4 ms·

I'm assuming this means we export 80% of our waste? Wondering how the anti-globalist populace feels about this.

Isamu 6y ago
Further down it says 9% of our waste is recycled, and our exports should come out of that.
dx87 6y ago
It makes me feel like shipping it overseas was a way to keep from having to deal with it. If we have to deal with our own garbage, then maybe we'll care about reducing the amount we produce.
- Alupis 6y ago
  Is this not the same with most (all?) electric car drivers? "Look how clean my car is, zero emissions!" Completely ignoring the open pit rare earth mineral mines that are incredibly harmful for the environment, but are necessary for manufacturing these batteries? The mines are in China though, so we don't worry about it.
  - bluGill 6y ago
    Batteries are recyclable. Cars are currently recycled at end of life more than just about anything else. Ever notice the cars towed free signs all over the US? Every tow truck driver in the country knows where to sell a junk car for a few hundred dollars - more if it is running (meaning they can take useful parts off of it instead of just the metal). Between the volume of cars in the country, and the amount of valuable metals in it, it is worth getting equipment to do this.
  - staplers 6y ago
    Even more, 62% of American electricity is from fossil fuel. Electric cars generally outsource fossil fuel burning to industrial areas where the power plants are. Source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
FooHentai 6y ago
I understand it to mean that OF the waste the US exports, 88% of that (unquantified) amount ends up somewhere with inadequate capabilities to handle it. The actual tonnage/proportion of domestically-generated waste being exported I don’t think is referenced anywhere - haven’t gone beyond the article itself yet though.

Further down it says 9% of our waste is recycled, and our exports should come out of that.

dx87 6y ago

It makes me feel like shipping it overseas was a way to keep from having to deal with it. If we have to deal with our own garbage, then maybe we'll care about reducing the amount we produce.

Alupis 6y ago
Is this not the same with most (all?) electric car drivers? "Look how clean my car is, zero emissions!" Completely ignoring the open pit rare earth mineral mines that are incredibly harmful for the environment, but are necessary for manufacturing these batteries? The mines are in China though, so we don't worry about it.
- bluGill 6y ago
  Batteries are recyclable. Cars are currently recycled at end of life more than just about anything else. Ever notice the cars towed free signs all over the US? Every tow truck driver in the country knows where to sell a junk car for a few hundred dollars - more if it is running (meaning they can take useful parts off of it instead of just the metal). Between the volume of cars in the country, and the amount of valuable metals in it, it is worth getting equipment to do this.
- staplers 6y ago
  Even more, 62% of American electricity is from fossil fuel. Electric cars generally outsource fossil fuel burning to industrial areas where the power plants are. Source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3

FooHentai 6y ago

I understand it to mean that OF the waste the US exports, 88% of that (unquantified) amount ends up somewhere with inadequate capabilities to handle it. The actual tonnage/proportion of domestically-generated waste being exported I don’t think is referenced anywhere - haven’t gone beyond the article itself yet though.