ERS317 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Media Culture, Biodegradation, Municipal Solid Waste
Document Summary
Waste disposal and waste diversion doesn"t always have a clear definition: in canada, we include anything that goes to landfills or incinerators, including the energy that is produced by incinerators. Waste per capita has increased dramatically: this includes recycling, composting, landfills, etc. It began to really increase after mid 1960 (it was incredibly low in comparison to where we are today) Each year since the mid 1960s the waste per capita has increased dramatically: it has almost doubled. It levels off again in 2010 and this is still continuing. You can see a lot of changes when you look long term. What changed after the 1960s: the products being made had a lot of disposable materials associated with time i. e. packaging, buying more frequently due to the products. Advertising encouraging people to buy new products. Consumer culture changed: the waste created during the war we pushed manufacturing to make more and more products.