A significant percentage of our greenhouse gas Emissions come from linear consumption – extracting, producing, transporting, using, and disposing of material goods. Our climate crisis is made worse by a throw-away economy. In terms of reducing toxics and carbon emissions, there is nothing more impactful than simply creating less stuff in the first place.

We cannot reduce our waste without adequate infrastructure to support reuse and refill systems. Policies are needed that require companies to adopt reuse and refill systems and products. Additionally, significant funding is needed to scale accessible reuse and refill systems so all Minnesotans can participate.

Policy is needed to keep organic food waste from landfills and trash incinerators, educate the public, address food insecurity and develop food waste recycling infrastructure like composting. Composting reduces organic waste in landfills which lowers methane emissions that heat our planet. Composting also enriches soil and supports sustainable disposal systems and healthier ecosystems.

Most non-recyclable waste comes from single-use products and packaging, which pollutes our environment with harmful toxics. Producers must be required to reduce their packaging, eliminate toxics and single-use products, and redesign materials for reuse and recycling in ways that benefit people and the planet.

Recycling and composting alone cannot solve our waste problem. But we cannot achieve a zero waste future without equitable access to quality recycling and composting programs. This includes expanding access to electronics recycling and curbside recycling and composting to households that largely lack this service, like renters and rural communities

As we work to build a zero waste future, industry voices are pushing false solutions. False solutions refer to approaches or practices that claim to address or mitigate waste-related issues but fail to effectively address the root causes or may even exacerbate the problem. In order to truly address the waste issue, we must continue calling out and pushing back against false solutions.