Human Footprint - Our Trash Footprint
March 27, 2008Over the next two weeks or so, we'll relay some interesting facts about how we as humans consume not only on a daily basis, but throughout the course of our lifetimes. We'll kick it off with the basics....trash.
Our Trash Imprint
We are now consuming resources faster than the Earth can replace them. In fact, if everyone in the world lived like we do, we would need at least four planets to meet our demand for natural resources and absorb our waste and pollution.
So, just how much trash will each of us leave behind over a lifetime? All of that food, diapers, soap and deodorant has an impact and leaves an impression — our human footprint on the Earth. And if you break it down, the numbers can be alarming:
- Every day, each of us sends 20 gallons of sewage through the system. Over a lifetime, that is 567,575 gallons.
- Each of us will send 64 tons of waste to landfills over our lifetime.
- Every year the United States will generate 246 million tons of solid waste.
- Americans throw out 11 million tons of glass bottles ever year — that’s the same weight as 440 Titanics or 30 Empire State Buildings!
- Every second, Americans throw away 694 plastic bottles, adding up to 60 million a day.
- And we dispose of 100 million aluminum and steel cans every day — enough to build a roof over all of New York City.
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All calculations for the film use the following assumptions: An average lifetime is 77.75 years or 28,379 days. The U.S. population is rounded to 301,000,000.
Comments (4)
You neglected to mention bottled water. An almost useless product that generates enormous waste.
Posted by BCT | April 9, 2008 12:55 AM
We as keepers of the earth do, absolutely, need to be more conservative in our use and abuse of natural resources(oil, trees, water, air).
Global warming can be attributed, not only to humans, but to the natural phases and phenomenon of the earth and sun, which have been going on since way before man entered the picture. Our use of carbon fuels has added to the natural warming, making it more noticable and more profound. We should try to drive less, live closer to our jobs, do several errands on one trip, carpool, walk, ride bicycles, work from home. We should re-cycle more. Do like I did when times were difficult. Use old t-shirts for dusting, washing the car, use "redneck tupperware", margerine, Cool Whip, yogurt containers for leftovers or coffee filters or to put food in to freeze. I agree with BCT. Bottled water puts an an enormous amount of plastic into the landfills. Buy water in large jugs and refill smaller bottles. Use GLASS and RE-use it. Repair clothes, give those you no longer need to Goodwill or Salvation Army.
I think manufacturers could cut back on packaging. Why do we need a box with a bottle of medicine inside? Why not just the bottle with a seal? Are we too lazy to steam our own veggies? Why do we need our frozen food in special, steam vented plastic bags, IN A BOX, to steam 2.5 servings? Wouldn't the bag or just the box be enough?
There are plenty of ways in which each of us can, individually, cut back on polluting our environment, and in making and keeping our earth GREEN. Every little bit helps.
I will watch this program and will comment again afterwards and let you know my opinion of it.
Posted by Marlane | April 11, 2008 12:13 PM
"The human footprint" what a shameless production of environmental emotional propaganda... Now I can blame my children for all their diapers and all those milk drinkers and candy eaters... HOW COULD THEY RUIN OUR PLANET... PLEASE... what's the reason for this... to make us feel guilty about everything we do? Are you trying to get us to say Americans are the ruin of the world? Why not do a program on how well we are dealing with environmental issues instead of laying some guilt trip on us. The USA does FAR better than many other countries. If I subscribed to National Geographic I would cancel it, as it's become a propaganda tool for the environmental extremists who feel humans are the scourage of the earth.
Posted by Drake | April 16, 2008 9:27 PM
"The human footprint" what a shameless production of environmental emotional propaganda... Now I can blame my children for all their diapers and all those milk drinkers and candy eaters... HOW COULD THEY RUIN OUR PLANET... PLEASE... what's the reason for this... to make us feel guilty about everything we do? Are you trying to get us to say Americans are the ruin of the world? Why not do a program on how well we are dealing with environmental issues instead of laying some guilt trip on us. The USA does FAR better than many other countries. If I subscribed to National Geographic I would cancel it, as it's become a propaganda tool for the environmental extremists who feel humans are the scourage of the earth.
Posted by Drake | April 16, 2008 9:28 PM