Proposal: We measure how good we are at being citizens of Earth by how we deal with our "rubbish". Do we consider it a valuable resource to be reused (mature approach, based on understanding planetary cycles), or do we just push it off to Away (childish denial). Current score: Could Do Better...
I have just discovered that those odd waste/recycling bins that are all over the oldest bits of Bergen, Norway, link to an UNDERGROUND PNEUMATIC WASTE TRANSPORT SYSTEM. The waste collects for a bit and then WHOOSH... it's off to the recycling centre. All underground. No bin lorries (garbage trucks), fewer road vehicles, less noise... amazing. @davidho says that my (considerable) excitement about this is entirely unreasonable. I disagree. https://www.envacgroup.com/how-it-works/the-envac-system/
I tried an extreme day trip to Barcelona and back — in 24 hours
Sun, sea, city and 38,000 steps: our writer sets out on social media’s latest phenomenon with a whirlwind visit to the Catalan capital that cost less than £150
Conspicuous carbon consumption at its glitziest most profligate worst. And yes I can ‘afford' to do it monetarily - the question is can I, we, the plant (as we know it) do so?
Really important article here about how big oil companies, including ExxonMobil, knew plastic recycling was BS since the'70s, but kept pushing the lie anyway.
"New research by the Center for Climate Integrity reveals that the plastics industry knew this plastic waste crisis was coming. And so petrochemical manufacturers worked hard to persuade the public that we could recycle our way out of the problem."
"Twenty petrochemical companies generate more than half of all the world’s single-use plastics. They include major oil and gas companies such as ExxonMobil, the world’s leading producer of single-use plastic waste.
...
"Behind the scenes, however, they were admitting all along that such efforts were “virtually hopeless.” For more than 40 years, they knew that plastic recycling is not technically or economically feasible at scale. More than 90 percent of all plastic has ended up in landfills, ecosystems, or incinerators.
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"Since the 1970s, these companies, their trade associations, and their front groups promoted recycling “solutions” using misleading advertising, inaccurate educational materials, performative investments, and commitments that they knew they were unlikely to meet.
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"Internal documents reveal that the industry knew by 1986, for example, that “recycling cannot be considered a permanent solid waste solution [to plastics], as it merely prolongs the time until an item is disposed of.” In 1994, an Exxon employee warned staffers at the American Plastics Council that they did not “want paper floating around” saying they could not meet recycling goals, since the issue was “highly sensitive politically.” These compelling admissions and many more are grounds for a thorough investigation.
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"Plastics are a product made from fossil fuels. As the world moves away from fossil fuels in a race to avert climate catastrophe, journalists have shined a light on how oil companies promote recycling, in part because plastics are their 'Plan B.'"
These days, the CEO of ExxonMobil likes to gaslight the public and blame activists:
"Frankly, society, and the activist—the dominant voice in this discussion—has tried to exclude the industry that has the most capacity and the highest potential for helping with some of the technologies."
Well, these same companies knew about the problems with toxic fossil fuel pollution since the 1970s. That's both greenhouse gas and microplastic pollution.
And they deliberately and knowingly lied to delay action.
Another ‘consume’ message from the Gruaniad. I can provide more why you probably don't need one. The main being cost, waste and the fact that with a little care, a modern laptop (say up to 10 years) can provide a good service for years to come. AI - not necessary for most, WiFi - can be boosted with a USB stick, batteries - replaced.
(from a 2009 MacBookPro)
When will the madness end? I ordered this on top of a hard disk drive that would have reasonably fit inside that box. Why would they do this? #amazon#waste#packaging
I read the below article a couple of hours ago and I'm still dumbstruck at this paragraph.
I'm interested in municipal finance because it's a VERY direct illustration of how we produce what we pay for, and it's also highly susceptible to change. Thus, I read expecting to do some theorizing about budget allocations ... and stopped reading, mouth open, when I realized how PROFOUNDLY we do not agree what we are doing here.
"Billions of Canadian tax dollars have been funnelled to private companies to develop proprietary medical software. More tax dollars were then paid to the same companies to use the software to run our medical system. " #Propriety#Software#Canada#Province#HealthCare#Waste
The multiple "Atmospheric Rivers" dumping so many tons of water on California and surrounding areas...
It really is too bad that over the last 30 to 40 years the State hasn't done more to capture and store the proceeds from storms like this. It is a shame that a significant amount is flooding its way back out to the ocean.
Ditto the other States affected by similar storms and Hurricanes... say Central & Midwest areas... repopulate the aquifers at least. Slow its progress down the rivers.
You could easily extend this to all of the Sun's rays gracing us with so much energy - that has been actively ignored by companies and governmental policies for many decades.
And for anyone who still thinks that nuclear power is automatically the best way to a low-carbon future, I encourage you to read the brilliant description of what happens to nuclear waste in Wasteland by Oliver Franklin-Wallis and consider whether it really is worth it.
Also read the rest of the book - it's essential stuff for understanding the modern world.
"The 1000 companies account for 40 per cent of India's total emissions. The report said 43 per cent of Indian corporations identify #ClimateChange as a material factor with adaptation and mitigation measures rated as "highly material". They were followed by #waste management, #energy and #water management."
There will be a review of the 5 year management plan of the Gleniffer Reserves. A meeting will be held at the Gleniffer Hall on Tuesday 23rd January from 9.30am to 12 noon.
Once residents and visitors have frequented the local watering holes in Bellingen, the swimming holes at Gleniffer are the main thing to do on a hot day. The mass tourism is funneled via ' the tourist drive'. The scenic country road has just been reconstructed into a highway-like infrastructure. Motorists are now enticed to race from the watering hole to the swimming hole. Cars park as close as possible to the small creeks and unload dogs and gear. The unwanted waste is commonly left behind for the local wildlife and the next load of visitors.
The reserves have a lot of car parking infrastructure and educational signage about settler explorers now.
A "Go before you go” campaign urges visitors to go to a public toilet before leaving the township. Many motorists/swimmers forget and the dogs can't read.
The 'upgrade' of Gleniffer road channeled the flow of visitors into local waterways that have no toilets.
#Plastic islands in the oceans. And now, massive piles of clothing in deserts. This pile weighed an estimated 11,000 to 59,000 tons, equivalent to one or two times the Brooklyn Bridge.
Time to spend more time at the local thrift store when you need to replace clothing. #Reuse#Recycle #environment#waste
@Sheril
Climate change is not a myth.
However, we are not being told the full story.
Look at the effects of #nuclear#waste look at the number of nuclear weapons test done each year.
Look at the effect nuclear actually has on the climate and our home planet.
But of course, telling the truth you will then be labeled as "Anti-Nuclear" - a crime against the industry