What do Daniel, Adorno and you have in common?
The process of dealing with the byproducts, the aftermath, of civilized life seems overly complicated. But it could be simple. Because profit-driven production with its proclivity towards pilot science and self-serving, economic models has omitted much of the environmental and salvaging costs, there is a burden upon waste management as we work with the amazing buffering capacities of the earth. On the front end of this myriad process, product designers are hopefully increasingly incorporating ease of recycling into their item's amalgamate. By widening the traditional lens on manufacturing they are able to reuse existing materials cheaper than using new, raw ones. The easier it is to reuse these parts, the more money made. Still, most of our waste goes by default to the landfill. Many larger cities, including Vancouver, are experiencing a crisis with the limits of landfill space and their tolerance, shipping costs, methane and leachates, disenchantment by managers, government and the public who are increasingly seeing themselves are environmentalists. Modern, global waste management companies have made great gains to the issues that we all face. there is also a growing body of research and methods to aid us with the challenge of nearing the Zero Waste challenge. Maybe the sum of all this will be, You just can't serve the Environment and Money too.
Recycling must also be given supports just as an Goth-Modern incinerator (Vancouver may make the grand mistake of building more) would. To see recycling programs as a bother and expense is a double standard. As economic analysis have shown, items like paper, glass and aluminum do pay and contribute to administration and collection costs but they can’t cover the total. If incinerators, like dumps, get a disposal fee and as recycling sometimes charges as well, we still can’t expect these Zero Waste components to be self-sustaining prior to being considered a wise choice. Therefore, incineration moneys should equal recycling investment. If the Paris-run company Veolia is allowed to bid and maintain the incinerators then why not give access for world class companies to manage our recycling system.
It is a situation where we have to deal with the mess our world mindset disgorges, but as in marriage, grades and medals, there is good, better and best. I suspect this issue will be trivial compared to woes that shall befall us all during out vaporous lifetimes.
Regarding the question, I gave you a couple numbers. As you learn, look for more soon and do the math.
Enjoy today.
