Is Conservation the 'New Normal'?

June 21, 2009 -- Waste not, want not. It's a saying our grandparents learned all too well during the Great Depression. Now, America is learning it all over again.

Each year, Americans discard 20 million televisions, 130 million cell phones and an estimated 25,000 tooth brushes. However, with the recession leaving people with less disposable income, Americans may be conserving more and discarding less garbage.

Joe Damiano, collector at the New York Department of Sanitation, has noticed a difference.

"I guess because of the recession, people are throwing out less garbage."

It is certainly the case at Peter Karasik's waste transfer station in Montgomery County, Md., where residential garbage is down 15 percent and construction waste down about 50 percent.

"In terms of regular municipal trash, we might have taken in 2,500 tons. This year we might be taking in 2,000 tons on a similar day," said Karasik. "I think people are making a better effort to recycle things, putting less in the trash."

Debbin Dodrill was planning to trash her laptop, but instead she brought it to the Friendly Computers in Herndon, Va., for a repair. Two-thirds of business at Friendly Computers used to be sales of new computers. Now it's mostly repairs and upgrades.

"I think it's important to think about what you're throwing away and try to reuse it if it's possible," said Dodrill.

"People aren't as disposable with their computers. They're not as fast to go out and buy a new one rather than fixing," said Elysa Birman, owner of Friendly Computers. "There's always that break point, and I think the break point now has gotten a lot higher on whether they're going to go for the new computer rather than put in the few hundred dollars to repair their old one."

People are hanging on to their clothing longer too, says Elinor Coleman, who owns Vintage Mirage, a store that specializes in putting new buttons on old clothes in Alexandria, Va.

"People are being very careful with the items that they have right now and they would not give away or throw out a piece," said Coleman. "Everybody that I speak to is very concerned about the financial situation, and they are going to try and make their current wardrobe look really up to date, fun and personal, and they will do anything they have to do."