Do you know how much waste you produce? Would you want to know? Artist Gregg Segal’s impressive project ‘Seven Days of Waste’ impressively hold a mirror to our consumerist society and make you reflect. Truth be told, I try to minimize my waste and was fortunate in Sweden with an comprehensive recycling system in front of my door, but especially if you move around a lot it’s hard to figure out the specifics in every city and region. Still, I think we take waste on too light a shoulder, and Segal’s project shows just how little we care. Click through for more impressive pictures!
Producing less waste however is also to a great part dependent on the infrastructure that surrounds us which makes this easier or harder. I would, for instance, love for more infrastructure like this German supermarket to pop up everywhere: Original Unverpackt will open to the public in August and be the first supermarket that will work without any disposable packaging materials. Instead, all products – fruit, vegetables, pasta, etc. – are stored in bulk bins, and the consumer can come and shop for as much of each product as he or she needs. Truly a revolution!
Finally, I just listened to a great podcast on why the milk is always in the back of the supermarket – is it to manipulate the customer to navigate all the aisles, or are there more benign reasons for this arrangement? Leave it to Planet Money to find out, and two renowned journalists/economists – Michael Pollan and Russ Roberts – to have a fascinating debate.
And with that, happy weekend!