Amy Korst

Despite having been immersed in waste-reduction for some time now I was pleasantly surprised to learn so much from this book. There were some great practical solutions: ideas for composting in apartments, information about take-back programs for hard to recycle items like #5 plastic, and plenty of disposable alternative ideas (similar to what I picked up from No Impact Man and rel="nofollow" target="_top">Plastic Free).

But what I liked best about the book was its tone: upbeat and excited. Korst constantly reinforces the key ideas that you can do this, every little bit really does help, and it's OK to make compromises. That was really reassuring. I am already ahead of the curve when it comes to the three Rs, but I feel tremendous pressure to do more – and at the same time tremendous social anxiety about doing things like bringing reusable containers to restaurants (although, oddly, I have no qualms about pressing my reusable bags on checkers and my "sippy cup" on baristas).

Another point I appreciated: constant reiteration of the all-too-little-known fact that almost nothing decomposes in a landfill. Your compostables will not compost. Your degradable bag will not degrade. Decades-old newspapers can still be read when unearthed.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to reduce (or eliminate) their waste. It's not the only one out there (the field is growing and I have a lot of reading to do!) but it is accurate, informative, and supportive. Anyone can make a change for the better with this book in hand.… (más)