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A review by singuyen
Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade by Adam Minter
5.0
This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. It really opens up my worldview about the global industry of recycling in a way I didn't think possible. I came from always thinking that recycling was a philanthropic act of local governments to knowing that it is in fact, a multi-billion-dollar global business. And that shifts my perspectives on a lot of things.
Where did your old electronics go after you put them in your recycling bin? Well, they might have traveled from your home in California to a small town in China where they can be hand-sorted for useable and recyclable materials. If the electronics were still good enough, they might be repaired and resold in the Chinese market. If not, the recycled materials could be turned into new products that might eventually end up back in your home as you purchase more products from overseas.
The book touches on a lot more than just the cycle I described above. Adam Minter really did a good job of making the point that recycling isn't as simple a concept as most of us think it is. Industries and governments should make it clear to consumers what recycling can and cannot do, so that consumers don't end up consuming more just because recycling is an option, a "green" option even. And for everyday consumers like you and me, it's important to keep in mind that Recycle comes third, after Reduce and Reuse. Follow that order.
Where did your old electronics go after you put them in your recycling bin? Well, they might have traveled from your home in California to a small town in China where they can be hand-sorted for useable and recyclable materials. If the electronics were still good enough, they might be repaired and resold in the Chinese market. If not, the recycled materials could be turned into new products that might eventually end up back in your home as you purchase more products from overseas.
The book touches on a lot more than just the cycle I described above. Adam Minter really did a good job of making the point that recycling isn't as simple a concept as most of us think it is. Industries and governments should make it clear to consumers what recycling can and cannot do, so that consumers don't end up consuming more just because recycling is an option, a "green" option even. And for everyday consumers like you and me, it's important to keep in mind that Recycle comes third, after Reduce and Reuse. Follow that order.