December 3, 2008 at 06:52:40 1   1   1   View Ratings | Rate It Why Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Really *Does* Help the Environment by Kathryn Smith     Page 1 of 3 page(s) www.opednews.com

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http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Publications/LocalAsst/Extracts/34004005/ExecSummary.pdf

Commercial  47%

Residential   31.6%

(Single family residences: 23.4%, multi-family residences: 8.2%)

Self-Hauled: 21.3%

(Commercial self-hauled: 17.3%, residential self-hauled 4%)

Here are the contents which comprise the greatest percentages of garbage which is dumped, California-wide, according to the same California report linked above:

30.2% Organic materials (kitchen scraps 14.9%)

 21% Paper

21.5%  Construction demolition                                     

9.5% Plastic

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This quote summarizes the nature of my concerns and the content of personal experiences which stir my activism: "Necessity is the plea for every infringement on human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves". --Paul (more...)
 

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8 comments

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Daniel Geery With less than five percent... of the world’s population, we consume about one fourth of the world’s energy resources, according to reliable sources. Thus reducing our population to 1/5 what it is now would translate to using just 1/20 of the world energy use. Combine this with technologies and practices already existing, we might almost have something sustainable going on. by Daniel Geery (26 articles, 95 quicklinks, 126 diaries, 912 comments [27 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008 at 4:58:13 PM   (0+)

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Kathryn Smith I suggest.... The problem has much more to do with inefficient use of our resources than with over-population. And of course, that's not to deny the serious problems of over-population either. If we use our resources efficiently and if urban planning includes more localized shopping hubs, if we all recycle, reduce our consumerism of throw-outs to begin with, and generally are environmentally considerate, I'll bet our collective environmental footprint will significantly improve. "Yes We Can". by Kathryn Smith (110 articles, 2 quicklinks, 43 diaries, 542 comments [23 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 6:02:55 AM   (0+)

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ramsheyi Preventable Waste Kathryn, I have been reflecting upon a subject which preoccupies my mind more and more and day by day to the point that I have decided to embark on  some research if ever I find a sponsor. What obsesses me is this : how to spare huge quantities of paper and water from being flushed down toilets daily in the world. You see, in Muslim countries people do not use paper to clean up their butts with. They use water : 1/2 a gallon maximum. And their butts are much cleaner than if wiped up with dry paper.  Imagine the amount of paper, hence number of trees,  spared if all the population of the planet did the same. Same thing with water. What do you think ? Do you have any idea how many tons of  paper are flushed down  toilets daily in the US ? Multiply that figure by 10 or 15 and that's the amount worldwide. Again, same thing with water. What I am talking about is preventable waste  I am very eager to have some knowlegeable opinion on this subject by ramsheyi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 793 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 7:24:39 AM   (0+)

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camanokat Reply: Recycling In my neck of the woods, septic waste is recycled.  Towns with sewer systems treat the waste and separate the water from the sludge. Individuals with septic tanks hire pumpers to clean the tank and the pumpers haul the sewage to a treatment facility. The water is recycled into fresh water and the sludge is purified and sold as fertilizer/compost. by camanokat (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 81 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Dec 5, 2008 at 8:14:03 PM   (0+)

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Suzana Megles why reducing, etc. I'm with you Kathryn. We need to do so much more in this country re recycling before we are inundated by the shameful overuse of unecessary products which find their way into our landfills.  Imagine -as a young child of the 30's and 40's- I worried about garbage and the consequences to our environment.  But then I just thought - too much garbage.  Our garbage then was probably very little in comparison to our present day wasteful population who think nothing of throwing away perfectly good items which clog our landfills.  These very same people probably don't recycle because as I heard one woman say - its too much like work.  Sadly, she is not in the minority as going to our landfills will attest.  As a teacher in the 50's and 60's, I encouraged children to use both sides of their paper before discarding.  Try telling that to today's youth!  Well, maybe now with economic woes looming - people losing their jobs - we will come again to appreciate goods and use them fully as well as recycling.  But anybody reading this - why do cities not want people to pick usuable items from the tree lawn?  Isn't this a type of recycling too? by Suzana Megles (66 articles, 0 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 363 comments [43 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 8:18:03 AM   (0+)

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Publius You Can't Do It Alone, But It Can't Be Done Without You It's true that no singe person has the power to solve the world's environmental problems by acting alone. However, we must strive to live as sustainably as we can. Take pride in the fact that your actions set a positive example for others. You can't do it alone, but it can't be done without you. Doing right by the earth also has a lot of side benfits: it generally saves you money if you do it right, and it means you contribute less to the pollution that affects you. I'm from LA so I take pride in the fact that when I walk somewhere instead of driving I am not contributing to the smog that not only makes ME less healthy but is responsible for thousands of premature deaths per year, mostly among the elderly. by Publius (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 68 diaries, 27 comments) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 9:37:12 AM   (0+)

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Kathryn Smith Think globally, act locally! It works. There's more power in it than we think. Let's go for it! And, write letters to the editor. Because as we raise awareness, using facts such as about methane gases coming from landfill and causing global warming, then more people will be motivated to participate. Thank you all! by Kathryn Smith (110 articles, 2 quicklinks, 43 diaries, 542 comments [23 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 12:50:35 PM   (0+)

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Suzana Megles 365 days of trash Anyone interested in reading about a truly remarkable man who says what he means and means what he says?  He started collecting his trash almost a year ago to be able to make a comment on the extent of it in the average household -at least that's what I think was his purpose.  But his household is not average by any means.  He is posted on the internet as "Sustainable Dave" and with good reason.  For one thing his auto is run on veggie oil.  He is a former director/producer of some ER segments.  He now teaches kids about environmental matters.  I think we all could learn a great deal from him.   by Suzana Megles (66 articles, 0 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 363 comments [43 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 1:22:05 PM   (0+)

 
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