Trash

Since I love talking about trash so much (I was considering being Oscar the Grouch for Halloween), let me add another perspective to a topic I brought up before that we discussed briefly. A report issue by the RCBC (recycling council of British Columbia), recently came to the conclusion that waste-to-energy efforts are not helping in achieving the end goal of reducing waste from landfills. This was discussed before when we were talking about such facilities fighting over waste. Why create a demand for waste?

http://www.rcbc.bc.ca/documents/resources/policypaper_101024_wteoption.pdf

One topic that I think deserves more focus is one mentioned in Cradel to Cradel (and reiterated by Annie Lonnox) which is the idea that everything (both product and packaging) should be designed specifically not only for durability but also deisgned specifically to be recycled. Most product unfortunately were not designed to be burned, which is the princible of waste-to-energy via combustion (either raw material or methane). This emits harmful toxins into the air and creates a demand for waste. Bad bad bad.

One thing I am trying to push at work is recyclable packaging. Certain things, like fancy kitchen cabinets, for example, are shipped with cardboard corner and edge protectors, then wrapped in plastic fiber bands, then wrapped in thick plastic shrink wrap. Certain things to focus on are reducing such plastics, and definately limiting styrofoams. I will keep you all posted with developments I observe to be relevant.