Response to “The Compost King of New York”
I agree with the author that the curbside organics-collection program is not as effective as the Department of Sanitation think it to be. Such a program can only run well if people is concerned enough about sustainability and throw the right thing into the right category of trash. But many people ignore the tags on trash bins because they are not conscious, or just lazy. As the author says, the “anonymity of industrial-scale operations” gives people the freedom to do so. Since the recipients of those trash have to filter and categorize again, the curbside program seems to be an excessive move except that it gives New Yorkers a feeling that garbages are controlled and managed nicely by the city administrators. Yet no one can guarantee they all eventually turn into valuable things.
The author also mentioned about the problem of cost in the industrial compost operations. The composition and quantity of scraps affect the smell of compost, so certain ingredients, like plants, are added into the process, to control the smell. Obviously this creates a considerable amount of cost. And the more procedures it takes to produce compost, the more carbon we generate to the earth. Therefore I think a good solution could be to concentrate the compost manufacturers in a few areas so that the smell wouldn’t bother too many residents. Scientists and environmentalists should also devise new technology that is in favor to the production or compost in terms of sustainability. People should make their efforts not merely for profit-making purposes, but also for utilizing and saving the limited resources on our planet.
Lastly, I really like what Vigliotti’s philosophy, “We are not changing human nature but building our plant to suit it”.
