Throwaway Nation: The Ugly Truth about American Garbage

297 Pages·2019·2.759 MB·English

by  Jeff Dondero

THROWAWAY NATION

THROWAWAY NATION
The Ugly Truth about
American Garbage
Jeff Dondero
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD
Lanham • Boulder • New York • London
PublishedbyRowman&Littlefield
AnimprintofTheRowman&LittlefieldPublishingGroup,Inc.
4501ForbesBoulevard,Suite200,Lanham,Maryland20706
www.rowman.com
UnitA,WhitacreMews,26-34StannaryStreet,LondonSE114AB
Copyright©2019byJeffDondero
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformorby
anyelectronicormechanicalmeans,includinginformationstorageandretriev-
alsystems,withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewer
whomayquotepassagesinareview.
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationInformationAvailable
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Dondero,Jeff,1947–
Title:Throwawaynation:theuglytruthaboutAmericangarbage/JeffDondero.
Description:Lanham,Maryland:Rowman&Littlefield,[2019],animprintofTheRowman&
LittlefieldPublishingGroup,Inc.,|Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Identifiers:LCCN2018029445(print)|LCCN2018044311(ebook)|ISBN9781538110331(elec-
tronic)|ISBN9781538110324(cloth:alk.paper)
Subjects:LCSH:Refuseandrefusedisposal—Socialaspects—UnitedStates.|Salvage(Waste,
etc.)—UnitedStates.
Classification:LCCHD4482(ebook)|LCCHD4482.D662019(print)|DDC363.72/88—dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2018029445
TMThepaperusedinthispublicationmeetstheminimumrequirementsof
AmericanNationalStandardforInformationSciencesPermanenceofPaper
forPrintedLibraryMaterials,ANSI/NISOZ39.48-1992.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
CONTENTS
AcknowledgmentsandDisclaimer vii
Preface:EveryoneWantsaPet,butNoOneWantstoPickupthe
Poop xi
1 Talkin’Trash 1
2 WastingOurO 13
2
3 WaterwaysWasteWatch 29
4 LosingLand 49
5 SpaceJunk 61
6 FishtoFarmtoTabletoTrash 73
7 FashionfromTrendytoTrash:Big-TimeBlemishesofthe
BeautyBusiness 89
8 SweetandSourCharity 105
9 PaperWasteChase 121
10 Plastics:ABlessingandaCurse 131
11 Packaging:ThinkingInsideandOutsidetheBox 145
12 E-Waste:TheStuffWeCouldn’tDoWithoutIsNowStuff
WeDon’tKnowWhattoDoWith 155
13 OpeningPandora’sPharmacy 167
14 TheImpairedIndustryofProducingPower 185
15 TheIndustryofWaste 199
16 Government’sSenselessSuperSpending 217
v
vi CONTENTS
17 TheForty-HourWorkweekWaste 235
18 PetWaste—TheRealPoop 251
19 TreasurefromTrash 265
Index 273
AbouttheAuthor 281
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISCLAIMER
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
T
he author wishes to thank the many people who assisted in the crea-
tion of this book, whom I call curators of information. These are the
people who tirelessly gather facts and figures to illuminate the world
andtogiveotherssomethingtoponder.
As always, very special thanks to my ad hoc editor and sounding
board, Patrick Totty, for advice, confidence, encouragement, sugges-
tions,conversation,afewcocktails,andaidinmanyways.
To my editor, Suzanne Staszak-Silva, with unflagging patience in
getting this large undertaking in order. To my production editor, An-
drewYoder,andtoRowman&Littlefieldforgivingmetheopportunity
toallowotherstoreadwhatIwrite.
DISCLAIMER
It is important to remember, “There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.”
Most of the stats here have been gathered by local, state, federal, and
worldwide government agencies; independent scientists and writers;
universities; various water and power companies; and other informed
sources. Consequently, I do not claim that all the statistics presented
representaccurateandtruestatements,percentages,andfacts,andIdo
notwarrant ormakeanyrepresentations astothecontent, accuracy,or
vii
viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTSANDDISCLAIMER
completeness oftheinformation,text, graphics,charts,weblinks, web-
sites,andotheritemscontainedintheirmediapresentations.
Aggregating and writing information for this kind of book has its
inherent problems and predicaments. When presented with questions,
peopleusedifferentwaystofinddiverseanswersandconclusions.Con-
sequentlytheymayvary,sometimesquiteabit.Inaddition,someofthe
facts presented might be affected by time, changing world events, or
new discoveries. As in many things, opinions vary as to number, per-
centages, predictions, and the veracity or divergence of the results ob-
tainedbyindividualsusingthesameinformation.Noonecancomplete-
ly and accurately predict the future. And not all scientists would agree
on matters such as global warming, climate change, or that CO is
2
contributingtothedetrimentofourenvironment.
What I have tried to do is present an informed opinion about what
the treatment of our planet, its resources, and our trash might hold for
the future of the rock in space upon which we live. I have also stated
that there have been doomsayers who make dire predictions about the
fate of the Earth. I hope I’m not one of those people, but I figure it’s
best to err on the side of caution and not carelessness, while pointing
out that I have unflagging confidence in the human race to confront
andsolvetheproblemsoftheday—orcentury.
Although most of the facts presented herein are defensible, I use
them as literary, entertainment, and educational devices to give the
reader a general perspective on the subject of the resources, energy,
and the waste we create. In an effort to communicate more easily and
effectively, I have taken some averages, mean numbers, and common
sense, and I have modified statements to reflect more than one set of
opinionsand/orupdatedthemusinglogicandinformedopinion.
The lawyers put it another way: Neither the publisher nor any of its
employees makes any warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, or
assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, complete-
ness, or usefulness of any information, percentage, apparatus, product,
device, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not in-
fringe upon privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific
commercial copyright, product, process, or service by trade name,
trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute
orimplyitsendorsementorrecommendation.