Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World

I highly recommend this book. I was already a fan of Edward Humes and his books on the environment, but he packed this one with even more usable info than his previous ones. He opens with a disgusting fact: we Americans consume a credit card of microplastics every week in our food, water, and air. Our waste is off the charts terrible in every area of our lives, harming our health (leaky gas stoves = childhood asthma) and also our environment - and our financial health. Waste costs us all, big time, and Humes explains how and why. My favorite part is how Humes shows us the ordinary people making big changes. At the end of each chapter, he gives sometimes surprising suggestions on ways to upgrade our own lives. I was already carrying my reusable steel water bottle and reusable grocery bags, but now I’ve learned dozens of new ways to reduce waste.After reading this book, I joined Ridwell. I tossed my battered plastic cutting boards and replaced with green bamboo. I bought an inversion burner that cooks soup in seconds, not minutes. I’ve sworn off plastic polyester clothes, which shed fibers. When my gas furnace dies, I’ll replace it with a heat pump for significant savings and cleaner indoors air. I’m giving this hardback as a gift, and will listen to the audiobook, read by the author, when I need a refresher. This is an important book that should be taught in schools everywhere. If you’re serious about going green and changing our environment, this book gives you a roadmap to success.

It’s a thoughtful, well researched look at a problem we’ve been ignoring for too long. It’s a slow read because it is references not only the problem but includes different solutions that have been attempted. Also it is difficult to read for long period of time because it is quite discouraging. I haven’t gotten to the end yet but it has changed my thoughts about purchasing and packaging and has increased my willingness to spend more at local farm markets when possible.

Edward Humes does an exquisite job at weaving the thread of wastefulness throughout how modern-day humans live on this planet, and rightfully calls out the forces at play (i.e culture war and externalized costs!). The history behind our wasteful culture is carefully and meticulously researched, like a true investigative reporter. Waste is a "red flag" that something is wrong. Like Humes says, its synonymous with cost and inefficiency. No one wants that, unless it's there cost that is being pushed onto someone else, of course. You'll feel grossed out, frustrated, entertained, and inspired! Maybe even validated. A must read.

One of the most impactful reads of our time! Clear updated information with stories that motivate new tangible human actions for change.