Food Waste Bringing People Together?

On the fourth day of the seminar we went to the Royal Seaport to learn more about the "gold standard" in sustainable urban development. The attitudes of those living in Sweden was amazing. They all want to make it a much more sustainable place to live.

In urban development they focus on 5 key strategies: 

(1)To make the city more vibrant 

(2) Make it accessible 

(3) Participation in being sustainable

(4) Renewable Resources 

(5) Our responsibility for climate

Based on these strategies they created a food waste disposal unit. This idea of waste disposal was highlighted on our tour of the Royal Seaport and I included a picture of what this looks like.

This disposal unit uses compressed air and underground tunnel ways to divide up trash and dispose of them properly. This system is so effective that waste is actually imported to the Royal Seaport.

I have to mention the attitudes and conversations coming out of Sweden. From a communication's perspective, most of the population is on the same page, wanting to create a green and sustainable living environment. This is something I have never encountered. In comparison to the U.S. I feel that being environmentally conscious is very much a liberal or "left" view. However, in Sweden being sustainable crosses party lines and unites the population rather than separates them.

These waste disposal units are so unique that there are about 6 different ways of separating rubbish. In cities like NYC in the U.S we are lucky if we can find a trash can none the less a recycling bin.

This trip changed my perspective on the power of communication and effort of the population to come together to create a better world. I'm still amazed at the unification of being environmentally friendly not only for this generation but for the generations to come.