Garbology: Chapter 10

Chapter 10 discussed about a man named Andy Keller and how just one glance at a local dump changed his life completely. Keller talked about his experience and how there were some things that he was expecting to see and things that completely blew him away. He expected the dump to contain loads of trash that caused an unappealing stench. What he didn't expect was to see so much plastic bags. He defined it as something that you just can't miss. One visit changed his life. He got to thinking and had decided to start a company that manufactured reusable bags that he labeled as ChicoBags. By 2011, his company expanded. Keller also made school visits and demonstrated how much plastic bags we make and use. He calculated that if all the plastic bags we use were to be tied to each other, it would circle the Earth 776 times. That's crazy! The next thing he did was to try to get people to use thermal containers that could hold the food they buy, instead of having restaurants use take out boxes that are made out of plastic, paper or foam. At first the restaurants refused to accept, but after a while they realized that they were losing those customers that suggested that their foods be placed in the containers they brought with them. They eventually changed their minds. 

Reading the story of an average person that first started as unemployed and eventually became a businessman from one brilliant idea that could not only help him but also our environment is amazing. The main reason why we haven't gotten rid of this epidemic is because we have so many people assuming that they are just one person and their change of habit won't make a difference. The truth is it can. On a personal note, just like one glance to local dump changed Keller's viewpoints on his actions, reading Garbology has changed mine. Reading all these facts and stories told by people who've studied trash for years, made me realize the changes I need to make in my household.