The Myth of Garbage: Can you Really Throw Anything "Away"?

ENS102

April 5, 2006

Defining Garbage

1. Pete Seeger

Defining Garbage

Let's construct a definition of garbage.unneeded thingsleftover wastestuff we can’t use anymorethings that can’t be reused or recycledfood, paper, bottles, plastics, wrappers, hair,kleenex, boxes, physiological wastes,Garbage is material that is no longer deemed

useable by humans – us as individuals.

Defining GarbageWhy do we have garbage?1. We don’t know what to do with stuff we no longer

need/want.2. We live in a wasteful culture?3. We make goods to be disposable.4. Products age and stop working.5. Once things are away they don’t exist.6. We live in a consumer society.7. We don’t design of products8. Convenience9. Consumer ethic – we want more, bigger, better,

newer.........;.

Defining Garbage

Where did our concept of garbage arise?a. the loss of a conservation ethic

• "waste not want not" • "use it up wear it out make it do or do without"

b. the frontier "western" ethicc. resources as commonsd. new & improved

Defining Garbage

Resource "Flows"

Defining Garbage

1. Bethel University

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Bethel College Academic Complex Garbage Analysis 11/18/98

Defining Garbage

2. Ramsey County

http://www.moea.state.mn.us/policy/wastesort.cfmhttp://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/recovery/docs/2A.pdf

Defining Garbage

3. United States

Wright

an exercise in garbage

Your group will be given some garbage

• How would you dispose of the item which you were given?

• What is the proper disposal method?• What is the typical disposal manner? • What are the problems with disposal of

the item?• What is the solution to removing the item

from the waste stream? • What are the barriers to removing the

item from the waste stream?

Where is away?

• Ramsey and Washington County

http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/recovery/Where.asp

Where is away?

• United States

Wright

Where is Away?

http://waltersrecycling.com/residential.html

Where is Away?

Where is away?

• Prior to 1975 = open dumps• 1975-1981 SLF's and ocean dumping• 1980-1990 Incineration• 1990 - the dawn of recycling• 1991 EPA ruling 1/2 of all 6000 US SLFs

closed by 1995– no wetland slfs– must monitor surface and ground water

effluents– must install liners and leachate collection

systems– must monitor for 30 years after closing

Where is away?

Where is away?

Where is away?

http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/recovery/Where.asp

Wright

Where is away?

What are sustainable solutions?

What about hazardous materials?

• For Friday - Watch the VideoWaste Not, Want Not

• Continue Reading Chapter 18

• Monday we will examine hazardous materials