“Year of No Garbage”
by Eve O. Schaub.
This is definitely the book to encourage a bit of environmental action from all of us!
Eve, a well respected American author and journalist, challenges us to live for a year with nothing going into the “landfill” bin. She gives us chapters on almost everything that we use and dispose of, from plastic bags to toilet paper, cling film to household cleaners and supermarket packaging.
She gives clear information and explanations on manufacturing processes, global recycling practices and greenwashing lies.
Keeping the landfill / incineration bin empty – is a win for our earth.
Our trash is sent out of sight, and it’s outstripping the rate at which stuff can actually be “recycled”. We are dumping waste on developing countries. We’re exploiting the world’s poorest residents because we have a linear economy which keeps on using resources instead of having a circular economy where everything is repaired / reused indefinitely.
Throwing into the “landfill” bin is not a good option as constant monitoring for landfill methane emissions is costly and so is incineration “waste to energy” (or burning and ending up with residual toxic ash and gas).
Impressively, Eve persuaded her husband and teenage daughters to keep a detailed record of all those items which failed the “recycling possible” test for an entire year!
Their list included :-
Pharmaceutical waste etc.
pet waste, wet wipes, plastic toothbrushes, pens, cable ties, swift tags ( on clothes ), Sellotape, anything laminated etc. etc.
She includes the myths around ‘compostable’, ‘sustainable’, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and lots of the many acronyms in the rubbish world.
Could we not live without all this potential waste? It’s devastating for society, the environment, our health and the planet as a whole.
There is no “away” for our unwanted stuff. All you need is ❤️ less. We are asked to be thoughtful about leaving a legacy of toxic rubbish for the next generation. 💚
This book includes a very helpful bibliography, film lists, statistics, alternatives and sources of more information.
Kay, Climate Café Blairgowrie & Rattray