Just how much garbage do you think that we're capable of producing in the world? The Environmental Protection Agency says the United States alone - which comprises a mere 4% of our global population -- generates approximately 220 million tons of garbage each year, which breaks down into approximately 4.4 pounds daily per person, 29 pounds each week and 1,600 pounds each year. The EPA goes on to say that this vast mass of waste could entirely bury well over 82,000 football fields a full six feet deep with garbage that is intensely compacted because...well, we like to cram in as much as we humanly can.
It's hard to fathom how we continue to create 30% of our planet's waste, but then again, if you consider that we ditch 26,800,000 tons of food, 6,330,000 tons of clothing/fashion accessories and 8,550,000 tons of furniture and décor items each year it all makes perfect sense. We are a nation of one-time love it and leave it wasters. Tired of those flip flops or the extensive collection of comic books that were once coveted in grammar school? Give ‘em the old heave-ho. Sick of apples that are a little worse for the wear or leftover spaghetti that has seen better days? You know where the garbage pail is.
We may be considered the worst environmental offender on the planet, but the global runners up are China with an estimated 210+ million tons of trash each year, Russia with 200 million tons, Japan with 52.36 million tons and Germany with 48.84 tons. Is it oddly comforting that we're not alone?!? China is almost as bad as us...sigh of relief. Sure, we can continue to kid ourselves -- ignoring the fact that their population is 75% larger than ours -- or we can finally come to terms with our actions and make a serious lifestyle alteration. But when? We do a lot of talking but rarely convert our passionate planetary pleas to real-world actions.
Polluting terra firma hasn't even been enough for us. Our global garbage reach has extended into our upper atmosphere, where scientists believe there are currently four million pounds of space waste bits and pieces (think metal chunks from destroyed satellites along with entire space crafts, slabs of carbon, nuts, bolts and countless other junk smithereens) circling our planet. Discover Magazine reports that this space sludge includes now-defunct satellites, rockets and other detritus, and while scientists are considering how to remove the larger objects, they haven't stumbled upon any viable methods yet. What does this truly say about the human race? Dump now, worry later? At what point will we finally consider the eco-consequences of our actions BEFORE following through on our grand plans? Does anyone have any ideas on what we can do as a green-minded community to launch real-world waste remediation efforts that will make a measurable impact on our environment?
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