Trashing the Planet: Examining Our Global Garbage Glut

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Globally, humans produce 1.3 billion tons of garbage every year; the amount will triple by the year 2100. The United States, China, Brazil, Japan, and Germany are the leading trash generators. Nuclear waste is produced around the world through mining, nuclear-driven energy, and weapons production. Waste-related pollution runs into rivers and seeps into ground water. Flooding is caused by garbage clogging drains, and the atmosphere can be poisoned by the toxic discharge from trash. When waste is not collected, the frequency of illness such as diarrhea doubles and acute respiratory infection — linked to the burning of waste—is six times higher. This book looks at creation and disposal of trash and nuclear waste; the challenges ahead; and global and individual initiatives to reduce, reuse, recycle--and in some communities, such as Minneapolis, Seattle, and San Francisco, to create zero waste.