Just what's in all of your garbage? The three major items in the waste stream are paper and cardboard (34 percent), yard trimmings (13 percent), and food scraps (12 percent). The good news is that these items are also some of the easiest to keep out of the trash can.

Another piece of good news is that reducing trash even by small amounts can make a huge difference. Each item you keep out of the garbage prevents emissions of greenhouse gases, reduces pollutants, saves energy, conserves resources, and reduces the need for new landfills and incinerators. It also saves you money in garbage removal costs.