to:

Fill the water tower 78 times...

... cover the deck of the High Level Bridge 9.25 feet high...

... or fill Galt Gardens 13.2 feet deep

Not very pretty, is it?

We can do better to preserve our beautiful city.

Lethbridge must waste less.

Exactly how wasteful are we in Lethbridge? Our small actions can have a large impact. If everyone in Lethbridge threw away 5 apples a week, in one year there would be enough apple cores to fill 17 two-car garages. If everyone over the age of 18 in Lethbridge had 2 cups of coffee per day in reusable mugs instead of paper cups, we would save 12,233 trees/year. 12,233 trees/year If every household in Lethbridge recycled 1 toilet paper tube and 1 plastic bottle from the bathroom/week, in one year there would be enough cardboard & plastic to make 21,851 12" cube boxes and 5,843 curbside bins. 5,843 5,843 21,851 21,851 If every household in Lethbridge left their grass clippings to decompose rather than collecting them, the amount of landfill space saved in one year would be the same as filling 449 garbage trucks. If everyone over the age of 18 in Lethbridge threw away 5 plastic shopping bags a week, in one year there would be enough petroleum in those bags to drive a car across Canada almost 310 times! 310Times

So what is the solution?

You already know the answer.

If we want to have less garbage, we need to:

Reduce

the number of
things we buy

Reuse

what we can

Recycle

wherever possible

Compost

organic material
(39% of our residential waste)

All of us must do our part to help Lethbridge waste less.

We're not asking you to do it all.

We're simply asking you to do your part and change
one thing that creates less waste for our landfill.

What simple things can you start to do to waste less?

1. Reduce unnecessary purchases.

The most effective way to minimize waste is to produce less of it in the first place! Impulse purchases, microtrends, and the idea that a product can ‘change your life’ are just some of the ways that consumerism culture convinces us we need to buy more things to be happy. So next time you are thinking about buying something, pause and consider the alternatives and hopefully, this can help us better appreciate the items we already have.

Instead you could:

  • Learn to mend or fix what you have (or use the Share and Repair Directory to find someone who can!)
  • Upcycle or repurpose clothing or decor to suit your personal style
  • If it is an item you will use infrequently, look for resources in your community where you could rent, borrow, or share it (like the Library of Things!)
  • Host a clothing, book, or other type of swap with friends and family
  • Consider buying used instead of new and investing in well-made pieces that are more durable and long-lasting
  • Give experiences as gifts (see the Green Gift Guide for ideas!)
  • Try seasonal/event decorating with natural elements or versatile items
  • Track your bank account to see how reduced consumption is impacting your finances

2. Repair, reuse, and repurpose items you already have!

By extending the lifespan of items already in circulation, we reduce the demand to manufacture new ones. Taking the life cycle of products into account can encourage us to be more conscious consumers. When something breaks and you feel the need to replace it, consider repairing it instead. You could try to repair it yourself or pay a professional to do it; either way keeps usable items out of the landfill.

Some ways you could do this are:

  • Explore Youtube to learn new mending and repair skills!
  • Support initiatives in your community that encourage reuse, like different swap events and Repair Cafés!
  • Maybe you could make a goal to learn how to fix one thing per season or explore youtube to learn new mending and repair skills!

3. Treat the landfill like a last resort.

Lastly, whenever possible, try to recycle and compost materials that cannot be reused or repurposed. Think of the landfill as a last resort, and try your best to divert materials that don’t belong. Recycling through the proper channels and composting organics both keep materials out of the landfill, but only when we do it right. If you aren’t sure which bin something should go in, consult resources like the Waste Wizard (you can find this by scrolling to the bottom of the Waste & Recycling page or using the Lethbridge Loop app!), to avoid contaminating batches with unrecyclable or unaccepted materials. Finding ways to make the less glamorous parts of environmentalism a little more pleasant can help make putting waste in the right place as easy as putting things in the garbage. One way to do this is to set up systems in your home that help simplify the process and alleviate the ‘ick’ factor.

  • Will a biodegradable paper liner help you use your compost bin? Get some!
  • Do you need a paper recycling bin in your office or entry for mail?
  • Is it helpful to you to have a recycling container under your bathroom sink? Or maybe a separate container for tissues to go in the compost?
  • Do you have a permanent spot in your garage/basement/shed/balcony for batteries, e-waste and hazardous waste?
  • Do you regularly wash out your garbage, recycling and compost bins? You may find them more enjoyable to use if they’re clean. You can even put your compost bin in the dishwasher for easy sanitation!