And what with trash?

1995/06/01 Alvarez, Josetxo Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Birziklatzea

One of the most serious environmental problems of today is waste. The waste generated in our production and consumption processes exceeds the capacity of ecosystem renewal. In fact, the generation of waste is a natural task that in previous centuries has been integrated in the zinc of matter, that is, nature has recycled maintaining an ecological balance.

What has happened to overcome the capacity for renewal? First, the population has grown enormously, concentrating most in cities. The other answer to this question may be in increasing consumption and poor awareness of the population about the environment, as more quantity than quality of life is preferred. Finally, the increase in production and the modification of the types of products (the current ones last less, are based on complex chemical processes, have less biodegradability, have containers that are not returned, etc.) have a lot to do with the garbage problem. Therefore, the problem of the waste we have generated is a consequence of the society in which we live, that is, it has to do with the type of production and the way of life. Therefore, the answer to the problem is not only based on technique, it would be a reductionism, the models of development and consumption also have to do.

Although the problem is in the social model and in politics, intermediate solutions must be found to solve it. The waste generated annually in Bizkaia is sufficient to fill San Mamés 6 times, while that of Gipuzkoa would fill Anoeta 2 times. And all this only in the case of household waste, which only account for 7% of them.

The problem of waste is not irreparable, we must look for new ways and carry out different experiences. Solutions should not be based on dealing with the created, since environmental policy should not be applied at the end of the pipe. In our country treatment has not been sought until now, only accumulation has been made. But the time of accumulation is that of the past, since the scarcity of land in the Basque Country, speculation and environmental problems (lisivization, pollution...) have closed this path.

Society is currently discussing the need to burn or recover waste. The solution that the administrations are promoting is demolition. The justification for this macroproject is based on uncontrollable contamination of our economy. That is the philosophy of Zabalgarbi and Zergarbi. The extent of the contamination generated by waste to other areas (dispersion of toxic waste generated to the sky or atmosphere, rivers, etc.) is never a solution to the problem but a transition. Leaving aside the health and bioaccumulation problems, we can put many objections to the data provided by the project promoters.

Some data extracted when performing agile monitoring. From the energy point of view they are much more efficient than the methane heatsinks (20% efficiency) of the Artigas landfill extraction plant in Bizkaia. Recycling the much-needed paper for extraction is five times more energy efficient than smoking, according to Queen University. If we compare it with the garbage treatment experience of the Sasieta Commonwealth of Gipuzkoa, the maintenance of Sasieta, where most of the garbage accumulates and is recycled a little, is twice as expensive. But the main problem can be ethical because it does not go to the root. Given the scarcity of resources on the planet, we must remember the burning of resources through extraction. In short, the demolition project is an immobile project, since it does not comply with what was said in Rio de Janeiro (change of habits, decrease of pollution) and is not economically profitable.

Smoking does not allow a sustainable environmental policy, either from the garbage point of view or from society.

Another option may be rational management. But for this it is necessary to change the consciousness of citizenship and materialize the paradigm shift that entails. The best way is not to do good management, but not to generate garbage. Therefore, the general principle should not be to manage the created, but not to generate garbage. Therefore, you have to work on creating less. This is called greening garbage and consists of creating a less waste and better quality environment, boosting returnable products and punishing the causes of pollution. Producing less should be the first goal of any waste management. Then reuse (multiple), return, recovery and finally recycling by selective collection.

The idea that garbage is valuable has long been accepted, but it has not been fulfilled. The reasons are very expressive: it is not a private business, in our society nature is priceless, it is in weak hands, its performance is social and not individual. Political decisions are needed to change this evolution. They have done so in Estella-Lizarra and recycled 70%, give and spread...