Environment & Energy

The population? Or the volume of waste per capita?

Why is it that the US needs to export tons and tons of waste? After we import consumer goods from Chinese factories, use it for a few years, throw it away, and replace it. Is Africa's population buried in waste?

Last year, I was at an event where I wore a name tag. However, unlike the usual "safety pin," this tag was held onto my shirt using a set of powerful magnets, while my name tag was attached to a steel plate. It was explained that this was so much nicer than poking holes in my shirt, or getting adhesive on it.

I explained that those miraculous magnets were made using rare earth metals produced in China under horrible environmental conditions, and that participants likely would throw them out without a second thought.

I have in my possession metal and wooden items which are generations old. No deforestation is needed to use them, no pollution from a factory.