The Myth of Away

The Myth of Away

We’ve all heard and used the expression “throw it away.” It’s one of those phrases and actions that is learned early and taken for granted. But as we become more aware of the interconnectedness of everything, we might start to ask, “where is away?” 

Landfills

For folks with curbside pickup, “away” might be the curb or the trash truck. In the US, over half of our trash goes to landfill. 

Landfills are often mistaken for giant compost piles, but they are actually tombs, designed to store waste, not to compost it. Because they are anaerobic (oxygen-free), even an apple core or a newspaper can stay mummified for decades. Plastics, metals and other materials will be there indefinitely. Instead of returning to the earth or being recycled, landfill waste slowly turns into leachate, a toxic ‘garbage juice’ that pollutes the soil and water. “Away” becomes the earth, water and air, which cycle back to us and other living beings.

Burning

"Away" can also look like a chimney stack. Incineration facilities use extreme heat to turn solid trash (municipal solid waste, hazardous waste and medical waste) into gas and ash. But matter doesn't disappear; it changes form. This process releases carbon dioxide, heavy metals and dioxins into the atmosphere and into the soil as concentrated ash. We breathe what we once threw "away."

Trash incinerators are often sited in low-income communities and communities of color. This concentrates toxic pollutants in the environments and bodies of those with less political power to shape the discussion about ‘away.’

Export

The global north also outsources waste to other countries. The US ships massive quantities of plastics, textiles and electronics to China, Malaysia, Africa and other places. Electronic wastes contain heavy metals (cadmium, arsenic, mercury and lead). Textile (fast fashion) waste can disrupt local industries and ecosystems. These wastes become a social and health burden to the communities they get dumped in, and the pollutants eventually circle the globe via air and water.

The Web of Life

This post isn’t meant to provoke guilt, but rather to fuel awareness and inspire action. When we realize that 'away' is a myth, we start to see the beautiful, circular reality of our planet. The Earth is a closed system, our shared home where nothing is lost, where matter can only be transformed. This interconnectedness and potential for transformation can feel daunting but it is also a great source of strength. We are all in this together, even those with whom it feels hard to find common ground. 

All life, human and otherwise, depends on fresh air and water, clean food, intact ecosystems and a thriving planet. As noted by Robin Wall Kimmerer, “All flourishing is mutual.” Indigenous wisdom has always recognized that humans are not outside observers of the web of life, we are part of it. What we do to this web, the earth, we do to ourselves. 

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS

Here are some ideas for acting on the understanding that there’s ‘no away’. This list just scratches the surface; may we each find and share more impactful ways to steward life.

• Make the Trash Bin a Last Resort: Before throwing something ‘away,’ consider how you might reuse or repurpose it. If that’s not an option, can you donate it to someone who could? Can it be composted or recycled? 
• Audit the "End Game": Become a conscious gatekeeper. Before buying or creating something, consider what the end game is for the item, its ingredients and packaging. If the packaging or product itself is made to be disposable, look for a regenerative or compostable alternative. 
• Stop “Discarding” People: Just as we try to move trash out of sight, we may sometimes try to shut difficult people out of our awareness. But in a closed system, polarization only creates more toxicity. We’re all in this together, no matter what comes, and we can’t "cancel" our way to a healthier planet. As we focus more on creating the conditions for the world we want to live in, we may spend less energy resenting or stressing about difficult people or conditions.   
• Simplify, and Rethink the Impulse to Buy: Consumer culture thrives on us feeling incomplete without the next purchase, and the next. Take a breath before you buy, and ask “Does this meet a true need, or am I trying to fill a void or get an endorphin boost that I could get in a different way?” 
• Make Sharing and Trade part of your Style: Define style in your own way. Break the cycle of fast fashion and disposable home goods. Define your aesthetic, at least in part, through thrifting, sharing and trading with friends and neighbors.