Material Realities

For thousands of years humans have experimented with various methods of waste disposal;From burning, to burying, to simply packing up and moving in search of an unscathed environment.The present global population expansion and the related increase in resourceconsumption poses a major threat to the future of our environment. According to the UnitedStates Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans produced 254 million tons oftrash in 2013. Approximately 87 million tons of this waste was recycled or composted.01 Theremaining 167 million tons of refuse ended up in America’s 3,09102 active landfills where thewaste continues to pollute our environment today.

Volume Editors
Julie Larsen & Roger Hubeli