Goals in Mind

(Baranov, CC BY-SA 2.0)

CC BY-SA 2.0

CC BY-SA 2

    

    Last week, I addressed the overall concerns posed by an unrestricted approach to plastic waste, particularly in its impact on the ocean as microplastics. You've observed the capacity at which plastic enters your home on a daily basis, and perhaps considered ways of reducing your impact by replacing plastic with reusable materials such as shopping bags and jars for bulk goods. This week, I'll consider ways of addressing the plastic that already exists, or rather: readdressing it.
    I was lucky enough to get to spend ten years living in Western Washington, a community with a heavy focus on environmental preservation and reduced negative human impact. According to the Seattle disposal and collection rates, "recycling service is included in the garbage rate to Seattle residents. There is no additional cost for recycling service for residents" (Durkan, 2021). The city aims to recycle 70% of its municipal solid waste by 2022, an impressive rate by waste standards, and ideally an inspiring achievement to other counties making aspirations. I have since moved to Chesterfield County in Virginia, which charges, "an annual fee of $40 (equals $3.33 per month) which is applied to each household that enrolls in the program" (Chesterfield County, 2021). How unreasonable, I ask, would it be to demand that we be charged for landfill waste so that recycling could be charged a lower cost?   

    This advocate suggests that such a demand would revert the management focus to reusing nonbiodegradable materials rather than finding ways of tucking them out of side, and out of mind, of course. Though there are only two of the dozens of types of plastic that have been identified as being mechanically recyclable, chemical recycling has seen investments supporting 'plastic to plastic' recycling. The focus was initially centered around redeveloping fuel from plastic, but the threat to emissions (as well as the decreasing demand for such fuels, thank you natural power sources) saw a shift in attention to redeveloping plastics for reuse. A 2019 report by an organization that invests in the development of the circular economy known as the Closed Loop Partners stated that an, “analysis indicates that these technologies could meet an addressable market with potential revenue opportunities of $120 billion in the United States and Canada alone (emphasis added).” CLP identified 60 technology providers with significant potential for growth, along with 250 investors and strategic partners engaged with them and notes: “Technology providers are operating profitably with higher margins as they mature and scale” (Leif, 2019).
    Preventing the need for recycling would obviously be a preferable course of action in approaching the subject. As mentioned in last week's blog posts, alternatives to single-use plastics do exist. We can opt to use reusable water bottles over those purchased in convenience stores. We can avoid plastic grocery bags by providing our own bags at check out, and we can discourage our friends and family from choosing these nonrenewable options, too. Discomfort in holding our friends and selves accountable shouldn't come in the way of keeping these materials out of our environment.
    Using the 7 Habits of Highly Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey to recognize the framework necessary for direction, it is imperative that we identify the end goal of advocating for reduced production on single-use plastics in order to determine the most effective use of advocacy actions. Covey states that it is important to have a, "clear understanding of your destination. It means knowing where you're going so that you can better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction" (Covey, 2020 pg.112). In order to lay out the path to achieving a defined goal, we must be organized about which goal it is we are working towards. In this case, it is reducing the pollution of plastics in our environment. Though there is substantial value in reducing the production of plastics (especially single-use) and organizing a system which recycles already made plastics, the real goal is keeping the plastic out of environments which it would negatively affect. The ocean is the final sink of the planet, but forests also face concerns as plastics are irresponsibly discarded. 
    Along with acknowledging the importance of leading with the end in mind, it is also important that we recognize our roles as leaders in this monumental effort. In the second identified habit of 7 Habits of Highly Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey defines the role of orienting your actions with principles you have identified as important to your character and choices. Developing habits that outwardly reflect these values establishes us effective advocates, and even as personal leaders. Personal leadership, as further explored by Covey, is, "the ongoing process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with those most important things" (Covey, 2020 pg. 146).
    Keeping in mind that we are all leaders in one role or another, it is essential that we develop the core values that drive us as advocates in our efforts. If you're here, I'm proud to say that I assume you hold the wellbeing of the environment in high regard. Our damaging impact on the planet in the last century alone has set the course for catastrophic consequences affecting ecosystems outside of those we'll likely never encounter, but will heavily impact our experience thousands of miles away.  The silver lining in an otherwise bleak situation is that the solution to overproduction of plastic has realistically been identified. We don't have to readdress the cores of our energy use or dependencies on nonrenewable resources to be burned off, degrading the only thing protecting us from the sun. Instead, we can focus our attention on organizing and collecting the produced plastics for reuse. Our role as consumers is demanding that this be done.
    In asking that we observe alternatives to the ways we're used to handling our waste, I realize that the change in routine is substantial. For some, effective recycling will mean having to separate up to four types of materials just to ensure that they even approach discussion of being reused. In some counties, this could mean having to separate waste during initial collection as well as in delivery to a waste management facility (often a substantial drive left to the responsibility of the disposer) which also requires a limited type of vehicle capable of such freight. Doing this on your own is no easy task, and can even have financial implications in fuel or dumping fees. This is why it is important that we voice that the states focus on making recycling more accessible to individuals, both in cities as well as rural counties. 
    Recycling may not have yet been perfected, but it is more important than ever that we let our representatives know that we want to see our waste handled more responsibly. We want to see an end to microplastic pollution. By demanding that nonbiodegradable waste be responsibly handled, we set the foundation for sending that message. Preserving our environment is important to us, and it's time that we told somebody other than our Facebook friends list. As this week's call to action, I urge you research the waste management of your community. How much would it cost you personally to be able to recycle? If recycling is currently not a free option for your community, please consider reaching out to your local legislature to express your concern that recycling be the focus of waste management over landfill.

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(CNBC, 2020)

References

Baranov, S. (2015, September 4) DSC00479. [Photograph].

CNBC (Director). (2020, August 29). Can chemical recycling solve the world's plastic problem? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPllpwMuV9Y&t=585s

Chesterfield County. (2021). Curbside recycling. Retrieved from https://www.chesterfield.gov/563/CurbsideRecycling#:~:text=There%20is%20an%20annual%20fee,charged%20in%20June%20each%20year.

Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 habits of highly effective people: 30th anniversary edition. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Durkan, Jenny. (2021). Recycling rates. Retrieved from http://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/accounts-and-payments/rates/collection-and-disposal/recycling-rates#:~:text=Recycling%20service%20is%20included%20in,96%2Dgallon%20cart%20if%20needed.

Leif, D. (2019, May 01). Study details 'transformational' tech in plastics recycling. Retrieved from https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2019/04/10/study-details-transformational-tech-in-plastics-recycling/