WASTED: SOLUTIONS FOR OVERCOMING CANADA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GARBAGE
Introduction
Waste: humans produce it every day often without much of a recognition of the profound impact it has on the places that they live. Canada loves its waste, producing more per capita than the citizens of any other developed country (Wilkins, 2017). The production of items destined to be disposed of and the way in which these items are dealt with have a notable contribution to greenhouse gasses, as well as environmental decay. In general, understanding the way in which one can reduce consumption and the production of waste becomes an important topic of investigation when analyzing garbage consumption. To understand waste consumption’s impact on the country one must also understand a conceptualization of the term “Environmental Sustainability” to frame the issue of waste. This term will be derived through the critical analysis of the literature on the topic and used to apply to the framing of causes and solutions. Thus understanding how environmental sustainability applies to the topic of waste is critical in developing an effective solution.
Conceptualizing the Problem
Environmental Sustainability is a major buzzword in both the public and academic sphere, and for good reason. Already humans have surpassed planetary boundaries for climate change, rate of biodiversity loss, and nitrogen cycling, and are fast approaching many others, showing no signs of slowing (Rockström et al., 2009). With the pertinence of its use, however, much of the nuances of its meaning are lost when the term is referenced. Reconceptualizing the term is therefore highly significant in addressing possible solutions to any environmental problem.
In their book “Design for Environmental Sustainability” Vezzoli and Manzini (2008) argue that the term
“refers to systemic conditions where neither on a planetary nor on a regional level do human activities disturb the natural cycles more than planetary resilience allows, and at the same time do not impoverish the natural capital that has to be shared with future generations”(6)
Their conceptualization does two things. Initially, it highlights the significance of environmental integrity and the importance of sustaining this and later shows the need to preserve resources for future generations. It is important to note that this definition is rather anthropocentric and lacks an emotional and physical connection to the land which may accompany a more ecocentric approach. The definition continues to view the land through the lens of what should be extracted, and has undertones that separate humans from what is a “natural cycle”, thus perpetuating a euro-colonialist perspective that fails to define a symbiosis with the land.
Unfortunately, the definition is lax in the sense that it allows for a significant amount of leeway in determining the “planetary limits”. Though it is tempting to define the term to achieve the highest amount of benefit to society, one also must see sustainability as something which exists past the existence of humans.
Removing the juxtaposition of human activities and natural cycles, and the idea that resources are a pie to be consumed and shared would be a positive step in redefining this definition. Therefore, for the purpose of this paper, the definition of environmental sustainability will be as follows:
The preservation of environmental and ecological integrity to the best of a society’s technological abilities, regardless of geolocation, and with the intention of implementing preservation that assists rather than hinders the robustness of ecosystems. Ensuring that resources are a least available at a similar abundance to future generations.
Framing The Problem
Canada has a problem with its garbage. According to Canadian Geographic, in 2017 the country leads the world in per capita production of garbage, at 720 kilos per capita annually, the production is twice that of Japan and 10 times that of multiple African Countries (Wilkins, 2017). The implications of this excess are real and not only impact the immediate environment. A recent shipment of 69 shipping containers full of garbage to the Philippines and subsequent refusal to process it, caused a verbose diplomatic dispute, underscoring Canada’s lack of either ability or will to process the copious amount of garbage it produces (McKeen, 2019)
In addition to optics, garbage has some substantial climate impacts. According to the EPA in The United States, Landfill gas (LFG), of which 50% is comprised of methane and the other 50% CO2, accounted for 14.1% of human-related methane emissions (US EPA, 2019). Though less present in the atmosphere than Carbon, methane can contribute to 80 fold more heating than CO2 over 20 Years (Schultz, 2019) Both gasses, are significant players in the human-caused greenhouse effect which is the major factor behind human-caused climate change. Apart from the contribution to greenhouse gasses, landfills also carry with them the potential for adverse health risks to animals and humans living nearby, and the toxicology of the soil. (Palmiotto et al., 2014) The lifecycle of garbage, particularly plastics, also has a large carbon footprint in its production, as does the transportation of waste.
Another factor to keep in mind is the ecological footprint of the items we are throwing away. The food, plastic, and any other waste produced all have their origins. Technology needs extensive mining operations, while food uses an extensive amount of land, soil and water resources to produce. A recent Environment Canada study claims that 20% of food produced in Canada becomes avoidable food waste. The trends show a minimal impact on a decrease of overall waste from 2002 to 2016, the total amount of solid waste collected in Canada increased by 3.5 million tonnes (or 11%)(Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2018).
The continual increase in the amount of waste we produce is not environmentally sustainable as, not only is creating the physical items we are disposing of applying a lot of pressure on the environment, but eventually, the country will run out of space to store the garbage locally(Wuennenberg & desLibris – Documents, 2019). Furthermore, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from this source contributes to an already exceeded planetary boundary. (Rockström et al., 2009)
What are the Causes
The causes of the problem are numerous, to the extent that every factor cannot be individually accounted for. If one simply searches for the largest contributors to waste, they will likely find many articles highlighting industries in the country which are perpetrators of waste. Fast Fashion, E-Waste, Plastics, and Food will be the focus of researching the causes.
The result of many studies surrounding the waste problem in Canada recommends standard policy changes which suggest we reduce, reuse and recycle the goods that we consume This suggests little about the cause of the waste problem in Canada more generally. To understand their recommendations for remedial actions one must first understand the root of why we consume so much in the first place.
Classical economics would argue that it is because we are humans with unlimited wants and finite resources to get those wants. Though this may be accurate to an extent, the nuances of how this is applied to everyday life is quite significant.
A recent study on the impact of convenience and price orientation on food waste had some considerable findings. Those who were convenience or price-oriented in their purchasing wasted more food than those who purchased based on value (The best price to quality ratio). (Aschemann-Witzel, Giménez, & Ares, 2018) This is significant for the contributing factor of consumption is not necessarily an unlimited want, but rather a perceived scarcity of time that fuels waste.
The topic of convenience is a recurring theme when discussing waste. To save time coffee pods are used or clothes are not repaired, in favor of the path of least resistance (Harris, 2015). This leads to the question, why is time seen as so limited, and why is this acknowledgment of an inevitable cease of time translated into the consumption of more wasteful alternatives? Some argue that time scarcity is supported through the marketing of ready-made meals and fast food (Celnik, Gillespie, & Lean, 2012),
Constant bombardment with the message that one is too busy, paired with the message that the way to fix this busyness to consume more, opens people up to countless wasteful activities. Whether it is using single-use coffee cups or consuming junk food in wasteful packages instead of traditional convince food such as fruits or vegetables. Invariably, marketing supports the consumption of these highly processed foods which likely have higher markups and fuel consumption in general. Thus, the topic of convenience is more a sense of manufactured convenience tied to the consumerist society in which we live.
Some argue that a lack of awareness of plastic recycling programs is a significant factor impacting the amount of garbage in the country. In 2016 only 27% of solid waste was diverted from disposal so it would seem that there is a need to increase this number. However, with the country’s newest proposal which prioritizes a ban on overall plastics, it is more sensical to reflect on how to reduce overall waste consumption rather than focus on recycling at this time. This is also considering that much of the recycled plastic isn’t even recycled since there is much more plastic than recycling companies are often willing to buy.
Frankly, the main issue is that waste occurs throughout industries and almost everywhere we shop. The sheer complexity of the waste problem in Canada is extremely multifaceted which is why, despite all the possible individual causes, it is important to understand how the issue of waste is perpetuated systemically.
Consumerism more generally impacts our relationship with waste. Often, we want the newest status symbol or the most perfect vegetable. Even a single-use Starbucks cup could be seen as a desire for social supremacy. As we consume and produce waste, we leave fewer and fewer resources for future generations. By nature, consumption is the opposite of environmental sustainability. Consumerism is inherent to the capitalist system. a lot of tech waste, for example, could be averted if technology companies allowed for phones to be more easily repaired or designed software specifically for older phones, however, if items like phones lasted longer, consumers would buy less of them(Stenovec, 2014). This would, in turn, inhibit their ability to make a profit and would, therefore, produce disgruntled shareholders. Even the confusing nature of best-before labels could be seen as the food industry’s desire to consume more quickly due to a somewhat arbitrary date (Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2018).
Dr. Anne Meneley further argues that waste is inherent to consumerism and more generally, inherent to capitalism which depends on “strategic obsolescence” or the manufacturing goods which, in turn, will need to be replaced (2018). This makes addressing waste in Canada difficult as the consumption by individuals, which is seen as necessary, is often anything but. This consumption and subsequent waste, especially regarding consumption outside of the grocery store, is often manufactured and not even necessary.
The perpetuation of consumerism through capitalism, a lack of education, and an abject apathy for change all stand out as significant barriers to change regarding waste issues. To account for the system-wide individualism, human laziness, and gaps of education on climate issues, I recommend a shift in the way
The Solution
Though there are countless possible solutions, however, I believe that one of the most effective changes would be a fundamental change of labeling. First, I would implement a non-profit which would be entirely devoted to making an easy-to-follow grading scheme for each major industry in the Canadian economy. This grading scheme would produce an “eco-score” for both the packaging and the physical item within, and then an aggregate score for the total “ecological impact” of the item. The project would be funded by Government Sustainability Grants and would start with areas that already have a significant labeling system that would be easy to modify. This would include food, technology, and textiles. The upfront cost would be rather large, as developing a framework that applies for each subtlety of each industry would be quite difficult. This considered, after the initial framework is developed, the work required to keep it updated would be minimal.
An eco-emblem would then be created, like Figure 1 which could be displayed on or next to products. Each label would consider both the impact of the waste of the packaging and the waste in the production process and would be a
voluntary addition to packaging. Ideally, after implementation, the government will consider mandating the score on products situated in industries with proven high waste, similar to the calorie count of food.
In that instance, it would be the responsibility of industry leaders by law to fund an independent investigation into the creation of scoring criteria given government-issued, cross-industry, baselines. The emblem would attempt to address the ‘Value-Action’ gap which exists in waste production and food waste, which is the gap between one’s intentions and their actions by making to easier to align with brands that hold the same values about waste(Schanes, Dobernig, & Gözet, 2018)
One may question why companies would willingly subject themselves to open scrutiny of their environmental practices and how this strategy would contribute to environmental sustainability. The idea plays off a mindset introduced by Anitha Acharya and Manish Gupta in their report on green consumerism. They note that there is a strong desire by consumers to start buying green, arguing that marketing in a way that alludes to environmental consciousness can translate into an increase in sales. (2019)
This considered, by displaying the eco-emblem, the company could increase market share by introducing an edge over the competition (Malyan et al., 2019). The emblem would thus encourage corporations to reduce the waste in the packaging and in the process, which would, in turn, increase their score and may increase their market share. This should initiate a net decrease in waste, as companies are rewarded for their sustainability efforts, this is similar to the conceptualization of creating a leaner waste stream, whereby all products use fewer materials that could be wasted (Jensen, 2017)
On the flip side, however, this strategy could increase the overall consumption of products with high rankings in an attempt by consumers to feel as if they are helping the environment, when they may just be consuming more. Furthermore, the strategy could be seen as using the consumer as a scapegoat for larger environmental and structural change, however in the case of waste, individual consumerism is a significant contribution and to relinquish the responsibility of the individual for this environmental issue, in particular, would be counter-intuitive (Akenji, 2014). Introducing fines for low eco-score companies would be an effective structural adaptation to take full responsibility away from the consumer.
Regardless, the score also initiates a baseline for the performance of companies and allows consumers to quantifiably compare the impact of the food they are buying on both the waste stream and the environment. This solution tackles multiple large overarching contributors to waste consumption. Initially, it targets a lack of education around waste and consumer laziness. The labels offer a simple and stand-out visualization of impact and prevent. The labels also take the responsibility away from the consumer to constantly educate themselves on every facet of society, which a vast majority of consumers have no interest or time to do. As indicated by Gupta and Acharya, companies are already attempting to market their products as green, this is an excellent opportunity for “green” to be defined by the terms of science rather than marketing.
The solution leans into the current system of capitalism and consumerism to make a proactive change, using the demand for environmental consciousness to stimulate adaptations without a significant impact on the price of products. Though unorthodox, the system covers multiple factors that influence waste production. The gap of information in the general public is filled with easy-to-read labels, waste is reduced in all categories and without the need for consumer thought. The emblem also allows for some latent functions, like reducing overall environmental impact and starting a dialogue around the processes by which our products are made.
Conclusions
Clearly, there is a strong need to address the waste problem in Canada. Canada’s immense waste production is substantially higher than most other countries which 720 kilos of waste produced per capita. Much of the issues we face with waste can be attributed to consumerism and an overarching desire for convenience and affordability. This is not without good intentions from the consumer who ideally wishes to make an impact but through their value-action gap fails to do so. Hence it is feasible to take these best intentions and produce a system that enables them to follow through on their intentions.
It is in the best interest of consumers to introduce a labeling system that clearly states the waste impact their products have, all the while using labeling to better inform consumers on the significance of what they are consuming. This proposal uses counter-intuitive thinking to curb waste production, without attempting to tackle the much more engrained issue of consumerism and the impact that that has on Canadian waste systems. Though this consumerism is pressing, it is unlikely that a given proposal would drastically change it enough to make a difference. Therefore, working within the confines of the consumerist system to reduce waste is the most practical option. Ultimately any solution to the waste problem must be addressed with the limitations and contributions of consumerism and capitalism in mind, or else any real change will be highly unlikely.
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