Waste does not exist in nature. There is no such thing. All byproducts and remains of things past are reused within the system, leading to an increase in abundance and inter-connectivity.
Waste is just an used output of any system
Waste is not usually waste, as most things can be used for something else. Organic matter is one of the most obvious cases. Organic matter that is thrown into plastic trash bags is the ultimate insult to the earth. Organic matter should be returned to the source, making compost or feeding animals.
Anyone ever heard of MOOP
MOOP is festival speak for Matter Out Of Place. All trash can be thought of as 'matter out of place'. Something in the wrong place can create problems, like fertilizers in the rivers and streams, or plastic in the ocean. By just putting things in their right place, we can cut down on waste.
This is a picture of the algae bloom in Lake Atitlan. Algae blooms happen when fertility (a resource) exceeds the lake's ability to absorb and use the fertility, making it a waste. Even though the algae robs the lake of oxygen, you have to admit the spiral shapes it makes are beautiful, as seen from this areal photo.
A waste is just a resource that has saturated the systems ability to use it
We live on one of the world's most beautiful lakes, located in Guatemala. One of the greatest challenges is the water run off into the lake. Soaps, agricultural chemicals, and top soil run into the lake, which makes the lake over-fertile, leading to a lack of oxygen in the lake system. This creates problems for the native species of plants and animals that live in this lake. We can see that a small amount of this run-off is actually ok, as it is fertility for the system, but when it exceeds the lake's capacity to utilise it, it becomes a problem.
Finally, a word on trash cans
I want to go out on a limb and talk about trash cans. People love to pat themselves on the back when they throw trash into the trash can. Well, I got news for you.
The Trash Can is the biggest enabler of waste, encouraging mindless consumption and a lack of ownership of the trash we produce!
Watch this video, featuring yours truly, to understand why...
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NOTE: This post is proudly filled, COMPLETELY, with original writing, and photos that are used under the Fair Use Act. ENJOY!