Zero waste

The anti garbage wave is gaining momentum as more cities, parks, schools, stadiums, businesses and restaurants have begun requiring or encouraging the elimination of age old practice of throwing stuff away.

Recycling of the traditional items is now being joined by the composting of food scraps.  Old clothes aren't tossed, but taken to re-sell-it shops.  Books are being donated given away.

Frankly it seems impossible to believe we will ever live in a time when we have zero trash, but the effort is worth a try.  Landfills are crammed, some cities incinerate (yuck) some are still dumping off shore. 

Even better is the work being done to eliminate styrofoam, one of the most insidiously common items trashed because there is no way to ever use it again.  Stopping the use of the cheaply made styrofoam will occur when affordable alternatives are created and manufactured.  We're close as companies are beginning to offer plant based plastics which will disappear when heated after use.  We already have the option of choosing disposable forks, knives, and spoons made of corn starch which will compost naturally.

Buying items made from recycled material, especially those things we use daily like paper towels, napkins etc. is a good way to encourage new manufacturing and jobs. However, I still can't be convinced it's better to clean kitchen counters with a washable cloth or sponge.  Too much opportunity to spread bacteria by multiple uses so paper towels seem much cleaner.

One thing troublesome about the composting of all home and restaurant scraps is that it flys in the face of the age old rule on composting-don't toss in animal fat, meat bones, dairy.  Those items attract animals you just don't want roaming around your property.  And, they could become bacteria ridden. 

But some cities are doing the composting of all food.  They must have a system.

Comments

[Ron]

Voluntarily recycle, recycle, recycle

[Norman Teigen]

Good post. Styrofoam is the worst stuff imaginable. I work in downtown Minneapolis on Fridays in a nine-story building. I was pleasantly surprised recently to see a comprehensive compost program introduced there. I had always thought of composting as being a residential thing but composting can work wherever people work and eat. This place, by the way, is preparing to fight H1N1 flu by placing Purell soap dispensers all over.

[Norman Teigen]

Please delete from my comments the last two words: 'the place.' Thx

[nugget]

Blah Blah Blah Nord!

[Ashley]

In general, I think there needs to be a lot more education on composting before Americans will feel comfortable doing it. Or, cities need to take the initiative to provide composting services (like San Francisco). Zero waste initiatives seem to be sprouting up all over the world. http://www.newsy.com/videos/zero_waste_catches_on_worldwide