7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic (and Recycling)
National Geographicblog.nationalgeographic.org
Saved by Mike Tannenbaum
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic (and Recycling)
The Liminality of Waste more Generally
Waste is a socially and culturally constructed idea shaped by human perceptions of value.
• It is defined by what we no longer want or find useful, such as outdated electronics or food scraps.
• This perception is influenced by consumer culture, convenience, and a desire for novelty.
• Factors like the "out of
... See moreIn the natural world, nothing goes to waste. Matter constantly decomposes and reconstitutes in new shapes, serving new purposes. We have much to learn from this continuum of transmutation in human societies, where we throw “away” our waste to some invisible hereafter, rather than accept the truth: it remains.
Atmos
We are burning ancient plants and animals (aka fossil fuels, not renewable) to jet around and wear fast fashion, and build highways and skyscrapers, and heat outdoor swimming pools in autumn, and shiver inside in summer, and convert lush ecosystems into sprawling and unwalkable suburbs with silly lawns, and commute alone in our cars to jobs that do
... See more