Biodiversity: How Many Species on the Biodiversity: How Many Species on the Planet?Planet?

E.O. Wilson-1.4 million E.O. Wilson-1.4 million species-4 million species-4 million species species

But some scientists say But some scientists say it may be 4-40 million.it may be 4-40 million.

Why such a large Why such a large difference?difference?

Insects and BiodiversityInsects and Biodiversity

Terry Erwin-possibly as many as 40 million INSECTS

• Studies in Amazon-sites only 50 meters apart shared only 8.7% of the species. Sites 1500 km apart shared 2.6%.

• Tremendous degree of host specificity?

• How do you study insects? Why do we care?

Mineral Resources: Scarce or Mineral Resources: Scarce or Abundant?Abundant?

Copper- average grade of copper ore Copper- average grade of copper ore declined from 5% to 0.4%.declined from 5% to 0.4%.

But technology improved so much price But technology improved so much price of copper fell (1900-1950).of copper fell (1900-1950).

Demand for copper fell because of Demand for copper fell because of substitution (fiber optics-made from substitution (fiber optics-made from glass).glass).

So copper reserves increased So copper reserves increased between1950-1980 by 500%.between1950-1980 by 500%.

Mineral Resources and “Sink” Mineral Resources and “Sink” Problems: the case of aluminumProblems: the case of aluminum

Discovered in the 1820s, aluminum is the most Discovered in the 1820s, aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth. abundant metal on earth.

one million tons of aluminum containers and packaging one million tons of aluminum containers and packaging (soda cans, TV dinner trays, aluminum foil) are thrown (soda cans, TV dinner trays, aluminum foil) are thrown away each year. away each year.

Americans throw away enough aluminum every three Americans throw away enough aluminum every three

months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet.months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet.

Aluminum: A “Sink” and “Energy” Aluminum: A “Sink” and “Energy” Problem, not a Resource ProblemProblem, not a Resource Problem

Recycling aluminum produces 95% less air pollution Recycling aluminum produces 95% less air pollution and 97% less water pollution than making aluminum in and 97% less water pollution than making aluminum in the first place.the first place.

20 recycled cans can be made with the energy needed 20 recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore. Aluminum has to produce one can using virgin ore. Aluminum has been called “congealed electricity”.been called “congealed electricity”.

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours. run your television for three hours.

Aluminum Recycling: A relative success Aluminum Recycling: A relative success storystory

aluminum lying in our landfills will still be around in 200 aluminum lying in our landfills will still be around in 200 or more years.or more years.

Every minute of every day, an average of 123,097 Every minute of every day, an average of 123,097 aluminum cans are recycled. Today, the national aluminum cans are recycled. Today, the national average of aluminum can recycling is two out of every average of aluminum can recycling is two out of every three cans. three cans.

an aluminum can recycled today will be back on the an aluminum can recycled today will be back on the grocery shelf in about 90 days.grocery shelf in about 90 days.

The Throwaway SocietyThe Throwaway Society

Our dominant social paradigm (DSP)..we are Our dominant social paradigm (DSP)..we are still a throwaway society: between 30-40% of still a throwaway society: between 30-40% of all municipal waste is packaging materials..we all municipal waste is packaging materials..we like the convenience of individual packaging, like the convenience of individual packaging, disposable razors, disposable everything. disposable razors, disposable everything.

Only a generation ago, its was common for Only a generation ago, its was common for people to carry their own containers to the people to carry their own containers to the supermarket, to recycle milk and soft drink supermarket, to recycle milk and soft drink bottles and to compost vegetable waste.bottles and to compost vegetable waste.

Sources of Solid WastesSources of Solid Wastes

75% mining and oil and gas refining

13% from agriculture

9.5% from industry

1.5% municipal garbage1% sewage sludge

Mining, oil, gas and refining-highly localized

We throw awayWe throw away

Enough vehicle tires to encircle the planet almost three Enough vehicle tires to encircle the planet almost three times.times.

About 2.5 million nonreturnable plastic bottles an hour.About 2.5 million nonreturnable plastic bottles an hour. Enough disposable diapers per year which, if lined up end Enough disposable diapers per year which, if lined up end

to end, would reach the moon and back seven times.to end, would reach the moon and back seven times.

For more, see Harper p. 64For more, see Harper p. 64

In 2002, the US produced 369 million tons of solid waste of all types.

98.7 million tons (26%) were recycled or composted, 28.5 million tona (8%) were burned in waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, and 242 million tons (66%) went to landfill

Recycling BasicsRecycling Basics

"source separation" -separate the bottles and cans "source separation" -separate the bottles and cans from the newspapers here in Miami. Other places- from the newspapers here in Miami. Other places- general paper.general paper.

Recycling creates three-six times more jobs per unit of Recycling creates three-six times more jobs per unit of material than landfilling or incineration.material than landfilling or incineration.

Seattle and economic incentives: "pay as you throw" . Seattle and economic incentives: "pay as you throw" . Curbside recycling of plastic beverage bottles, glass, Curbside recycling of plastic beverage bottles, glass, cans newspapers, newspapers is free. Pay $10.70 a cans newspapers, newspapers is free. Pay $10.70 a month for 19 gallon can but $31.75 for three 32 gallon month for 19 gallon can but $31.75 for three 32 gallon cans. cans.

Four out of five households in the city recycle trash and Four out of five households in the city recycle trash and 90% put out one can or less of non-recyclable trash a 90% put out one can or less of non-recyclable trash a week.week.

Paper or Plastic?Paper or Plastic?Is paper better than plastic?Is paper better than plastic?

more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag from non-recycled material as it does to manufacture a plastic bag. from non-recycled material as it does to manufacture a plastic bag.

most paper comes from tree pulp, forest have to be cut downmost paper comes from tree pulp, forest have to be cut down

Paper bags generate 70% more air and 50 times more water Paper bags generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags. pollutants than plastic bags.

It takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to It takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper recycle a pound of paper

nothing completely degrades in modern landfills because of the lack nothing completely degrades in modern landfills because of the lack of water, light, oxygen and other important elements that are of water, light, oxygen and other important elements that are necessary for the degradation process to be completed necessary for the degradation process to be completed

Source: www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=7

Is plastic better?Is plastic better? Plastic bags kill thousands of whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and Plastic bags kill thousands of whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and

other marine mammals that mistake them for food every yearother marine mammals that mistake them for food every year

Plastic bag production requires millions of gallons of oil, very Plastic bag production requires millions of gallons of oil, very fossil fuel dependentfossil fuel dependent

Experts estimate that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are Experts estimate that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed and discarded annually worldwide—more than a consumed and discarded annually worldwide—more than a million per minute. million per minute.

Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable. They actually go through Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable. They actually go through photodegradation—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic photodegradation—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic particles that contaminating both soil and water, and end up particles that contaminating both soil and water, and end up entering the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them. entering the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them.

Plastic bags can actually be found all over Antartica, the oceans Plastic bags can actually be found all over Antartica, the oceans are filled with them with tiny plastic particles. are filled with them with tiny plastic particles.

Banning plastic bags?Banning plastic bags?

MD is proposing a bill that would ban plastic bags from MD is proposing a bill that would ban plastic bags from major supermarketsmajor supermarkets Similar law in San Francisco is already in placeSimilar law in San Francisco is already in place Boston, Oakland, Santa Monica, and cities in Colorado may Boston, Oakland, Santa Monica, and cities in Colorado may

followfollow Proponents argue that it takes more than 1,000 years Proponents argue that it takes more than 1,000 years

for plastic bags to degradefor plastic bags to degrade. . ““Every piece of plastic ever created is still around”Every piece of plastic ever created is still around”

The bill is trying to protect Chesapeake Bay, where fish The bill is trying to protect Chesapeake Bay, where fish and birds often die after ingesting discarded plastic and birds often die after ingesting discarded plastic bagsbags

Pros and Cons…Pros and Cons…

PROSPROS To make 100 billion plastic To make 100 billion plastic

bags (the amount we use in bags (the amount we use in the US in 1 year) it takes 12 the US in 1 year) it takes 12 million barrels of oilmillion barrels of oil

No oil is used to produce No oil is used to produce recycled paper bagsrecycled paper bags

The bills requires the use of The bills requires the use of recycled paper bags, meaning recycled paper bags, meaning no trees are cut down.no trees are cut down.

Only 1% of all plastic bags are Only 1% of all plastic bags are recycled in the US—not recycled in the US—not energy efficientenergy efficient

CONSCONS It costs 2 cents to produce a It costs 2 cents to produce a

plastic bag and 5 cents to plastic bag and 5 cents to produce a paper bagproduce a paper bag

Some stores already offer a 3-Some stores already offer a 3-cent credit for every bag cent credit for every bag customers returncustomers return

Less energy to recycle plastic Less energy to recycle plastic than paperthan paper

Costs to the stores would triple Costs to the stores would triple if law is adoptedif law is adopted

A better option?A better option?

Reuse plastic and paper bagsReuse plastic and paper bags

Bring excess paper and plastic bags back to the store for Bring excess paper and plastic bags back to the store for recyclingrecycling

Bring your own bagBring your own bag some stores actually charge their customers for the some stores actually charge their customers for the

use of either paper or plastic to encourage them to use of either paper or plastic to encourage them to bring their own. bring their own.

My solution: don’t use a bag at all, pile up the stuff in My solution: don’t use a bag at all, pile up the stuff in your cart, put it into boxes in your trunk, carry it in in your cart, put it into boxes in your trunk, carry it in in the boxesthe boxes