Only waste? - Model Holding AG

Throwaway society
The throwaway society is a phenomenon
of the western industrialized countries.
In economies of scarcity – as in
the Third World – people re-use things
over and over again out of necessity.
On the other hand, one advantage of
these economic conditions is the low
level of waste accumulation.
What do we mean by throwaway mentality?
A non-sustainability-based attitude and the
thoughtless disposal of litter (e.g. bottles, paper,
beverage cans, etc.) in the environment, in
the street or in green spaces immediately after
completion of consumption.
The throwaway mentality or throwaway society
is underpinned by the production and consumption
of increasing quantities of unnecessary,
short-dated goods. Today, many high-quality
and correspondingly expensive products
(electronic devices being a case in point) are
often also so designed that even minor defects
cannot be repaired or at a cost out of all proportion
to the price. Critical voices argue that the
only purpose of this is to force the consumer
to buy new equipment, which, in turn, produces
unnecessary waste.
In industrialized countries the term «refuse
emergency» has entered the vocabulary. This
does not describe a state of too much refuse,
but the lack of places to dispose of some or all
of it. It applies in particular to commercial
waste. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world
people are dealing with emergencies of a very
different nature.
Living from and with refuse
For thousands of people rubbish tips such as
Smoky Mountain in Manila in the Philippines
are both home and a source of work and income.
The inhabitants of Smoky Mountain, for
instance, have in effect created functioning recycling
programmes. They convert the «unwanted»
waste into valuable income-generating
materials. So why are the inhabitants being
evacuated? In tropical countries, heavy rains
regularly cause devastating landslides in rubbish
tips. The rainwater also carries noxious
and unsanitary substances. Moreover, the
stench and fumes are injurious to the inhabitants’
health. They suffer from respiratory problems,
nausea, headaches and other complaints.
National and international organizations
are helping to draw up and implement cost-effective
programmes. The goal is not only to
produce less waste, but also to recycle it properly.
However, the emphasis is on measures to
help the inhabitants. Resettlement has deprived
many of them of their source of income.
Hence, they are being trained in the professional
recovery of materials from waste as well
as new possibilities of processing it. More than
100 housewives process old newspapers and
telephone books into tissues and accessories
for sale in the Australian market. A line of fashionable
clothing has also been established to
generate additional jobs.
WASTE WORLDS
Even though older Smoky Mountains have
been grassed over, the dangers associated
with them have not yet been banished. New
rubbish tips are being created. Better organization
has attracted new «inhabitants». The human
race continues to produce increasing
quantities of waste. So, while mothers cultivate
their vegetable patches on what are now
«green mountains», their children play in the
rainwater run-off – completely disregarding the
dangers of waterborne diseases. (Source and
illustrations: Asian Development Bank, Manila,
Rita Festin)
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