After weeks of preparation and speaking in school classrooms, the crew was ready to leave the pull of Earth’s gravity to join the mothership, which was fully assembled except for the refurbished TNI which would dock with it in the vacuum of space. It was only left to pack their personal belongings, and after a good night’s rest, take off for Olo and destinations unknown. 
“Speaking of packing, did I mention the state-of-the-art laundry facilities aboard the ship?” K. D. asked in passing, “An efficient dishwasher, too. Our limited water supply will be continuously filtered and reused,” she said. “All moisture within the confines of the ship”.
“And drinking water?” Flash asked.
“Yes, drinking water, too.” she replied. 
“What about leaks or spills?” Ash wondered aloud. 
“All moisture. If it’s in the ship, it will be recaptured, refiltered and reused. It will water the plants, and all plant material will be composted and reclaimed. Everything must be recycled and reused, including what our bodies consume. As vital as this is on Earth, it is even more important aboard the ship.” K. D. continued, “There is no other option.”
“Can you imagine what the Earth would be like if we as a race had learned that lesson a couple hundred years earlier?” Flash mused. His dream in the cryo-tube came back to him. So many questions lingered regarding his 10 year journey in the TNI. Questions that didn’t really need answers. Everyone needs a little mystery. At the end of the day, what are all the answered questions anyway? They are just over. Finished.
Flash couldn’t plan the details of his life any more than he could plan his dreams, so it seemed best to just enjoy the journey as it unfolded. 
That night Flash didn’t sleep much. He rarely slept on the night before a trip. He’d have plenty of time to sleep along the way. The schedule of day and night, and breaking life up into 24-hour time periods would lose their relevance soon anyway. His mind raced on ahead of him into the unknown, but no earthbound human being could predict the future any easier. Every life is fraught with change.
Here are some things you can do to reduce waste:
Reuse products. If you do not have a recycling program in your community or if the material or product is not currently recyclable, try to find another use for the product rather than throwing it away.
Compost organic material. Composting yard trimmings, food scraps, and other organic wastes can dramatically reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills. To learn more about how to set up your own composting bin, the EPA has developed an online "Composting Is Easy" guide, which consumers can access via the EPA website.
Use your own re-usable bags to carry home groceries and other purchases.
Sell or donate products you can no longer use, such as clothing and furniture.
Recycle, recycle, recycle!!! Take advantage of your community's recycling program, if one is available. If your community does not have such a program, volunteer to start one.
Strive to support recycling efforts by using products made from recycled material whenever possible.
Use rechargeable batteries. Using rechargeable batteries not only helps to reduce waste, but it also helps keep the toxic metals found in some batteries out of landfills.
Donate old or unwanted electronics such as computers and TVs. Many electronics contain materials that are considered toxic and should not be disposed of in a landfill. If your community doesn't have a recycling program or center for used electronics, contact the manufacturer of the product (or the manufacturer of the new one you just purchased or plan to purchase) to see if they have a recycling program for obsolete units.
source: http://www.nsf.org/consumer/recycling/