Zero Waste

As defined by the Zero Waste International Alliance "Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use. Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health." I've been trying to find a niche in all of this, something to focus in on. However as the definition of  Zero Waste displays, there is a lot of ground being covered here, the entire planet. As I said in a previous post I am beginning to see and understand the bigger picture here, but I have just started down my Greener Path and where it may lead is still unknown. I've been interested in alternative energy, solar and wind, which is very much Zero Waste. I am also much in tune with nature and concerned with impacts to natural environments. I am anxious to learn more, to study, research, and experience what Zero Waste means today and work towards the ambitious and essential goals it sets forth.

South Orange County Wastewater Authority

I mentioned in my previous post that I recently toured the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA) facility located in Laguna Niguel. Probably the most interesting tour on my classes travel though local waste facilities here in SoCal. Once again we had an extremely knowledgeable tour guide, Mr. Bob Waters. Bob gave us quite literally an in depth look at the facility that rather than describe I'll present in photos I took during the tour.

Laguna Niguel Facility

Lab

Tour Guide Bob Waters

Preliminary Treatment

Primary Treatment

Clarification Tank Under Maintenance

Secondary Treatment

On To Tertiary Treatment

Go Ducks!

Much more info about wastewater treatment can be obtained from the SOCWA website.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

I am entering my seventh week of study in Recycling and Resource Management. My BLOG post assignment for this week is to describe what have I learned thus far and how do I now see things differently. Without any doubt I am now 'seeing the bigger picture' when it comes to consumerism, sustainability, and how recycling plays a major role in both. The literature we've studied has given us an in depth look at consumerism as a powerful driver at many levels in today's world. We cannot continue down this same road. We need to change course towards a future where sustainabilty is our destination. I have learned how many of today's largest corporations have recognized 'eco-advantage' and have adopted significant green strategies into their way of doing business. They are now riding the 'green wave' turning 'green into gold.' I've toured various facilities, landfills, a household hazardous waste facility, a composting facility, a major recycling facility with both a clean MRF and a C&D MRF (materials recovery facility), and most recently a regional waste water treatment facility. I've had some very up close and personal experiences which have given me a much greater understanding of what we are doing, at least locally, to deal with some major issues we have as a huge population center here in Southern California. The bigger picture is much more complicated however. The bigger picture can become much more obvious to all by viewing a documentary we recently saw in class, Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth.'