Conclusion:

After compilation of trash and weighing out the various components of it, I have been able to extrapolate that my hypothesis was correct in that paper would constitute the most weight of trash. Although each individual sheet does not weigh that much, the sheer amount of paper that I throw away overrides any other waste made. Also, in one week, the amount of waste generated does not seem that much. However, when extended to a year, the amount of trash we throw away is astounding.

Questions:

1) The most amount of waste generated was paper, because this week I had been happening to clean up my room from a lot of school papers from last semesters as well as throwing away junk mail that had piled up over time. Coming close, was plastic because a lot of the containers that I use are plastic; however, it is not as much, because I do tend to use reusable containers frequently. This is expected because most of the waste generated in America comes from paper products.

2) Environmental impacts of paper products mostly come from the making of the paper. Deforestation occurs when trees are cut down to make this paper. Air pollution occurs when gaseous waste from the factory that makes the pulp and the paper just spews its waste into the atmosphere. Also, excess solid and liquid waste is put back into the water system, therefore causing water pollution.

3) My parents and my inventory would differ because they use a lot more things than I do. Their inventories would be even larger because they are cooking and cleaning for multiple people, rather than just me by myself. My parents understand that this is true.

4) I did alter the decisions made though not consciously. I have been sick, and therefore bought a lot less food, which meant less plastic packaging. I did, however, buy more nonedible plastic packaging which sort of made up for the lack of food packaging I used.