According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 29% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions result from the provision of goods produced within the U.S. On this page, we delve into the waste issue at large to show why C3 was inspired to take action, and perhaps encourage you and your organization to do the same.
The issue of excess waste is like a tree. At the root are the causes of this problem. Its branches are the effects of excess waste, and in the middle, the trunk shows just how we got here.
The Branches
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the effects, or climate symptoms, of these root causes
The Trunk​
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the timeline of how these roots have cultivated over time
The Roots
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the causes of humanity's excess in trash waste over the years
The Roots
1. Increased Need For Productivity
Over the centuries, as the human population increased, so too has the demand for essentials like food, clothing, healthcare, etc. As technology and automation have improved the quality of life for people all over the world, it has also increased the pollution in the environment.
The Federal Reserve’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) measures real output for all manufacturing, mining, electric, and gas utilities facilities within the U.S. The current level of industrial production as of March 2021 is 105.58 compared to 100 years ago, when this value was only 4.
For this reason, it is important to learn how to decrease your consumption in order to help reduce the negative effects associated with increased productivity that affect the air, water, and land around us.
2. Lack of General Education
Everyone knows that littering is bad for the environment- right? Actually, no. Many citizens of the globe lack the understanding of how cumulative waste build-up can affect the future of the environment. Data analysts estimate that “The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with at least 33 percent of that… not managed in an environmentally safe manner,” (World Bank).
What students like us hope to achieve with the Terra Toolkit is to not only educate others on the environmental impact of waste, but also inspire awareness in their daily lives. Taking steps to educate yourself on the state of the environment and dispose of your waste properly, will ensure that we can live in a prospering, clean environment.
3. Profit Over Protection
Industries all over the world produce large quantities of goods every year, which has taken a large toll on the environment. In the United States, 64 percent of the American public believes “protecting the environment should be a top policy priority” (Pew Research Center).
Greenhouse gases are contributors to climate change, thus inducing many attempts to implement policy to help reduce their effect on the environment. One example is carbon tax, which has so far been enforced in 25 countries. For some it has caused a decrease in their total emissions, but there have been suggestions by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to increase carbon taxes in order to be effective in every industry.
Governments need to continue implementing effective policies that improve environmental sustainability in order to create opportunities for better conditions globally.
The Branches
1. Overproduction
Overproduction occurs when the production of goods exceeds consumer demand. This issue impacts numerous industries, such as the fashion, agricultural, and manufacturing industries.
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Think about your local grocery store, stocked top to bottom with food, personal care products, and more. How many stores like it are in your area? In the next town over?
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If you’re in the privileged minority that has regular access to these resources, it can be easy to overlook the products of overproduction in your own city. However, for the majority of the world, being unable to afford these overproduced goods can be fatal, as they are more susceptible to dehydration, malnutrition, and inadequate medicine & healthcare.
2. Overconsumption
The issue of overproduction leaves consumers at a crossroads: buy more things of less quality with greater negative impact, or buy less things of greater quality with less environmental impact. For some, the choice is simple; they will hop on the bandwagon trend of minimalism, purchasing hundred dollar name brand items, simply because they have the means to do so. However, like many who default to support fast fashion, buying “hauls” of clothes every month, here are some things to consider:
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-“The average American produces 1,704 pounds of garbage per year”
-“Of this waste, just 16% is recycled, while 46% is disposed of unsustainably in ways that harm the environment.” (Global Citizen)
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All things considered, it remains true that if a person consumes less, they waste less.
3. Issues Behind Closed Doors
National Geographic discovered a shocking fact: Only 9% of plastic actually gets recycled.
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This represents a small part of the hidden daily processes that we seem to be left out of. From the horrors of fast fashion to the thousands of gallons of water and grain that make a single burger, we sometimes unknowingly contribute to the skyrocketing carbon emissions all over the world. The quality of our questions can really determine the quality of our lives.
How Did We Get Here?
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1760-1840
The beginning of the Industrial Revolution sparked the mass production of goods that came from the factories, increasing the amount of garbage that was found in the environment.
Throughout the 1800s, the popularization of disposable products also contributed to waste. Their prominence is still seen in plastic packaging and other single-use items.
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1880
American homes and factories first started to use coal to generate electricity in this era. Over the next century, the prominence of this fossil fuel only grew, with it becoming the major fuel to generate electricity in the U.S. by 1961.
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1907
Fully synthetic plastic was created. Over time it was used for the purpose of mass production, especially during World War II, which increased plastic production by over 300 percent. (Science History). Nowadays, plastic is used for millions of products and its waste is found in oceans, habitats, and is harmful to not only us but also animals in our environment.
The Bottom Line
Evidently, this isn’t a complete, exhaustive list of the issue’s timeline, simply because the issue is much much more complex than that. The roots of this tree are intertwined and overgrown. But hopefully, by outlining a few key events throughout history, we can gain a better understanding of how the branches grew, and are thus more incentivized to take action.
The complexity of this entire situation leaves us wondering… What can we do?
What Can We Do?
The 2020s could be the decade to make the difference, but only if governments take the right action. For past years, there have been bold promises and weak follow through, especially to reduce our food waste, packaging waste, and overall carbon footprints.
Policymakers have a responsibility to represent the people, so it’s our responsibility to represent the changes we want to see!
What better way to do that than through direct action? Use your spark to create community change by a means to a more fair end: Carlsbad Cleanup Crew presents The Terra Toolkit.