Friday, December 9, 2011

Good morning,

We all know the Green enthusiast's motto of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but do you think it is possible to reduce your yearly output of trash from 1,600 pounds to only 32 pounds?

Dave Chameides has done just that. He hasn't thrown away a single thing for an entire year in order to force himself and his family to examine the way the consume and recycle, and the results are surprising. His is hoping he can inspire other Americans to do the same.

Please scroll down for some excerpts from this fascinating story.

Thanks for reading,

Your Living Green editor

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The Los Angeles-based cameraman has lived in his comfortable Hollywood home without throwing away a single piece of trash, from wine bottles to chewing gum and pizza boxes.

Instead the 39-year-old Chameides -- nicknamed "Sustainable Dave" -- recycles his garbage or else stores it in his basement. He says he wants to show that it is possible to dramatically reduce his family's consumption habits.

And he can show astounding results. Rather than the 1,600 pounds of trash the average American family produces each year, Chameides, his wife and two daughters have amassed only 32 pounds over the last 12 months.

Chameides has shunned bottled water in favor of filtered tap water. His war on packaging also extends to the family groceries. Rice and pulses are bought by the kilo and placed in containers, while fresh fruit and vegetables are purchased at a weekly neighborhood farmers' market.

In fact, groceries was one of the easiest areas to eliminate packaging, Chameides said.

"The food is not so bad, but with DVDs, kids toys and so on, it's packaging you don't want, and it's frustrating. What you don't realize is that you're paying for it, and pay for it again to dispose of it."

His southern California home is fitted with solar panels while his car runs on used cooking oil. However, he insists that even if you don't follow his example to the letter, "sustainable living" can be achieved without huge sacrifices to your quality of life.

"I'm eating fresher food, I'm saving money, helping the local economy, supporting farmers instead of corporations. For me that's worth it. It's just thinking about doing the right thing," he says.