Reinvent Your Waste

Waste is not being used as a valuable resource. The growth in total waste is an indication that we have not taken the opportunity to optimize waste in Michigan, the U.S., and across the globe. Municipal solid waste (MSW)—and particularly product, material and packaging waste—are quickly accumulating. Waste or “trash” is growing at unprecedented rates, which calls for newer and bigger landfills. Not only do Michigan and the U.S. not have space for these enlarged or new landfills, society can’t afford the environmental harm, economic loss and deterioration of human health. According to the EPA in 2018, the U.S. generated 292.4 million tons of MSW, which is more waste than ever recorded. More than 50% (146.2 million tons) of that waste went to landfills across the country, and approximately 32% was recycled and composted. Is it cheaper to send waste to a landfill, or, recycle and reuse it? Studies show that the U.S. and most citizens of Earth are living out of balance with the natural world, and consuming resources faster than they can regenerate them. According to an ecological footprint calculator by Global Footprint Network, the U.S. needs about 5 Earths, and the entire world population needs roughly 1.7 Earths to keep up with current human consumption of resources and biodiversity. At the same time, global waste, pollution and population is growing exponentially. Because of this dichotomy, it makes sense to value waste much differently. Waste can be used and reinvented as a valuable resource to help save the planet, as well as to create new business platforms and economies focused on stewardship and sustainability practices, and proper waste (resource) management. Numerous movements, initiatives and policies have been implemented to spread awareness and to get people to think differently about waste conservation and recovery. One great initiative was the 3R mindset adopted in the 1970s: Reduce, Reuse Recycle. The 3R mindset worked tremendously well and is still used today. The ’70s in general was a pivotal decade for creating sustainable mindset shifts that were much needed to fight the growing epidemic of waste and pollution. Now, 40-plus years later, sustainability efforts have grown and waste management is gradually improving. However, are these sustainable initiatives most efficient and timely enough, and can sustainable waste management radically improve? The short and sweet answer and belief is, yes. We can greatly reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, litter that is saturating our lands, and trash that is polluting our precious waters. By adopting even newer mindsets, anything is possible, and hopefully humans can reverse these negative impacts. The time is ripe for a mindset shift toward more innovative waste management. One idea is a four-step plan: Respect, Recover, Reinvent and Restore (4R Earth). The four steps for Earth will first help establish a new approach to respecting the natural world, and recover waste and resources to the best of our ability. Next, reinventing waste is introduced to promote using waste as a valuable resource. The last step is to restore, the idea being to let Earth heal and to encourage earthlings to live more in balance with the planet to assure it provides for all future generations. Over the last decade, great awareness has been spread throughout the planet, teaching people about the growing accumulation of waste and pollution year-over-year. Waste from single-use disposables, packaging and plastics are known to be especially high. New initiatives, movements and policies are being implemented across the country throughout various thought-leading organizations. The four-step plan will help add to a foundation of historical sustainability and give birth to a new mindset shift that will further reinvent waste as a valuable resource. Waste is potentially the most undervalued resource of our time, and now is the time to reinvent it and value it like responsible stewards. The following information can also help any individual with sustainability strategy.