waste
| is it possible to reconceive waste and by-products as "nutrients" to feed back into the manufacturing stream?* |
Conventional Wisdom:
Landfill is perfectly safe, and there is plenty of land.
If necessary, we can ship our waste to another part
of the country (or world).
Essentially, there is no more "away" - people so cover the
globe that there is almost no area not occupied by someone
claiming "not in my backyard." Is it socially responsible of us
to assume that another people, another culture, anyone else
but ourselves should have to deal with our left-overs?
All this stuff piled together in landfills creates a toxic mix of
leaching chemicals and rusting metals - an astounding
volume of which still has useful value. In landfill, organic
waste (food scraps for instance) decomposes without
oxygen, creating bubbles of methane which is potent and
volatile, often the cause of uncontrolled fires. Plastics and
other objects burned in this way release dioxins and other
carcinogens into the air, at a global volume high enough to
be a contributor to climate change and declining air quality.
And that's just what makes it to landfill...
Landfill is perfectly safe, and there is plenty of land.
If necessary, we can ship our waste to another part
of the country (or world).
Essentially, there is no more "away" - people so cover the
globe that there is almost no area not occupied by someone
claiming "not in my backyard." Is it socially responsible of us
to assume that another people, another culture, anyone else
but ourselves should have to deal with our left-overs?
All this stuff piled together in landfills creates a toxic mix of
leaching chemicals and rusting metals - an astounding
volume of which still has useful value. In landfill, organic
waste (food scraps for instance) decomposes without
oxygen, creating bubbles of methane which is potent and
volatile, often the cause of uncontrolled fires. Plastics and
other objects burned in this way release dioxins and other
carcinogens into the air, at a global volume high enough to
be a contributor to climate change and declining air quality.
And that's just what makes it to landfill...
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re: Start simple steps to take today
re: Generate dig a little deeper
re: Imagine now you're talkin' Sustainable
* Kostigen, Thomas M. and Rogers, Elizabeth. The Green Book. United States: Three Rivers Press, 2007.
- what do you throw away? Don't take the garbage out for a week (or a year, like David Chemiedes). If *you* can't
live with your mess, why should anyone else?
- while recycling isn't a panacea, it does have a tremendous impact on reducing volume going to landfills, and reducing
pressure for virgin material. Do it now, and do it often! Paper, glass, and metals are no-brainers... be a little more concerned
with plastics:
- > While most plastics are marked with the recycling symbol (chasing arrows) the number only indicates what type it is -
not that it is recyclable. Even if the type is recyclable, your area may not have the capacity to recycle it. Contact your
garbage pick-up company to verify what is acceptable for recycling curb-side. Then contact your local recycling center to
find out what else is recyclable.
> Most plastics are downcycled (made into something of lesser value); some plastic bottles may be recycled back into
a plastic bottle once or twice (at best), after that it is made into carpet backing or a parking bumper - better, but just a
delay to the landfill and also using quite a lot of energy along the way. True recycling turns the item back into the same -
for example, a glass bottle can be recycled back into a glass bottle indefinitely.
> for more on plastics, see the re: Think plastics primer, Plastics 101.
- practice precycling: 60lbs of plastic per year (per person!) goes into the trash immediately, as packaging*
- > carry your own bag
> avoid additional bags where possible (ie, produce bags at the grocery)
> prefer products in minimal or recyclable packaging
> buy in bulk, and reuse the containers where possible
> notice what you bring into your home / office - do you really need the "free gift"? Is there a tactful way to decline the
useless knick-knacks that seem to decorate work cubicles and collect in kitchen junk-drawers? Once you take
something, it is now your responsibility to get rid of it.
- don't litter wonder what happens to the stuff you see on the side of the road? Most likely it will end up in the ocean:
Pacific Garbage Patch and Visual: Pacific Gyre
- avoid bottled water duh!
- stop junk mail: opt-out of junk mail to conserve resources and reduce your own recycling burden
- > while you're at it, opt-out of telemarketers and credit offers (1-888-567-8688)
> avoid getting back on those lists by being vigilant about giving out your contact information (especially important in
avoiding identity theft)
- reduce your use of disposable objects: plates and napkins to razors and pens to one-use items like cleaning wipes...
Which can you replace with reuseable?
re: Generate dig a little deeper
- buy used / recycled Close the loop - buy products made from the stuff you recycle. Like recycling itself, buying used
and recycled products only delays the trip to the landfill - but in the meantime you've reduced pressure on the virgin material,
and you've "voted" (with your dollars) for greener options - both politicians and manufacturers really do pay attention to this!
- buy handmade from websites like etsy.com or your own neighborhood storefronts and living rooms. Handmade
products tend to be made in smaller batches, using fewer resources, and can be of perfectly high quality (compared to mass-
produced) and are loaded with character. Break the cycle of the "throw-away" mentality and buy things that are meaningful and
of heirloom quality.
- 1/3 of all waste in American landfills is food scraps. composting food waste takes some effort to set up, but minimal
effort to maintain indefinitely. If you have a garden or outdoor space, it is even easier. For those of us in apartments or
otherwise without open green space, it is still doable.
- > composting basics
> indoor composting options include worms or an appliance like NatureMill (be sure you've identified where you'll take
your compost; fresh compost is too strong for most indoor plants. Share with your gardening friends or a community
garden)
- bottle your own water: start with a ceramic, glass, or steel container and add your own water. Stock your work
area with a drinking glass. Most bottled water is municipal (tap) water to begin with; if you don't like the taste of your tap water,
click here for a primer on filter types.
- recycle more go beyond the basics: find your local drop-off locations for batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and
electronics. For furniture, clothing, and anything else that's in reasonably good condition, consider:
- > consignment
> charity; many charities will even arrange to pick up items from your home - call to find out your options. Get a receipt
to take advantage of the tax deduction!
> "freecycle" - a posting site for getting rid of those random things often found stuffed in the back of the closet.
- keep reuse-able dishes, utensils, and cloth napkin handy at your desk instead of using plastic and paper at those office
lunches. Businesses produce 40% of garbage in the US. Click here for more at-work tips.
- visit your local dump or landfill - You'll never look at trash the same way again. Contact your garbage pick-
up company for visitor information - make sure you get beyond the public drop-off area.
re: Imagine now you're talkin' Sustainable
- buy less – what do you actually need, versus what do you buy from habit or ego-support? Make it a family affair - establish
a regular "Buy Nothing Day" (or week, or more!) to break the consumer habit.
- make more like buying handmade, making things brings focus to the process, not just the end result. Taking the time to
make something (a gift, note card, or bit of home decoration) helps us appreciate quality and our own talent. Plus, it's just fun!
- look for interconnectedness in nature, there is no waste. What we would think of waste like dead leaves,
broken branches, even animal dung is food for other systems. How can you capitalize on "one man's trash is another man's
treasure"? In nature, all systems are "closed loops" - there is no definitive start or end points, only cycles. Look for ways to
close the loop on systems you are a part of.
* Kostigen, Thomas M. and Rogers, Elizabeth. The Green Book. United States: Three Rivers Press, 2007.
| photo by Edward Burtynsky Tire Mountain #1; California USA For more jaw-dropping images of the sheer scale of human detritus, check out his website. Worth the wait for video load: "worldchanging" clip. Also worth a view, "Manufactured Landscapes" (Netflix), featuring Burtynsky at work in China and India. |