Mission Beach Trash And Garbology

“That what people have owned — and thrown away — can speak more eloquently, informatively, and truthfully about the lives they lead than they themselves ever may.” Central tenets of the University of Arizona’s Garbage Project

Garbology is the study of trash the use of trash ccans, compactors and various types of trash can liners. Started by William Rathie in 1973 it has become an important source of the changing behavior of human societies. Industries that want to know if what if any of their products are discarded, industries and cities that want to know if trash has any salable value, the effectiveness of curbside recycling, material trends as well as discard trends. Another term for garbology is waste management. Based upon Garbology, it was discovered that:

Copenhagen, Denmark is the most efficient city in the world with garbage. 3 to 4 % of the city’s waste ends up in landfills. When compared to the 69% of the US’s average. Trash is largely incinerated and in the process used to generate electricity. Six out of ten Danish homes are heated this way. (Wikipedia)

Now I wonder what Garbologists would say about Mission Beach Trash or what is in our trashcans? This trashcan is filled with recyclables, which will go directly into a landfill. Glass, plastic and metals are all easy to recycle. I wonder how this gibes with our Mayor Kevin Falconers’ Zero Waste Plan’ for San Diego that was announced in 2015.

Reducing waste to zero is something we should 100 percent support,” Mayor Faulconer said. “The City of San Diego continues to be an environmental leader and the ‘Zero Waste’ plan is just the latest step we’re taking to leave a better tomorrow for the next generation of San Diegans. There are many ways to reduce, reuse and recycle the trash we collect every day, and this plan sets the City on a path to achieving the ambitious goal of zero waste.”

Specifically, the “Zero Waste” plan lays out strategies to achieve a 75 percent trash diversion rate by 2020, a 90 percent rate by 2035, and the ultimate goal of zero waste by 2040. The City’s current diversion rate of 67 percent has been relatively constant since 2010.

To reach the 75 percent diversion rate, the City would need to reduce, reuse or recycle an additional 332,000 tons of waste annually. The “Zero Waste” plan has several recommendations to meet that goal… (Source) 

This trash can is filled again with recyclables, wasted food and styrofoam, which should be banned. Note at the bottom the amount of Starbucks non-recyclable coffee cups that also come with non-recyclable lids

This overflowing trash can is filled with plastic, fast food containers, plastic bags. Underneath is again recyclable plastic bottles.

In 2017 SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – City Council Tuesday approved adding expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service containers, often referred to as Styrofoam, to the City’s curbside recycling program…. The addition is effective July 1 and applies to residents who receive curbside recycling through the City.

“By expanding what we’re able to recycle, we’re moving in the right direction as we try to reduce, reuse and recycle as much of the trash we collect every day as we can,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “The City of San Diego continues to be an environmental leader with a ‘Zero Waste’ plan that is among the most aggressive in the country. We’re creating a cleaner San Diego and serving as a model for other cities to follow.” (Source)

But.. the trashcan contents do not get recycled… Not sure how this all plays in Zero Waste.

How much pizza is on the beach? Within my turf of 1 mile, there are 3 pizza parlors. You find pizza boxes on the lawn, on the sand, at picnic tables, at fire pits and filling up trash cans. The X-tra large, takes up the full trash can, appalling, as most of the time, most of the pizza is there

This almost full trashcan.. what does this tell you? Ignoring drinking laws? Also n this trash bin lighter fluid styrofoam, fast food wrappers, plastic bags..

This is another full trashcan…. full of plastic cups, straws and lids… Straws are the next thing to go.

I am not a Garbologist by any means… so what would you think this trash tells you about humans and their behavior?

Resources 

Tucson Garbage Project 

Springfield Trash and Recycling Study 

We Are What We Throw Away