“My family recently moved to a rural area just outside Vancouver, and I'm getting into permaculture. I'm baffled by how to manage all the household waste we're generating. We’ve got the usual—kitchen scraps, old newspapers, so many cardboard boxes from moving, and even leftover paint and batteries. I want to use these responsibly but am unsure where to start. Could you guide me through some practical permaculture methods to handle this waste? Thanks a bunch!” — Mark, Vancouver, Canada. Understanding Household Waste as a Resource in Permaculture Household waste is often seen as just something to get rid of, but