Response to "Even If We Stopped Polluting Today, Ocean Garbage Patches Would Linger For Hundreds Of Years"

In this article, it basically gives an overview of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Basically, it is a danger towards our ocean, in which is "a never-ending  consumption". Along with the article a video named, "Charting the Garbage Patches of the Sea", was presented. It gave more a visual understanding of the same information Edward Humes presented in Garbology. I found it interesting how technology is able to see our trash and how they end up in these patches. Dr. Erik van Sebille, even mentions in the video that being able to clean out the plastic from the ocean is impossible. You would think that the impossible, is possible, but this situation it is very hard to determine. All this plastic and other trash that is being disposed in the ocean has led to many dangers such as hurting marine mammals and seagulls, and ourselves in which we eat those fishes that eat plastic. To be honest, it is hard to believe whether or not our ocean will safe, but hopefully it will not come to the point where our clear beautiful blue ocean will end up being another Puente Hills.    

Review of Garbology by Edward Humes Chapter 5

In this chapter, Humes shifts on a new topic in which he gives an overview of plastic and what it has done to our ocean. In the beginning of the chapter, he mentions Kaisei which is this ship that has sailed off coasts of California and Hawaii in order to pursue a research voyage. It is hard enough to believe what our trash epidemic has caused on land, but the ocean is way worse. Our trash has caused many marine mammals and seabirds to be in danger. For instance, lantern fish end up eating these plastic pellets and because they are part of the food chain, they are eaten by other marine mammals and fish we eat. Doesn't it remind you how Humes mentioned in the last few chapters, how pigs were used to eat our trash? It's kind of the same situation. Humes also makes mention of Mary Crowley and Project Kaisei. The purpose of this project, Crowley's goal, was to combine research on garbage-patch and methods of extracting plastic from the seas. Nurdles are found along many beaches and are nicknamed "mermaid's tears". It was interesting to find out that plastic items such as floaties, toys, etc., end up still floating in the ocean. I use to think if our trash would end in the ocean, it would somehow dissolve, but I was completely wrong. Our trash that ends up in the ocean, continues to be around for several of years. Going into this chapter, it has helped me realize that we do have a serious trash epidemic. Hopefully, America can just wake up and realize that not only are we putting our lives in danger, but also marine animals' lives.    

Review of Garbology by Edward Humes Chapter 4

In this chapter, Humes continues to talk about the landfills, but this time the history of it.  He goes on talking about David Steiner, who is the CEO of Materials Management Inc. He portrays a lot of confidence when it comes to the discussion of trash. He believes that trash will continue to fill up the landfills, but then he believes that there's a possibility that his company will buy people's trash. Humes also mentions in the seventies that government mandates to develop ways of reducing trash. I found it interesting how WMI's rapid expansion was sometimes considered a good thing for them, but then they were also accused of illegal toxic dumping, cited for violations, and accusations of destroying evidence. To read that part, I wasn't surprised that they would do these kind of things, they wante trash to disappear as well. Also, another interesting point was when the company's stock value dropped, another company named USA Waste Services, bought the company but still kept the name. Never had I imagined a smaller company would come to the aid of a bigger company.      

Response to "EDITORIAL: THE JOY OF GARBAGE" and video of "The Story of Stuff"

After watching "The Story of Stuff", the video has produced more information about our trash that I was unaware. After reading a few chapters of Garbology: Our Dirty Affair with Trash by Edward Humes, it was definitely a wake up call to reality that America is generating too much trash. In the video, I found it interesting how the corporations are looked at much higher than the government. Also, if our landfills start to overfill, we would have to move the trash to someone else's land. I never thought that just because we continue to upgrade in technology, we have to throw it all away. For instance, inside the desktop computer there is a little chip that changes every year, but depending on the size of the little chip, we have to throw away the whole desktop computer. Also, I never thought that most of the items we buy contain dangerous chemicals, such as in our pillows there is a chemical that is flammable. Also I thought of  "The Golden Arrow" , as the comparison of  "The Yellow Brick Road", but this time we have to stop following the arrow. As a society, we are brain washed to purchase and dispose, and it becomes a cycle; we are throwing things away within six months when instead it should lat a could of years. Hopefully, our society can just think for a second and understand that to keep our world alive, we need to deal with this trash epidemic now before it becomes to late.         

Reponse to "My Exhibit...In the Museum of Trash"

In this article, Dave Chameides gives the readers an insight of how his trash ends up in at The Museum of Trash in Hartford, Connecticut. Before reading the article, I thought it was strange of Chameides placing garbage in his basement. My first thought was maybe it's for an experiment, but may end up becoming a hoarding problem. As I continued to read the article, I found it interesting how by the end of the year he only collected 28.5 pounds of trash, compared to America as a whole we generate 1,600 pounds a year. So does this mean we have to start keeping trash in our basements too? Well, I don't think so because after going through his trash, Chameides did not want his trash. So forth, he mentions the Museum of Trash and never had I imagined there be a museum dedicated to trash. Just like Edward Humes, Chameides informs us how unaware we are of our trash and where it ends up. I must say I am guilty of how much trash I dispose. Definitely, it is always best think twice before throwing things away, because the more we dispose, the more  we increase the pounds of disposed trash within a year.  

Interview with Edward Humes

Terry Gross' interview with Edward Humes was definitely interesting and has given more information. Humes gave me a clear comprehension of the statistics given between Columbia University and EPA, in which Columbia University's strategy was straightforward and EPA's strategy was underestimated. I found it interesting once Humes actually found the accurate numbers, he had changed "64 ton" to "102 ton". I never imagined that 69 percent of our trash is buried in the landfills and whatever is not recycled ends up creating greenhouse gases, which even causes more problems for the environment. I could compare with Terry Gross in such the feeling of sense of relieve when trowing trash away, but I never thought that the disposal of my trash has been part of America's "trash problem".

Review of Garbology by Edward Humes Chapter 3

Going into this chapter, I had negative thoughts towards Big Mike and why he loves working at Puente Hills, but that all changed when Humes mentions how Big Mike can see people's prized possessions being thrown away. It is just awful to think how can people dispose items that could last a couple of years, but most of all how could they dispose items that have sentimental value to them. Just when you think Puente Hills was chaotic enough due to how trash it contains, think again, that place has quite some stories. It is crazy enough to visualize how much trash is placed there, but the most disguising part of it is how body parts were hidden with the trash. Humes continues to mention as well how pigs were still used to eat our trash, which again I find disguising because to think when we eat pork, we are also eating the trash they ate. Also within the chapter, I find it interesting how Humes included information about two individuals, Lippincott and Packward (opposites), and their views on how Americans buy and waste in which becomes a cycle.    

Review of Garbology by Edward Humes Chapter 2

Going on to this chapter, Humes informs the readers the contrast between how trash was dealt with in Puente Hills and in New York in the 1890s. I would never thought of utilzing animals, especially pigs as mentioned, as a solution to getting rid of trash. I found it to be interesting how Colonel George E. Waring, a Civil War veteran, would be thought of as the solution to our trash problem during that time. Waring and his "White Wings" were applauded by many in which they pursued to clean New York. At first, I thought of Waring's plan of the three waste bins would work, but just when you think we have a solution, it completely fails. I think if Waring's plan were to be utilized as of today, most likely more people will choose not to follow. When you think about it, there really is no difference the way we get rid of trash than in the 1890s. I believe that some people still recycle, but I don't think people would actually follow Waring's three bins.   

Review of Garbology by Edward Humes Chapter 1

To begin with, I thought that "Garbology" was making a reference to our society as "trash", referring to the actions we take. I have lived in California my whole life and never heard of Puente Hills. I had always thought that our trash would be burned and mystically disappear, but no matter how many times we try to get rid of trash, it continues to pile up. What I believe is interesting is how Humes includes these three questions: "Where are we going to put all the trash?" (26),"Now where are we going to put all the trash?" ( 27), and  "Why do we have so much trash, and what might we do to make less of it?" (28). As Humes utilizes these questions within the text, it definitely gave me a wake up call and how the piling of trash could lead to many complications such as expanding more landfills, the environment, and our health. After reading this chapter, I definitely started to feel guilty in the way I started throwing trash away. I mean, I still recycle, but just to think throwing leftover food or clothing, there are others who are starving and have nothing to wear. Also, how archaeologists are amazed by trash and believes it serves a purpose, but in reality, danger is being portrayed. Humes has definitely changed my perspective of trash and to be more aware of how it affects the future and, will Puente Hills have to expand and take over Los Angeles? I am looking forward to more in depth of what Humes has to inform us, the readers, and hopefully find a solution about our trash issue before it is too late.