We Can be Garbage-Free - "Trash is a choice. Time for 'Cradle to Cradle' design." Read the article by Ruben Anderson at The Tyee (Go to Article).
This article takes a look at the concept of garbage - one of the most interesting, most problematic, and most prolific products of modern civilization.
Why we produce Garbage:I feel that the biggest issue with garbage production is rooted in the design of our economic system which requires continuous growth and consumption. With a growing stream of consumption comes a growing stream of waste.
- We produce a whole lot of useless junk that will break down in 3 months and then we will just throw it away ad buy new.
- The "Infinite Growth" capitalism economy requires that people continue to buy and consume things. Every part of our economy is dependent upon the continuous and increasing consumption of manufactured goods and commodities alike. If the growth slows or stops, people flip, and the economy goes to pot. This is a sad fact about the current way of doing things that is supporting you and I.
- Consumption and the subsequent tossing makes a lot of money for some powerful people.
- Our culture promotes a "Bigger and Better" mentality. Everyone thinks they need to have all of the latest gadgets and all seven (or how ever many) generations of iPod that have been produced.
- Change doesn't come easy. It is difficult enough getting people to properly sort their garbage and recycle it, let alone reducing the amount they produce.
- Our garbage infrastructure is mostly hidden. Landfills out in the countryside and mysterious waste-to-energy burners keep "away" out of the most people's view.
- Our culture puts a huge emphasis on convenience and increasing the number of things a person can do in a given amount of time (e.g. the drive-through, Fast Food Nation.)
- "Wash the Dishes, or just throw them away and watch them magically disappear on Monday morning!?"
- The concept of paying a lot for a high-quality item up front does not sit well with many people. They will keeping buying the cheaper, piece-of-junk versions, even if they consume more energy or have to replace them five times as often as the more expensive model.
