Ricci Justis

Globalization and Me: Throw Away Culture is Waste

Go ahead, get a new one! Go ahead, recycle the old one! Go ahead, its no big deal.
These phrases must be rallied loudly if we are to ignore consequences of our throw away culture.
They are daily aimed at us like grenades, while soils, rivers, and lungs are polluted by our
decisions. Are the culprits those that exploit our human desires for their own gains? Are they the
designers of the throw away products? Is it us, allowing our desires to be exploited so we may be
satiated? Whomever the culprit, one ugly result is clear: waste.
Growing population and consumption swells waste throughout the world. Africa and Asia
are predicted to be the largest growing areas, which includes some of the poorest countries with
the least ability to absorb this growth (Mavropoulus, n.d.). The Assam Tribune says with the
increase in population and industrialization in cities and towns, an alarming problem of waste
generation and disposal has been witnessed. Indiscriminate dumping of wastes from landfills
contaminates the surface and ground water supplies and the surrounding land resources (Assam
Tribune, 2013). Hosansky states that across the United States of America billions of tons of
potentially dangerous e-waste are piling up in landfills, warehouses and homes (2004, p. 20).
How did our world reach this global concern?
Director of Greenpeaces Pollution Prevention Project, Lai Yun says that strict
environmental laws and high labor costs in developed countries is causing more and more ewaste to end up in developing countries (Beijing Review, 2012). Sullivan states in African
Review that because of lax enforcement of exportation controls in developed countries and
compromised importation check points in Nigeria, this huge influx (Sullivan, 2014, p. 89) of

waste slips through customs. Sullivan (2014) says that Nigeria accepts the worlds waste because
of its lack of economic diversification, ambitions for increased access to ICT (Information and
Computer Technologies), weak environmental protection laws and regulations, and failure of
government to develop an environmental ethos that recognizes the rights of the people to a
healthy landscape (p.89). Why is this toxic waste being generated on such global levels?
Gadgets are created to become obsolete within a few years. This dovetails with
peoples continuous appropriation which maintains satiation of consumption driven societies.
Planned obsolescence is a legal imposition on consumer articles to stimulate purchasing power
and perpetuate consumption (Sullivan, 2014, p. 89). Recycling could ameliorate the situation,
but often items sit idly in closets, basements, and garages. If items do make it to recycling
centers, informal recycling systems found in Africa, Asian, the Indian subcontinent and Nigeria
lead to toxic soil, air, and water (Sullivan, 2014). In the United States people make the best
attempts to recycle, but there is no way for people to really know where their e-waste recycling is
going. In CBSs 60 Minutes, Pelley states that some so-called recyclers are shipping the waste
overseas where its broken down for the precious metals (2008). Engineering developments
could ameliorate the situation. Engineers could develop products with prolonged functionality or
full recyclability. Recycling and Engineering could compliment each others efforts for a
healthier world.
Sullivan (2014) says: Until e-waste management-infrastructure systems mature and
accommodate actual levels of waste entering the stream, until manufacturers take
responsibility for recycling their products, and until electronics are made from truly
recyclable (biodegradable) materials, instead of adding to the vast amounts of products

existing and accruing over time, electronics production and management will be
ecologically unsustainable. New ideas that focus on making no-waste products will
evolve with collaborative research, cooperative manufacturing, and most probably,
consumer demand. The invention of inspired original products will depend on responsible
design and engineering that supports sustainable recycling practices. (p.89)
Currently, our levels of waste are burgeoning as the world aches for solutions. Many
towns around the world are like this town in China where you cant breathe the air or drink the
water, a town where the blood of the children is laced with led (Pelley, 2008). Nigerian
scientists published a report with results showing high concentrations of heavy metals in soil and
water that correlate to serious human and environmental problems (Sullivan, 2014). The
importance of this issue is as clear as the value our world decides to place on human life and the
quality of it. Our worlds children are inheriting results of unethical consumption but there is
hope because positive responsive efforts are being made.
Abdul Haddis started his e-waste management company in Peninsular Malaysia, after
failed attempts to launch a computer sales company. Now he uses his skills to handle and recycle
e-waste modeled after such businesses in developed countries. His clients are government
agencies, private companies, small businesses, schools, and individuals (Ismail, 2014, p.8). Artist
Vik Muniz brings visibility to waste through works such World Map and WasteLand. He
creates artwork from trash to make his statement (Independent Lens, n.d.). Photographer Gregg
Segal put images to the outstanding United States waste statistics by documenting families with
their week of trash. He wants to see that trash is everywhere and no one is left untouched by it.
(Teicher, 2014). Bea Johnson of Zero Waste family blogs, writes, and lives virtually waste free

hoping to guide others in how to refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot and only in that order
(zerowastehome, n.d.).
These individuals are a profound inspiration to me because I believe in creating beauty in
this world. Creating beauty is not only making visual subjects but living artfully. Living artfully
is living not only for us, but others, perhaps others we will never meet. As our world negotiates
the fruition of our consumption decisions, I pray that people continue to come forward inspiring
beautiful life choices that lead to blessing current and future people. Life, itself is a work of art in
which we are all participants intertwined together for better or worse. I believe we will continue
to reach for better and be better for it.

References
Global e-waste in China. (2012, May, 24). Beijing Review. Retrieved from
http://www.bjreview.com/Energy/txt/2012-05/24/content_454772.htm
Hosansky, D. (2004). Buried in e-waste. State Legislatures, 30(6), 20-23.
Ismail, I. (2014, April, 21). Mining e-waste. New Straits Times (Malaysia), p.8.
Mavropoulos,A. (n.d.) Waste Management 2030+. Waste Management World,11(2). Retrieved
from http://www.waste-management-world.com/articles/print/volume-11/issue2/features/waste-management-2030.html
Pelley, S. (2008, November, 18). The electronic wasteland. 60 Minutes. Retrieved from
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-electronic-wasteland/
Scientific waste management system. (2013, December, 7). Assam Tribune. Retrieved from
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/14A8ADE37A3248F0?p=AWNB
Sullivan,J. (2014). Trash or treasure: global trade and the accumulation of e-waste in Lagos,
Nigeria. Africa Today, 61(1), 89.
Teicher,J.G. (2014, July, 8). Mesmerizing photos of people lying in a weeks worth of their trash.
Slate.Retrieved from
http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2014/07/08/gregg_segal_photographs_people_with_a
_week_s_worth_of_their_trash_in_his.html
Wasteland. (n.d.) Independent Lens. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/wasteland/film.html
Zero waste home. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.zerowastehome.com/p/about.html