How Our 'Stuff' Problem Impacts the Planet (and the Key to Beating Overconsumption for Good)

We have a major “stuff” problem. With everything we want just a click away, we bring new things into our homes every day… just to toss them out. This

excessive consumption has led to an alarming statistic: The average American produces

4.5 pounds of trash each day. Someone who's very familiar with this issue is Nick Huzar.

For years, Huzar watched billions of dollars worth of secondhand goods exchanged through

OfferUp, the marketplace he co-founded. That led him to create the nonprofit

StuffTV. Through the organization, he hopes to enlighten individuals about how what we buy and toss out impacts the planet, as well as provide actionable steps we can take to reduce the damage from overconsumption. And you’re in luck, because in a recent episode of

Good Together, he’s helping you get started.

It's no surprise that America has a serious problem with overconsumption. According to

Forrester, U.S. consumers spent $17.4 trillion on goods and services in 2022—a number that has doubled in 17 years, as it sat at $8.8 trillion in 2005.

This overconsumption issue has created an even bigger issue—the disposal of it. According to the EPA, the average family of four generates 6,570 pounds of trash per year. Add up all the waste Americans produce, and you'll get a total of 292.4 million tons. Yep, that's a lot of trash being sent to landfills.

There are numerous ways our "stuff" problem—and constantly consuming more, more, more—impacts the planet.

The more we consume, the more resources we deplete. The production of new goods requires extracting natural resources, including minerals, fossil fuels, and wood. This leads to environmental degradation and ecosystem disruption.

Manufacturing, transporting, and distributing products requires a large amount of

energy, usually from fossil fuels. This contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and

climate change.

When we bring new things into our homes, we often throw away the old. This creates a lot of waste, and that poses numerous challenges. Many products, like

electronics and plastics, aren’t easily recyclable, adding to landfill waste. In addition, other disposal methods, such as incineration, can emit toxins and pollutants into the air.

The only way to solve this problem is to overcome the "consumer mindset" and quit collecting—and inevitably throwing out—stuff. Once that happens, the planet can begin to heal. Here are a few simple ways to get started.

Single-use products like plastic bags, Q-tips, and

paper towels are exactly that—single-use. Once you're done using them, they're tossed in the trash, contributing to the excessive amount of waste sent to landfills every year. To combat this issue, start buying

eco-friendly, reusable products that reduce waste and save money.

Fast fashion and

fast furniture aren't made to last. Instead, opt for high-quality items that will last for years to come. These items might be pricier, but you don’t need as many. Invest in what you actually need and skip the rest.

There are many benefits to embracing a

minimalist lifestyle. Aside from drastically reducing the amount of waste you're contributing to landfills, you're also bettering your finances (less buying, more saving) and bettering your mental health (less clutter, more calm).

There will be a time you need to

declutter and get rid of some of the things in your home. But instead of tossing them in the trash, there are more sustainable ways to downsize.

First, utilize options like Facebook Marketplace,

OfferUp,

consignment shops, and

online thrift stores that allow you to sell perfectly-good items you no longer want. If you'd rather donate them,

do so responsibly at local thrift stores or shelters. You could even give items to friends—like beauty products that didn't work for you—to ensure they stay out of the trash.