Write about one of your regular activities in which some amount of pollution is an assumed component, but perhaps rarely directly discussed. (This can be a waste practice you have already written about that you want to reexamine from this perspective, or something new.) If we moved from accepting some amount of this kind of pollution to prohibiting this pollution entirely, would your actions be possible? How would they change?
Author Archives: Lazlo Rosenfeld
DSNY
When dealing with syringes you need to be very careful how you dispose of them, I personally make sure every needle is bent after use, and then i put them in the sharps container. It becomes someone else’s responsibility to take care of it when I sneak my sharps container into the hospital. I drop off all of my needles in their containers because there isn’t an safe/easy way for me to dispose of them. I have no idea what happens next to be completely honest, but I assume it has something to do with melting the needles down and dumping the rest.
Individual Responsibility
I rescued an Omen magazine the Dakin living room’s trash bin, finding it in good condition. This retrieval sheds light on our throwaway culture, as discussed in our readings on consumerism. Objects are often discarded prematurely, contributing to unnecessary waste.
The decision to discard the magazine likely stemmed from a mindset assuming its exhaustion of utility, neglecting the enduring value it might hold for others. Our discussions on sustainable practices underscore the importance of reevaluating such attitudes.
Leaving the magazine for someone else to find could have extended its life cycle, aligning with a more sustainable perspective that values reuse and repurposing. This experience prompts reflection on the discrepancy between an item’s perceived value by its original owner and its potential usefulness to others, advocating for a more mindful and sustainable approach to possessions.
disposable
The object I typically interact with that is considered disposable is glass jars from pickles/jellies. People generally think of this object as disposable because of the super sticky label attached to it. I honestly think that is a bullshit excuse for people to just throw it away. You likely could peel the label off, if not that, scrub it off, if not that burn it off, and then scrub it off. Its not like you are gonna melt the glass with a lighter. After that you have a reusable cup or container for your food or herbs. Rather than letting it get crushed and thrown into a landfill, I’d personally rather reuse the glass jar instead of letting it go to waste.
Shit
Shit, whether you love it or not, is always around. The history of feces goes back as far as life on Earth itself. Every living creature, no matter how big or small, produces some form of waste. Surprisingly, feces has a range of uses. I remember a scene from the movie “Kickass” where they made explosives from manure. Initially, it seemed funny, but it’s a real thing. Personally, I’d rather use it for gardening, but some people have different ideas. In essence, the long-standing presence and adaptability of feces in the history of life highlight its constant nature and its diverse utility. Whether you find it interesting or not, feces have a consistent role in the natural world, and their uses vary widely, encompassing both humor and practicality. Its just a shame that people use it to harm others.
Hoarding
I’ve got quite a collection of boxes strewn around my home, despite moving in months ago. While it might seem like I’m stockpiling them to create a mammoth cat shelter, that’s not the case – at least not currently. The reason for these lingering boxes is mainly attributed to my struggle with depression, which has had a significant impact on my productivity. Cleaning them up has been a challenge because I’ve lacked the motivation to do so, and I also haven’t established a regular cleaning routine. So, it’s not about hoarding; it’s more about a combination of low energy levels and a lack of consistent cleaning habits that’s led to this situation. These boxes serve as a tangible reminder of my ongoing mental health battle, an issue that often makes even everyday tasks feel overwhelming. While they may clutter my living space, they’re a symbol of the broader challenges I’m working to overcome. In essence, my collection of boxes represents not a deliberate choice but a poignant reflection of the complex relationship between mental health, productivity, and daily routines.
Matter out of place
Living with diabetes, I constantly rely on a substantial number of syringes and insulin pump quicksets. These crucial medical tools are often discarded as waste due to their contamination. Mary Douglas’s concept of dirt provides an insightful perspective on why these items are categorized as waste. She proposes that dirt is more than just physical impurity; it symbolizes something that deviates from established societal norms. In the case of these medical supplies, they are deemed impure due to their close association with bodily fluids and medical procedures. They come into direct contact with open wounds and are used to penetrate the skin, raising legitimate concerns about infection risks. From a public health perspective, it becomes evident why these items are labeled as “dirty.” They disrupt the pursuit of cleanliness and health within our environment, underscoring the need for their proper disposal to safeguard public health. From an environmental standpoint, these disposable items also contribute to resource wastage and environmental pollution, further justifying their categorization as waste. The entire lifecycle of these items, from production to disposal, involves substantial environmental impacts. This broader perspective emphasizes the environmental consequences of labeling these items as waste, extending beyond their role in disease prevention. In conclusion, Mary Douglas’s concept of dirt provides a comprehensive framework for understanding why these vital medical supplies are considered waste. It underscores how societal norms, public health considerations, and environmental consequences all contribute to the perception of these items as waste in our daily lives