America has the largest amount of waste generation. Each person produces 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of garbage per day. This figure is almost twice as high as the global average of 1.7 kg.
The USA is home to 5% of the world’s population and accounts for 30% of global waste production. Approximately 324 million Americans generate 700,000 tons of garbage per day. Chicago residents annually throw away over 800,000 tons of waste into dumpsters. Despite these figures, they manage to find ways to live in harmony with nature. The standards of regulation, sorting and recycling of garbage are rising every year, according to chicagoname.com.
Waste sorting comes first
Waste sorting is a very important action that benefits our planet and future generations. By doing this, we can reduce the amount of garbage directed to landfills and minimize the negative impact on the environment.
Unsorted waste ends up in dump sites and even in natural water bodies. As a result, soil and water become polluted, which leads to serious environmental problems.
Sorting allows people to use recyclables, such as metals, glass and plastic. Thus, the need for extracting new materials is reduced, minimizing environmental impact.
Recycling requires less energy than the production of new materials. This leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and helps combat climate change.
Garbage and mafia
By the end of the 19th century, people in Chicago did not care much about trash. Ecology was not of interest to the public, and the authorities did not consider this issue at all.
The mafia became interested in the global problem of waste disposal and processing. They realized that it was a profitable business and took control of refuse trucks and recycling centers. Any business or household that refused to regularly dispose of waste faced serious problems.
Soon, the government began to cooperate with the mafia’s waste services. Numerous issues arose for the governing structures. The collection trucks provided a service, but they also had no concern for ecology and developed corruption schemes. By bribing officials, the garbage mafia agreed to dump waste within the city limits, which allegedly saved fuel and reduced drivers’ working hours.
In the mid-20th century, protests, overflowing landfills and strikes of garbage collectors led to the discrediting of officials who encouraged the activities of waste monopolies.
It was then that waste became an object of environmental supervision instead of just a business. It all started with the introduction of general sorting and disposal rules.
Modern sorting and collecting of garbage
In modern Chicago, refuse trucks collect discarded waste separately, depending on the content. House owners put all food waste in a separate bag and throw it into the garbage chute. Metal cans and glass bottles are put in special containers placed on designated sites or near the house. The same goes for paper waste. Unsorted waste is put in a separate bag or sent to the appropriate container.
A system of separate containers is used if a house or building is not equipped with a garbage chute. One can use special dual bins if containers are situated far from the house. One is for food waste, the other for unsorted garbage. Refuse trucks come for these containers.
It is common to find bins for old clothes and shoes near local shops. There are special collection points for old clothes in Chicago. There, clothes are either sent for recycling or donated to those in need.
Active fight for cleanliness
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the national program Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle (the 3Rs) has been operating in the USA. It has the following interpretation:
- Reduce – reducing consumption. This means that people prefer to use things they already have instead of buying new ones and also try to use items that are hard to recycle.
- Reuse – products made from recyclable materials are preferred over others.
- Recycle – collecting various items for recycling or disposal.
There are bins for separate waste collection on the streets of Chicago. They usually have 3 compartments: for paper, glass and other garbage. Reverse vending machines for bottles and cans are installed in shops.
It is worth noting that the education of a responsible attitude towards waste management begins in Chicago from childhood. Local schools are concerned about environmental issues and explain to students how important it is to reduce and sort waste properly. Moreover, they often organize competitions for collecting paper and plastic packaging.
In addition, school curricula include 100 mandatory volunteering hours, which includes street cleaning. Students frequently help to improve parks, forests and squares.
Thus, the government is trying to cultivate a new generation that will care about the environment and monitor the level of waste not only in their own homes but also within the urban areas.
It is important to remember that it all starts with us!