#producenowaste

A common phrase you’ll hear from permaculturalists is that “waste is a design flaw,” which is based on the view that stable, well-functioning systems do not produce waste.

Waste comes in many forms. Essentially, it is any output of any system that is not being used productively by another part of the system (Bill Mollison). The result is pollution and excess. For example, we are producing greenhouse gases at a rate faster than our world can absorb; the result is pollution and excess that is not being used productively by the system. Potential solutions include stopping/slowing the release of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as preserving and creating more ecosystems that can absorb these greenhouse gases and put them into productive use (forests, grasslands, wetlands, etc.). 

The earthworm is also a suitable example of how waste can be seen as an opportunity, for the reason that it lives by consuming plant litter and organic matter. It then converts these “wastes” into humus that improves the soil environment for itself, for other soil micro-organisms, and for plants. Thus, the outputs of one becomes the input for another. 

This principle encourages us to look for ways to minimise pollution and excess, as well as consider wastes as “outputs” that could be put into productive use by other parts of the system.

Activity: 

What are the “outputs” of a city, a yard, or a house? Are these outputs being put to use by another part of the system? Which outputs are being wasted?

How could we change our communities to produce no waste?

- - -

I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.