| May 2024: "C" Change is Here! |
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May 2024: C Change is Here!
Welcome back to C Change!
This month, we explore the dynamics of waste reduction and a promising example of environmental recovery. Read how Singapore is innovating its waste infrastructure to prepare for future challenges and discover how much waste we produce each year and the amount that gets recycled with the help of organizations like CalRecycle. Finally, enjoy a beacon of hope for whale conservation with the sighting of a rare Gray Whale in the Atlantic, offering a new direction for the species.
Here are this month’s topics:
1. Nantucket recently gained attention when a rare gray whale was seen off the coast, marking a significant event due to the species' presumed extinction in the Atlantic Ocean. Gray whales, currently found only in the North Pacific, face challenges from climate change-induced habitat loss and dwindling food sources, leading to a decline in their population. The opening of the Northwest Passage, caused by melting Arctic ice, poses further threats by altering migration patterns and exposing the gray whales to new dangers and unknown waters. While the gray whale's adaptability offers hope for the species, conservation efforts for these creatures are crucial to ensuring their survival amidst changing environments and human activities.
2. The zero waste movement is becoming increasingly popular but why is it so important to move towards zero waste? In California alone, CalRecycle says that 40 million tons of trash is going into landfills. Let alone the rest of the United States and the rest of the world. All of this trash going into landfills is producing methane gas and putting groundwater sources at risk.
3.Singapore has emerged as a global leader in waste management, showcasing innovative strategies amidst challenges of limited space and dense population. Through the 4Rs - reduce, reuse, recycle - and robust infrastructure, Singapore minimizes waste generation and maximizes resource recovery. Advanced technologies, like waste-to-energy plants and smart systems, optimize efficiency and environmental impact. Community engagement and education are integral, encouraging citizens to participate in sustainability efforts. Despite challenges, Singapore aims for a zero-waste future through circular economy principles and collaboration. Its journey serves as a model for global cities, highlighting the power of innovation and community involvement in addressing the waste crisis. Let's draw inspiration and work together for a cleaner, greener future.
Thank you for joining us this month! We hope that our articles helped you learn something new about the world and our global environment. With the increasingly dire consequences of climate change, we must inform ourselves and others to take effective action. Earth is our only home, and taking care of it in our best interest for ourselves and the other organisms and landscapes we share our life with.
Sources Cited:
Lenthang, M. (2024, March 6). Rare gray whale, extinct in the Atlantic for 200 years, spotted near Nantucket. NBC News; NBC UNIVERSAL. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/u... Ca.gov. (n.d.). 2021 Disposal facility-based Waste Characterization Study. CalRecycle Home Page. https://calrecycle.ca.gov/wcs/dbstudy/ Vemuri, V. (2021a, October 9). How Singapore deals with trash. Medium. https://medium.com/techtalkers/how-singapore-deals-with-trash-d12e236f81fe
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| MAY HIGHLIGHTS |
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| What We Read (and Learned!) This Month |
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| The Return of the Atlantic Gray Whale |
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| Hayley Wheeler |
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Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, houses summer-time tourists, beautiful coastlines, and nationally recognized lighthouses. About two months ago on March 1st, The New England Aquarium and local news stations released footage and aerial surveillance of a rare gray whale feeding and diving about 30 miles off the coast of Nantucket. While whale sightings are not a rare occurrence for Long Island Sound, the resurfacing of this species of whale in the Atlantic Ocean that was considered extinct is a remarkable phenomenon, but holds a darker meaning of climate change fury.
The gray whale were once found commonly throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but now consider the North Pacific Ocean their home. They can grow up to about 49 feet in length and normally travel alone or in unstable, small groups due to the rare occurrence of life-long bonds between these whales. Gray whales are bottom feeders that can digest a wide range of sea-floor invertebrates, filtering food out of the ocean floor’s sedimentation. This species was once considered endangered up until 1994, when they successfully recovered and were delisted by the ESA and are now considered stable. However, due to recent climate change activities and changing Arctic Ocean conditions, die-offs have been occurring more often - the most recent starting in 2019 and is currently ongoing. These threats are greatly affecting their population sizes, with reductions of up to 25% just over a few years. The availability of their food has become low, and their ability to access normal feeding spots throughout the Pacific has diminished; this will shock the gray whale population drastically.
Not only this, The Northwest Passage, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean, is normally blocked by glacial distribution but has been consistently ice-free throughout the summertime due to global warming and rising temperatures. The melting ice opens a water passage to species, such as the gray whale, that will be able to “potentially travel the Passage in the summer, something that wouldn’t have been possible in the previous century”, according to The New England Aquarium’s press release. While the gray whales are regularly seen in the North Pacific, there have been about a half dozen sightings of gray whales in the Atlantic since 2010 - indicating that this Arctic sea bridge has already begun to alter the population of gray whales, and possibly other species.
Other possible disturbances to this species include vessel strikes and habitat degradation, which has been on the rise over the past few decades due to the increase in demand for offshore oil and gas development, as well as pipelines and man-made structures.
So, what is in store for this beautiful creature of the sea? The Atlantic population of gray whales was hunted to extinction by the 18th century, but with the opening of the passage combined with global warming activity heavily impacting marine life, there is uncertainty on what will happen to the existence of this species. There is no evidence of a breeding population right now in the Atlantic Ocean, but according to Philip Hamilton, a senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center, “the sighting represents another example of what climate change over the long term could look like and “shows that these animals are pretty adaptable”.
What can you do if you happen upon a gray whale? Make sure you keep your distance from the creature, giving at least a safe perimeter of 100 yards. If the whale seems to be in distress or deceased, make sure to contact professional and local scientists who are trained and ready to respond. Watch your speed when on the water, and be whale-aware of their habitats and where they spend their daily life!
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Sources:
Fee, J. (2024, March 6). Gray Whale Spotted off Nantucket. On the Water; On The Water. https://www.onthewater.com/gra...
Gray whales experience major population swings as a result of Arctic conditions, research shows. (2023, October 12). Life at OSU; Oregon State University. https://today.oregonstate.edu/...
Lenthang, M. (2024, March 6). Rare gray whale, extinct in the Atlantic for 200 years, spotted near Nantucket. NBC News; NBC UNIVERSAL. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/u...
McCarron, H. (2024, March 6). Rare gray whale seen off Nantucket is good and bad news, says Cape whale expert. Cape Cod Times; www.capecodtimes.com. https://www.capecodtimes.com/s...
NOAA Fisheries. (2019). Gray Whale | NOAA Fisheries. Noaa.gov; NOAA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov...
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| The Importance of Zero Waste |
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| Autumn Marsh |
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According to the United Nations Day of Zero Waste, 2.1 to 2.3 billion tons of solid waste are produced yearly; only a maximum of 62% of it is managed by controlled facilities. Why is this important though? Everything we as consumers buy, produces some form of waste. Every new product we buy is wrapped in thin sheets of plastic, boxes, or empty bottles that are all trash items to be thrown away shortly after. To put this into perspective, according to CalRecycle, individuals in California throw away approximately 2000 pounds of trash per year, totaling 40 million tons of trash going into landfills from California alone. Defining Zero Waste mentions that only 69.1 million tons of waste are actually recycled.
One issue with zero waste is that the concept is still so new that there isn’t a consistent definition of zero waste. Defining Zero Waste mentions that the US Conference of Mayors defines zero waste as going beyond the bounds of recycling so that it encompasses products from creation to the end of the product's life cycle. The Zero Waste International Alliance defines zero waste as the conservation of resources through the ethical and environmentally conscious production and disposal of products; none of which can cause risks or harm to human health. Defining Zero Waste varies definitions of zero waste but they boil down to extending the responsibility of producers when they design products and their packaging, reducing waste and toxicity, repairing, reusing, donating, recycling, composting, and limiting landfill waste disposal.
National Geographic covers the process of landfills and how they are managed in one of their articles titled Landfills; what’s most important to note is that landfills are capable of producing methane gas alongside flammable toxins when the waste starts to decompose. While these landfills are managed more effectively to protect human health presently than they have in the past, there are still risks for leaks and other environmental concerns. These leaks can be of methane and other toxins, or they can infiltrate local groundwater sources, which will contaminate communities' drinking sources. National Geographic also makes it abundantly clear that these landfills are disproportionately placed near low-income and colored communities, putting an already disadvantaged group of people at increased risk of detrimental health impacts. This means that if we can collectively make efforts to limit our personal need for landfills, we are also contributing to the quality of health for people who have increased exposure to these damaging effects.
How do we decrease our reliance on landfills then? One Tree Planted provides a list of 21 effective ways people can reduce their amount of waste, and how to limit contributions. Going zero waste may sound daunting, but there are many small steps people can take to move closer. Little by little, people can swap their practices such as buying in bulk, buying reusable shopping bags, or composting their scraps. Just like that, you’re already massively reducing the amount of waste produced in the household!
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| Beyond the Bin: Unveiling Singapore's Trash Transformation |
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| Soham Arekar |
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In the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability, especially in its approach to waste management. With limited land space and a dense urban population, Singapore has pioneered groundbreaking solutions to tackle its waste challenges. Let’s explore Singapore's visionary strategies and initiatives that have propelled it to the forefront of global waste management. Singapore's waste management strategy revolves around the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. With a robust infrastructure and stringent regulations, the city-state has implemented efficient waste collection and recycling programs, aiming to minimize waste generation and maximize resource recovery. Singapore's commitment to sustainable waste management is evident in its ambitious targets to reduce landfill waste and increase recycling rates.
At the forefront of Singapore's waste management efforts are innovative technologies and solutions. The city-state has invested in advanced waste-to-energy plants that convert non-recyclable waste into electricity, reducing the strain on landfills and providing renewable energy sources. Additionally, Singapore has deployed smart waste management systems, including automated bin sensors and centralized waste collection, to optimize efficiency and minimize environmental impact. Singapore's waste management initiatives are driven by cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions. The city-state has invested heavily in research and development to explore novel approaches to waste management. One notable innovation is the adoption of pneumatic waste conveyance systems in residential and commercial estates, where waste is transported through underground pipes to central collection points. This reduces the need for traditional waste collection methods, minimizes carbon emissions, and enhances the overall cleanliness of the urban environment.
Singapore recognizes the importance of community engagement and public education in fostering a culture of sustainability. Through extensive outreach programs and educational initiatives, the government encourages citizen participation in waste reduction and recycling efforts. Public awareness campaigns and recycling incentives incentivize behavior change, empowering individuals to make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives. After laying a solid foundation of community engagement and education, Singapore is poised to further enhance its waste management efforts through collaboration and innovation. By fostering a culture of sustainability and empowering individuals to play an active role in waste reduction, Singapore sets the stage for continued progress towards a greener, more resilient future.
Despite its successes, Singapore faces challenges in its quest for sustainable waste management, including limited land availability and increasing waste generation. Looking ahead, Singapore aims to embrace circular economy principles, promote sustainable consumption patterns, and invest in research and innovation to address emerging waste management challenges. By adopting a holistic approach and leveraging technology and collaboration, Singapore remains committed to achieving its vision of a zero-waste future. As we reflect on Singapore's remarkable journey towards sustainable waste management, we are inspired by its ingenuity, resilience, and determination. Singapore's trash transformation serves as a model for cities worldwide, demonstrating the power of innovation, collaboration, and community engagement in addressing the global waste crisis. Let us draw inspiration from Singapore's example and work together towards a cleaner, greener future for all.
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