Green Junction - A Culture of Single-Use
We live and function in an unsustainable time, when our overuse of resources and high production of waste have started to overwhelm the earth. Throwaway routines are part of nearly all facets of our lives, from our food and drinks to our clothes and activities. While more people carry reusable water bottles, too many other daily activities still involve throwaway stuff. A number of countries around the world, especially those with limited land space, have decreased the amount of waste sent to landfills and increased their reuse, composting and recycling. However, waste generation in the United States continues to rise. Americans constitute just 4% of the world’s population, but generate about 12% of the world’s waste.
Huge amounts of single use packaging are part of the fast food industry. One estimate of McDonalds waste is the production of three tons of packaging garbage every minute. A program reignited at the Portland, Oregon Airport is a model for waste reduction and sustainability that other airports and organizations should emulate. Titled the Green Plate Program, it is described as the first reusable dish program at a U.S. airport. When travelers order food at one of the participating restaurants, they have the option of using a real dish, cup and utensils. There are drop-off sites for the reusable materials after use. There are also to-go containers that can be returned. When the project was piloted, there was a 73% drop in waste.
Numerous polls show that most consumers are interested in making sustainable choices, but too often options do not exist. The Portland Airport leaders expect that other American airports will adopt their program and give hungry passengers an opportunity to pass on disposables. Meanwhile, Individuals can plan ahead to limit purchases that create unnecessary garbage. Imagine if people collectively choose zero waste on airplanes, where passengers are either prepared with their reusable containers or airlines go back to the “old” ways of using cups that they wash and reuse. Solutions exist when care for the earth is a priority.