Let’s get creative with garbage

The ocean is filling up with trash.

Floating garbage in the Pacific Ocean (courtesy of National Geographic)

So, what does trash in the Pacific have to do with economics?  Let’s think a bit about wants versus needs, production, markets, consumables, and waste.

Many of the foods, snacks, and drinks that come in packaging are wants.  If you purchase meat products from the local butcher, he’ll likely wrap it in paper, which breaks down relatively easily.  If you purchase meat products from the grocery store, it will likely be wrapped in plastic and styrofoam, which don’t break down easily.  A lot of our snacks come in plastic packaging, as do our drinks.  Fruit and vegetables come ready-to-eat without the need for packaging.  Using a reusable bottle or cup for beverages cuts down on the needs for plastic bottles.

Many markets throughout the world produce consumables to be throw-away – but we don’t think about the waste created by the packaging or materials used that cannot be reused.

The article, “The surprising economics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch” touches upon the large amount of waste produced by the top 20 worst offenders. Read it, then let me know how YOU would solve this garbage crisis!