18 replies to this topic

[Hayden]

Remember the days when a washing machine lasted for decades? If it broke then we would get it fixed. But these days it often cheaper to discard our broken electronics and appliances then buy new ones. Take a closer look at the effects of our throw away culture:

Source: http://www.recycle.co.uk

[Sandra Piddock]

Once again, this infographic is both informative and inspirational, because it makes you want to do more recycling to reduce some of those numbers. The thing is, we tend to become complacent and think that we are doing as much recycling as we possibly can, when in fact everyone can and should do more. These staggering statistics should spur everyone to even more diligence regarding recycling.

[SpiroFlo]

These graphics have been really handy, thanks.

[E3 wise]

Nice posting Hayden.  I agree having these facts as a graphic makes it easier for people to fully appreciate the information.

[jasserEnv]

Although it would be harder to calculate, I think, it would be interesting to see how much energy could be saved above recycling if we focused on reusing more. As the post started out, our disposable culture is now being turned into one that recycles and that is definitely better than extracting more resources and producing more waste, but energy is also something that we need to value more. If we could get 15 to 20 years out of a washer or fridge, how much would be saved in raw energy use especially now that many appliances are available with high efficiency operation meaning that it no longer makes much sense to replace a fridge for a newer one to save energy.

[Hayden]

thanks all. Be  sure to use the social share buttons for twitter, facebook, etc at the top of post.

[Green Thumb]

I think due to wide product commercialization, people turn into an active consumer then a single person tend to dispose if not reuse or recycle a lot of merchandise. So I think we should control ourselves to be persuaded by what the advertising/propaganda is doing.

[zararina]

Yes I also think that using graphics makes it easier to understand and can also helps makes points clearer for readers.
And such info can also makes us recycle more and use less of those materials and products that takes too much time to decomposed and brings higher hazard to the environment and to us.

[mariaandrea]

I like infographics and this does bring it home, but the most effective part of the whole thing for me was seeing pictures of common household items and how long they take to decompose. Simple and clear. And enlightening. For some reason, I thought glass decomposed faster than plastic. Obviously wrong about that. That really drives home just how long our landfills are going to be around. Future generations are really going to curse us.

[joeldgreat]

Infographics is very nice representation of how much waste is wasted and contribute to CO2 emmision. I wash shock to find the disposable nappeirs took many centuries to decompose. Maybe the companies producing this will make a more environmental friendly product as these baby products is already a necessity for all parents.

[Jessi]

Wow, that next-to-last section where it says "if you put it in a landfill today," was really eye-opening. I knew a lot of those things would take a while to decompose, but some of them are much longer than I realized. And then I got to the styrofoam one and just...wow. Love the infographic and am passing it on to FB friends now.

[jasserEnv]

Jessi, on 19 February 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

Wow, that next-to-last section where it says "if you put it in a landfill today," was really eye-opening. I knew a lot of those things would take a while to decompose, but some of them are much longer than I realized. And then I got to the styrofoam one and just...wow. Love the infographic and am passing it on to FB friends now.

That is why styrofoam and plastic cups of type 6 plastic really should be recycled. It is actually a very good product in terms of reusability but it gets caught because it is also light weight and takes up a lot of space making collection expensive. However, the Japanese have created a truck that captures styrofoam and mixes it with orange oil to dissolve it. Once the orange oil is removed, the plastic can be turned into more stryrofoam to be used again and again.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

If we all demanded that our cities provided us with recycling bins/pickups, we could recycle even more.
Of course there are dedicated folks like us that recycle no matter what, but if it was convenient for
the rest of the city dwellers to recycle, they would.

It saves cities money in the long run if only they'd do the math.

[Kate Merrick]

Yes, indeed, much, much more recycling and reusing could be done in this country.  How distressing that the USA isn't even on that scale!!  But I am not really surprised.  I am still shocked to see how many people throw aluminum cans, for example, into the trash cans!!  Love that infor about the Japanese using orange oil to dissolve & then reconstitute styrofoam...Brilliant!    Also, I don't think glass should be put in landfills at all because it can be turned into many things, such as beautiful countertop material, much more renewable than the overused granite. (Most people want what their neighbors have...alas.)

[still learning]

Kate Merrick, on 09 March 2012 - 08:50 AM, said:

...How distressing that the USA isn't even on that scale!!  But I am not really surprised. .....

Looks to me like that's an EU only list.
According to what I've googled, Switzerland should be high on any listing of "good recyclers" but they're not part of the EU
Dunno If the US should be on a "good recyclers" list or not.  Maybe if we didn't generate so much "trash" to begin with....
http://greenopolis.c...other-countries.
http://www.aneki.com..._countries.html
http://news.bbc.co.u...ope/4620041.stm

[Kate Merrick]

Yes, we generate an absurd amount of trash per capita.  It's ridiculous.  In New York City they have very strict laws about recycling and separating and you can be fined if they find the stuff in the wrong places.  Wish we did more of that all over.  Who knows if that will ever happen?

[rbaker_59]

These are very interesting numbers.  Every city should set up and require recycling for everything that can be recycled.  The city where I live is far behind New York City, but at least they have started making an effort.  They have yet to require recycling, but they have not been set up for things like glass.  At this point, we are not required to separate the recyclables.  I look forward to the day when every city sets up and requires recycling and teaches the citizens more about it.

[dconklin]

There is no real enforcement of recycling here where I live but they do have town recycling trucks that can't make it any easier to recycle.  Fortunately many people (at least everybody on my block) do recycle.  There is no penalty for not recycling as far as I know but if there is, it is not enforced.  

Our town can't make it any easier, you put it in a separate container next to your garbage on garbage day.  Recycling and garbage trucks both come on the same day.  You do not even have to separate the recyclables, just keep them separate from garbage.  How much easier can people ask? But I am sure there are people here that find it to be too much work.

The numbers are crazy really! I am not sure why we even use styrofoam, it also has a lot of static and can harm the same electronics that it protects during shipping.

[Kate Merrick]

Someone posted on here or another forum that Japan invented a way (leave it to the crafty Japanese)to treat styrofoam with orange oil which breaks it down to be recreated as another styrofoam form, or something close to that.  Love that.  Yes, we are lucky to have curbside.  For several years they quit recycling glass here.  I was horrified and kept writing letters & making phone calls.  It had to do with $, natch, and thankfully, they are now recycling glass again.