In the video above you learn, in a very concise way, about where your e-waste goes and just exactly what is bad about it.  It is a good video and a worthwhile watch, but there is more to consider.  So much more.

As a member of my area’s local chapter of Net Impact I had an opportunity to tour the Salt Lake County landfill and recycling facilities.  It was very interesting to say the least.  Probably the most impactful thing I learned that evening was that all of our recycled plastics (we are blessed with a facility that takes virtually everything.  #’s 1-7) are loaded into shipping containers, placed on the backs of trains, transported to California, loaded on a ship and sent to china for recycling.  When I heard that I had to pick my chin up off the floor! What?!?  Why don’t we recycle it here? “Because”, I was told, “we don’t make the products here”.

Such a simple answer to what is really a big problem.  A problem that is the root of many of our economic and social ills today.  The reason being that we live unsustainable lifestyles now.  “We don’t make the products here”.  We buy a lot of cheap stuff and throw it away to buy more cheap stuff.

While on the tour we drove by a tall stack belching flames 50 feet in the sky.  That was the burn out of the methane that constantly escapes from the dump.  Until now the County has just let it burn, but soon this methane will be put to good use.  Giving our garbage a purpose beyond just recycling.  They are putting the finishing touches on a power generating plant as we speak and when it is completed the plant will provide power to 5,000 homes in Salt Lake County using the methane gas as the catalyst.  Pretty amazing!

So I guess what I and we can learn from all this is that, 1) we can’t be surprised when we find out where our recycling ends up.  Because it is going to end up where ever it is actually be used.  2) When it comes to throwing it out, we can’t just toss it and forget it.  We have to follow-up and make sure than when it gets where it is going it is dealt with safely. 3) There is power in our garbage.  Don’t waste it, use it and demand that your local area uses it.