Reducing the waste

I meant to have this out last night, but Emma didn't want to go to sleep and then I fell asleep.... Reducing the waste will be written in four parts. This issue will discuss the problem. The following three issues will discuss ways we can do our part to fix the problem.

If we all reduce, just a little bit of waste, imagine the impact. According to the EPA, the US tosses out 4.5 pounds of trash per person each day. Even with the increase in recycling, this keeps growing. We recycle more, and trash more. Since 1970 American trash output has doubled. The number of land fills are also shrinking, causing trash to be shipped greater distances. As they are shipped further, it costs more and causes more pollution.

What if we cut what we tossed? What if we just tossed 4 pounds of trash a day? Would this help? It is a good start, and I'll be happy if it happens, but we need to get back down, even lower than those 1970 numbers. We need to get to near zero waste, if we can. Part two of Reducing the Waste will discuss ways to reduce our garbage impact.

We also use more power all the time. With more and better electronic gadgets, we are using more power. Even though they become more efficient, with Energy Star and the like, they are also becoming more numerous. Cell phones, PDA's, laptops, DVD players, televisions. They all use electricity and cutting electricity will help cut waste as well. As we consume more power, more pollution is pumped into the air. Even if we sign up for the green power that some utilities offer, they still have negative impacts.

Green power plants have to be built somewhere. They are often built in places where they disrupt the migration of some animals. They also have to use materials that come from non-renewable resources to be built or maintained. Also, the matrix if power cables carrying the power sometimes has to be placed in sensitive locations. Part three or Reducing the Waste will go further into detail about electrical use, and what we can do to reduce the waste.

With many areas experiencing drought, conserving water is so important. Some areas see very little rain fall and the water must be pumped in from great distances. This gets very expensive and those big pipes can disrupt migrations. Less water use might mean that the water will not need to be pumped from such a great distance. Even better, the water might be able to be collected on site.

Even if you do not live in a drought filled area, you still need to this of conserving your water. The water you use needs to be processed through a water treatment center which are not exactly efficient. Waste water causes a lot of strain on our system. Nobody wants waste water treatment centers in their area, yet they want water. These centers use chemicals that are hard on the environment and often do not clear out everything we want removed. Then, when they are done, what do we do with the waste the remove? Part four of Reducing the Waste will discuss water waste further and give some detailed ideas about what you can do to cut your waste.

I have a lot of homework to finish for my masters program (final projects). I'll get the next issue out by the end of Thursday. I'll do it sooner if I get enough homework finished in time.

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