Waste = Resource

Alberto Sanchez noticed that the accumulation of chicken waste was becoming a major problem for the poultry industries in Costa Rica. He created a process to convert chicken waste into organic fertilizer, a product branded as Biofert. Four years later, the poultry producers, who were supplying the chicken waste for him, bought him out and integrated the organic fertilizer production into their business. Aside from the ethnical issue around the forced sales of his business, I want to point out that Alberto Sanchez had a different mindset about waste. (I got this story from the book, Earth, Inc., by Gergory Unruh, pp.110-111) He saw waste as a resource. He used technology to recycle what others considered waste and a problem, into something useful--something of value for the community. In other words, his approach was not linear but cyclical.

From the same book, Earth, Inc., where I found Sanchez’s story, the author, Gregory Unruh, proposed that industries move away from the linear approach of production to that of a cyclical one. He contrasts the model used by what the industry calls the “value chain,” a term corned by Michael Porter in his 1985 book Competitive Advantage, with a process more akin to nature’s “value cycle.” Environmental scientists colloquially called the value chain a “take-make-waste” system. “The production process takes resources from the environment, makes them into products but also creates waste – including the product itself at the end of its life – and sends all this waste to the landfill.” (Unruh, p. xii)

As we look at our world using this linear process today, consider the following questions:

• Who worked to extract the raw material from the earth?
• Who worked to turn these so-called low-value raw materials into so-called “high-value” products?
• Where did the waste from the production process go?
• Who bought and enjoyed these products?
• Who made the money selling them?
• When these products came to the end of their lives, whose communities became the dumps for these wastes? 

As you consider these questions, I hope you will see the injustice that is often part of this linear value chain practice and why so many local communities are not sustainable.

In contrast, in nature,

“There is no linear value chain extracting resources and spewing out wastes. Within nature’s value cycle, a select number of raw materials are constantly reused –and never lost value. They are literally reincarnated cyclically into new beings. Nature’s material assets are churned over and over in a process of never-ending propagation. And the system never stands still. It is constantly innovating and evolving to become more complex, specialized, and effective.” (Unruh, p. xvi-xvii) 

A sustainist thinks cyclically, emulating nature’s value cycle.  Materials are to be recycled and reused rather than replaced and thrown away.  Waste becomes resource.  That is why sustainists seem to be able to make miracles happen, creating something out of nothing.  Do more with less.  In sustainable communities, people and their gifts are to be re-circulated and re-appreciated, rather than used, replaced and thrown away. 

So, where do we begin to create sustainable communities? How can we transform a world that is still dominated by the linear value chain practice, often resulting in various forms of unsustainable communities? One way to begin is to identify the wastes in your community. What do people throw away? Now, reorient your mindset to think of these wastes as resources. How can your community transform these resources into something valuable and useful for your community? In other words, recycle them.  

Here is one idea to consider especially for organizations (churches, community centers, etc.) that have a thrift shop and people who know how to sew. This idea is even better if you have a fashion designer in your midst.  Instead of operating a thrift shop, why not go further and start a sewing school on site? The school will teach people in the community to design and recreate fashionable garments using the donated clothes as raw material. Those who can afford the tuition can pay; those who don’t can attend for free. The garments can be created for personal use.  They can also be sold, and the proceeds go towards operating the school. How about an annual fashion show? Who knows; this may begin a trend!   (This idea came about in a conversation with Lucky Altman Lynch, who has been creating new garments from resources in her closet of old clothes, and designer Stefan Daniel Bell of Metacouture during the Media and Faith workshop of the Kaleidoscope Summer Institute 2010 in Los Angeles.)

The purpose of this blog is to build a network and generate conversations. I invite readers to comment, network and share concrete ideas on sustainable communities in a networked world.  By the way, this blog got over 700 hits in its first week. Thank you for your support.  Now, I would invite more of you to comment and share your ideas.  In order to comment, you need to have an account with Typepad.  Here is how to do it.

1. Click FOLLOW (next to my picture) 

• This takes you to TypePad.com
• Once here this allows you to either sign-in or register.

2. If you do not have a TypePad account, click REGISTER, where you can sign up with your name and email address. 

• You can also sign up through Facebook which automatically links you. 
• You will now have your own TypePad profile, allowing you to "follow" other blogs. 

3. Last, go back to THE SUSTAINIST and click FOLLOW again.

• This allows the follower to follow all blogs and threaded conversations. 

 I look forward to hearing feedback from you.

 

Eric H. F. Law

Founder and Executive Director

Kaleidoscope Institute

For competent leadership in a diverse changing world

www.kscopeinstitute.org

 

 

Comments

[James YK Moy]

I especially appreciate the ideas (enclosed in a box) you offer at the end of a blog with suggestions on how a discussion can be conducted at one's church. Keep that up! It puts into action everything suggested in Sustaining communities.