Confronting the Culture of Waste in the United States

Abstract

The idea of Waste in Contemporary American culture. The United States has been heightened among superlatives like the best country in democracy, military, and supremacy, but nothing to be much proud of; it is regarded as the most wasteful country in the world. According to (DeBrito et al.), each American produces more than 1,700 pounds a year, the report's authors found, adding up to 239 million tons annually. This is an embarrassing critique for a nation regarded with respect and accolades globally. Wastefulness entails unnecessary extravagance, portraying carelessness and lack of purpose. Waste management and its effects is a rare conversation globally that is considered extreme, yet its impact on society is overwhelming. Lars Eigner, a fierce man, who engaged in dumpster diving to study the idea of waste in America, gives insight into this discussion. This essay will focus on the concept of waste in the United States and the dangers attributed to wasting resources. Nearly all-American waste can be composted or recycled, yet they do nothing about it. Americans are throwing trash without their conscience on the impact on the environment. Dumpster divers know the American story of waste. Since they are comfortable with their lifestyles, they buy without the mind of environmental degradation. Students are among the wasteful people in the United States. They are not using the available resources that are a source of knowledge to them. You will find textbooks, notes, and class materials in dumpsters, and the careless of it, all the books have full names. Some throw away their credentials, and one will be left wondering how amusing the situation is at school dumpsites. Most students have not yet worked for their money and faced the reality of life. They will throw away food for no valid reason, yet they have not sweated for it. The pain of raising a generation that is unconscious of the environment is overwhelming to the Americans because they are the future generation. It beats logic that people in the United States are succumbing to poverty, yet their neighbors are throwing valuable materials. The irony of waste is taking a course, yet hunger and starvation are global problems. Unfortunately, most trash contains valuable materials that could benefit a poor person. Someday I was strolling by a dumpsite and is saw a toaster in good condition, yet somebody had thrown it away. Sometimes this type of wastefulness can be accorded to laziness and prestige. That toaster could have been given to someone else. Developing nations are facing the pangs of hunger, yet Americans are unaware of their privilege in the country of the plenty. Waste management can be curbed in this case through donations and charities to avoid excesses and wastages. Americans have done so by donating clothes to the poor at a lower cost. They can do more by donating extra foods that could lead to wastage. How wasteful Americans are is very demoralizing and hurting. Water conservation is a song sung in America, yet action-oriented individuals are few. The rate at which water is being wasted in the United States is overwhelming. People will take baths instead of showers yet do not discover the havoc of water wastage they are manifesting. Most people will leave taps open, contributing immensely to water wastage. Wastage of power is a common aspect for most Americans. Power generating plans spend vast amounts of resources and finances to ensure electricity is generated, yet it finds no...