Examples Over Words

Last Friday was my first time ever visiting a landfill and to say it was eye opening would be a vast understatement. The never-ending supply of semi-trucks from other facilities dumping their waste, the compactors constantly grinding our trash into the earth and the most astounding part was how the employees weren’t making every possible decision they could to reduce this global problem. When we went inside to watch the video on the recycling plant a fellow classmate pointed out that there were several recyclable as well as compostable items in the trash. The lady showing us around the facility laughed and showed signs of embarrassment but made no effort to grab such items from the trash can. I then made a quick lap of the building and noted mistakes in each trash can. Food that could be composted and items that could be recycled were just thrown away. 

The picture I posted demonstrates this lack of action, symbolized by a plastic cover is draped over the entire length of the fence near the DADS management building. Miles of plastic serving no purpose except aesthetics! It brought to mind David Orr’s words on environmental inaction, the power of examples over words, “Students hear about global responsibility while being educated in institutions that often spend their budgets and invest their endowments in the most irresponsible things.” Nothing is more frustrating than someone who preaches one thing and does another, nor is there anything less effective. Yes, I understand that sustainability is key if society is to survive, but how should you expect me to go surfing in random people’s trash if you can’t even sort your own inside an office at a waste management facility? 

Orr argues that the college curriculum needs a makeover - one revolving around environmental sciences. However, many universities are private and thus hard to force into anything. I would instead suggest that the primary education sytem needs the drastic change. If public schools are forced to teach their students of all the terrible side effects of waste and living a wasteful lifestyle, I am sure there would be an increase in students attempting to major in environmental science. At least take a couple more advanced classes having to do with the environment! Facilities of higher learning would have no other choice but to fill the demand.

As I mentioned at the beginning of my reflection last Friday was my first time seeing a landfill and much of the problem lies in that fact. To solve the destruction of our environment we must make our citizens care more for our planet, and at as young of an age as possible. Children’s minds are often compared to sponges, so lets soak them in environmental awareness while they are in elementary and middle school where a vast majority of the curriculum is mandatory. Then as they reach high school and college much more students will choose to pursue knowledge in environmental studies. Seeing that landfill was great for me and I can honestly say I believe it will affect my behavior towards the environment. Although, I can’t help but wish I’d been taken to one as soon as I was old enough to understand what was going on at such a facility. If I had been, I would have made adjustments to my way of living ten years ago, rather than today.