Front Cover
Discarded Thoughts
Inside Front Cover
Here, this is a little book. Inside this little book, there are thoughts, there are opinions and there are ideas. The beauty of this little book is that you choose whether to keep it or whether to throw it away. After all, we’re only humans, throwing things away is what we do, right?
Discarded Thoughts
DEDICATED TO ALL THE LITTLE PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT GOT TRAPPED IN LANDFILLS, INSTEAD OF BECOMING T-SHIRTS, SHAMPOO BOTTLES, REUSABLE BAGS OR COUNTLESS OTHER ITEMS THAT COULD’VE BEEN CREATED USING RECYCLING PROCESSES.
Contents Refuse Sustainability Waste Reduce
Recover
Reuse
Review
Recycle Summary
Discarded Thoughts
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us·tain·a·bil·i·ty noun
2
1 the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.
“the sustainability of economic growth”
2 avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. “the pursuit of global environmental sustainability”
Discarded Thoughts Google Dictionary
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you don’t believe in climate change?
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That’s just fine.
It’s like this:
Don’t worry.
Really, I swear, it is. Nobody is here to judge you. I mean, honestly, I’m the one who made a book about garbage.
Some people don’t believe in religion. Some people don’t believe in swearing. Some people don’t believe in Santa Claus. Some people don’t believe in climate change.
Having a point of view doesn’t make you a good or a bad person. Having a point of view means you care about something.
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Discarded Thoughts Statistics Canada. Table 38-10-0032-01 Disposal of waste, by source.
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Part of the issue is that as humanbeings, we have a natural, mental understanding that when things have completed their life cycle, we bury them so that they will break down and decompose. Unfortunately, things like plastics don’t work in that way.
ow can we address this subconscious misconception within society?
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There is no such thing as ‘away.’ Throw something ‘out?’ It goes somewhere. Gradually, discarded items accumulate.
Discarded Thoughts
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BU WAI . Trash, garbage, junk, decay, ruin, loss... It seems like everybody has a different word or understanding of these terms. Let’s just take a moment and define the broad, over-arching word in question...
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What is
W S T E : verb
adjective
noun
1
use or expend carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.
eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or required after the completion of a process.
an act or instance of using or expending something carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.
2
become progressively weaker and more emaciated.
not used, cultivated, or built on.
material that is not wanted; the unusable remains or byproducts of something.
Discarded Thoughts Google Dictionary
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O ay, So, we decided: Sustainability is hard, but it’s up to everybody. Waste sucks, and it’s a fact of life, so how do we begin to work around that, in order to do a better job of caring for the planet?
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th in g af ew
There are alw ay s
an do: uc o sy
reduce reuse recycle refuse recover review
Discarded Thoughts
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Step 1
educe the amount of waste you produce. It can be difficult to know where to begin, but sometimes it’s as simple as focusing on making purchases that don’t have excess packaging. Consider borrowing certain items rather than buying them. Carpool. Compost. Read newspapers, magazines, reports and mail online! Anything you can do to lessen the volume in your trash can is a step towards reducing your environmental impact.
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et’s
all make a genuine effort to care. We all live here, after all. It’s not so much about making a big spectacle out of things. You don’t have to drastically change your lifestyle just to keep Mother Nature happy. Nobody here is saying you have to sell your car or never buy yourself a book again. Just be mindful of the effects of the things you do. Lots of times, it’s the tiny, day-to-day adjustments that end up having the biggest impact.
Discarded Thoughts
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Step 2 reuse
Maybe we’ve crossed a line?
Single-use products are some of the greatest sources of environmental strain present in our world today. Just think about it. Every time you: · buy a drink · pick up groceries · make a coffee · pack a lunch
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Do you also use: · plastic straws · plastic bags · throw-away pods · plastic cutlery?
The significance of this is
underscored by the fact that many of these single-use items aren’t even recyclable, let alone biodegradable. Another great way to minimize your environmental impact is by taking steps to ensure that you focus on reusable items when possible. Give it a try! Reuse stuff once in a while! Cloth shopping bags, metal straws, reusable coffee mugs, washable containers and dishes. The possibilities are endless.
Discarded Thoughts
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on’t worry, (I get it.) 16
You’re a very busy person, and this sounds like a bunch of extra work.
It’s only fair to recognize that we’ve become a commercialized, materialistic society. Not on purpose, of course, but environmental concerns just don’t seem to take priority.
It’s not always considered ‘popular,’ and you wouldn’t want to stand out, right?
Well, maybe it shouldn’t be about how many
i
e
we get on social media accounts. Maybe it should be more about making your own decisions, following through on what you believe in, and doing so alone if that’s what’s right.
Discarded Thoughts
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Step 3 verb (waste) (material) to 1 convert 2 return into reusable previous stage in a material.
cyclic process.
Many products today are designed to be recycled and various programs accommodate these. Be thorough, though. Recycled items can still be discarded based on ‘contamination’ from things like food remains, or even by coming in contact with other items that have been recycled incorrectly.
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www.cbc.ca/news/technology/recycling-contamination-1.4606893
Discarded Thoughts
refuse
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to be a part of the problem! to create so much refuse! (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself).
us to the next step: in our world, which brings ability to address the issues recognize that we have the a problem? We each need to at other people when you see to go around pointing fingers agree that it’s just as ridiculous utely ridiculous. Wouldn’t you I mean, look at this, it’s absol(and is way less fun, trust me). as trying to read this page, It makes about as much sense uit blaming everybody else.
Step 4
isten,
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I know that you’re sick of hearing from me on all this sustainability mumbo-jumbo. Maybe for a change, you would like to hear things from Mr. Albert Einstein’s perspective?
cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Discarded Thoughts Albert Einstein, Physicist
“
“
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Step 5 ou’ve covered reducing, reusing, recycling and refusing. What could possibly come next, you ask? Great question!
recover. This is a relatively new technology in the sustainability system. Through certain programs, the recovery of energy from waste and recyclables is possible. This is used as an alternate form of power, helping to reduce energy consumption. On another note, you can do your part to help planet Earth in its recovery process by planting trees and celebrating the outdoors in safe and sustainable ways.
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Envirocities eMagazine
Step 6 Finally, at the end of the day, be sure you take the time to
review.
Regularly ask yourself how you might do things differently, better or more efficiently.
L
K
Discarded Thoughts
for new opportunities in: · transportation · food storage · grocery shopping · device usage · clothing purchase · you get the idea.
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HANKS
OR
AKING IME
HE
LONG
OME O HIS N
Y.
E ITTL Y
RAZ 24
NE R U O
he greatest d anger to our plane t
“
“
is the belief that someone else will save it.
ou are so meone! If you want to s ee
something save d, t
hen get saving it!
Discarded Thoughts Robert Swan, OBE
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BELIEFS DON’T MATTER HERE. WE EACH MAKE DAILY CHOICES ABOUT OUR ROLE IN THE CARE OF THE PLANET. IF YOU’RE PASSIVE ABOUT IT, THEN YOU’VE ALREADY MADE A DECISION. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE A CHANGE. PERIOD.
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Inside Back Cover
Discarded Thoughts
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Back Cover