This post by Joel Makower fits in so nicely with all the books I've been reading lately; particularly Cradle to Cradle and also Biomimicry.
Apparently our trash that goes to landfills, or municipal solid waste, is somewhere between 1 and 10% of the total waste produced in our country - mostly industrial debris. So while we're busy worrying about how to recycle more at home or buy products with less packaging (or reinventing a Mickey D's take out bag), we may be overlooking the ridiculous amounts of damage being inflicted much earlier in the supply chain.
In fact, according to Makower, the EPA barely even keeps track of all this industrial waste.
What this demonstrates is a need to shift our focus to the production, storage, and shipping of goods. Not only is that much waste bad for our health and our environment, but it certainly isn't an efficient business model.
As a hydrologist, I know that the vast majority of people know that water comes out of their tap but have no idea where it came from before that. I bet even fewer people really know something about the industrial process that created the products they consume.
What to do? I hedge my bets here that a change in consumption practice may not be as powerful a tool as some really smart people getting in on the design end of things. Anyone want to volunteer?
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Also, this one's for Ms. S.: "West Antarctic Melt a Slow Affair" (In other words, 'collapse' may be a bit of an exaggeration.)
2 comments:
This problem is the same as with most of our other personal efficiency measures that we can undertake, like putting in CFLs, buying locally, etc. What we can do at home makes such a minor difference, yet it's about the only thing you can get most people to do. Imagine convincing people that they need to spend time writing their legislators to try to get important things changed. While it would maybe get better results, the effects would not be obvious and immediate. People need instant gratification even when trying to do good. Sigh.
Well, that's some comfort in these trying times! Its such a difficult thing (especially for types like me) to balance the wanting to do as much as I can personally to allay the climate change that is here and (IMHO) here to stay. Whether its an 'earth' phenomenon that would have happened no matter if humans were here or not but seriously exacerbated by our presence or just plain old caused by us humans, the selfish and entitled. We are here, we each should do our small part (each and every vote does count in the long run) and we'll be riding it out, whatever it end up being.
Can you even imagine being as middle of the road as I am!@! I am even freakin' myself out.
But, I do try to do my part and I do encourage others, in a non-threatening or scary language way, to do the same. On a (caffeinated) side note, I had a friend over for dinner, as I rinsed the aluminum foil (for future use), she asked, "what are you doing?". And I explained. It had never occurred to her to reuse 'disposable' items.
Anyway, thanks for all your insights and links. Always interesting and thought provoking.
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