Stop Thinking Recycling is Sustainable | Michael Cyr | TEDxBuffalo

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TEDx Talks

TEDx Talks

4 жыл бұрын

Waste industry expert, Michael Cyr gives a look into the life cycle of our waste and the best solution to our consumption problem. Michael Cyr is a waste industry expert based in New York City on the front lines of the zero waste movement. In his talk, he explains the incredible journey that our recyclables go through and why this isn't a sustainable solution to our single use plastic addiction. Reduce, reuse, and rethink. He is now an operational consultant and co-founder of Cup Zero - a reusable cup service for events and festivals. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 207
@joanademascarenhas9567
@joanademascarenhas9567 Жыл бұрын
My mom always taught me " Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" and I couldn't agree more
@pri.sci.lla.
@pri.sci.lla. 4 жыл бұрын
It’s reduce, reuse and recycle (in that order) for a reason! It’s great to be conscious of the waste we produce so we can try to minimize it to the best of our abilities.
@michelleassous
@michelleassous 4 жыл бұрын
Priscilla great point!!
@hannahyvictoria
@hannahyvictoria 2 жыл бұрын
"Vote with your dollar." this is such an empowering sentence and I hope people realise just how much of an impact that can make over time.
@joytoyouandme4593
@joytoyouandme4593 4 жыл бұрын
Recycling begins with personal responsibility. Start with bring your own bags to the market, including produce bags. Stop purchasing items that use plastic unnecessarily- such as bags of fruit. Clean and sort your recyclables responsibly. Stop buying all clothing new, shop for reusable goods.
@dParakeet
@dParakeet 4 жыл бұрын
That doesn't prevent plastic products being produced
@sds9781
@sds9781 4 жыл бұрын
Even if you take your own bags to the market a lot of items are already packed in plastic, so you are just transferring the problem to someone else.
@bbygrlpt2
@bbygrlpt2 4 жыл бұрын
SdS Those items are gona be packed in plastic regardless, youre just usin one less plastic bag for them.
@joytoyouandme4593
@joytoyouandme4593 4 жыл бұрын
Temprest - Demand equals supply- If the market lowers their demand the supply will be reduced- They will not continue to manufacture if no one purchases their product.
@joytoyouandme4593
@joytoyouandme4593 4 жыл бұрын
SdS - I can choose to not purchase items packaged in plastic, such as products available in the bulk section by providing my reusable containers (jars). Buying produce not packed in bags- Reducing packaging begins with each one of us, reducing when possible. Slowly the market will reduce their packaging. Look at McDonalds- they no longer package their items in styrofoam boxes. Based on public comments and attitudes. The change has to start somewhere- Such as not purchasing plastic bottles of water for everyday consumption.
@jevasamy
@jevasamy 4 жыл бұрын
We need to conserve our resources and nature
@joannot6706
@joannot6706 4 жыл бұрын
At this point it's so complicated that it's just easier to go zero waste.
@delmendigorin5709
@delmendigorin5709 4 жыл бұрын
Dn I
@angrybeagles4108
@angrybeagles4108 2 жыл бұрын
well society isn't doing that, so maybe at least this starts to help.
@1luckylepine
@1luckylepine 2 жыл бұрын
I agree with you 100%
@mylescolton
@mylescolton 2 жыл бұрын
Impossible now, but possible in the future.
@brucemcmillan1149
@brucemcmillan1149 2 жыл бұрын
sad, but true
@agcocoa
@agcocoa 2 жыл бұрын
I have spent a lot of time in Japan and their recycling waste system always fascinated me. They have SO MUCH packaging!! Even the tiniest items are excessively packaged- it was the first time I saw bananas wrapped in plastic and there are so many people there. They also send quite a bit of waste to be incinerated, so their bin options usually include ‘combustible’ and ‘non-combustible’ as well as recycling. I always wondered where all that rubbish went since they have such little space available.
@BigTruckingDreams
@BigTruckingDreams 4 жыл бұрын
Vote with your dollar, I like that. 👍👍👍
@tommasinibafford7272
@tommasinibafford7272 4 жыл бұрын
That was a very interesting presentation. The South don't understand recycling that much. We need some seminars in the South to address that more.
@michaelcyr5351
@michaelcyr5351 2 жыл бұрын
Happy to come down! Landfill space is cheaper and transport to the coasts to export is more expensive.
@zackpinonet
@zackpinonet 2 жыл бұрын
I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've never thought about how plastic is made. I had no idea so much water was used in the process.
@thetoddfrank
@thetoddfrank 2 жыл бұрын
The stuff he says at 4:28 about the narrative of recycling is so true. I've never thought about what happens beyond that and I've also never thought about the fact that those materials need to be purchased by someone in order for them to be recycled.
@phillipnorris3rd
@phillipnorris3rd 2 жыл бұрын
yes same spot for me...
@Bubbly-Snowflake
@Bubbly-Snowflake 2 жыл бұрын
Well done Michael, the truth is the truth no matter how uncomfortable it is
@janetsplace1953
@janetsplace1953 2 жыл бұрын
thanks for the send!
@barbarapowell776
@barbarapowell776 4 жыл бұрын
Love this opening our eyes, I’m all in
@mirshahbazali2727
@mirshahbazali2727 4 жыл бұрын
Recycling alone isn't enough. Do it with friends.
@ivanljujic4128
@ivanljujic4128 4 жыл бұрын
Lol XD
@thomashurbert
@thomashurbert 2 жыл бұрын
So relevant and so needed.
@ivanljujic4128
@ivanljujic4128 4 жыл бұрын
Crowd seemed difficult at first, but he made them laugh anyway like a champ.
@gemi10togood
@gemi10togood 2 жыл бұрын
difficult subject though
@jackcryner
@jackcryner 2 жыл бұрын
Such an important message!
@arminrau-makingstartupspro7878
@arminrau-makingstartupspro7878 4 жыл бұрын
Michael Cyr is doing such a great job!
@alannamyers
@alannamyers 2 жыл бұрын
I don't think many people can be counted on to even make sure there's no food scraps in their recycling, let alone follow all those procedures so thoroughly.
@julianm8639
@julianm8639 2 жыл бұрын
Agreed. There is little concern from most people about sustainability
@alyhdickinson
@alyhdickinson 2 жыл бұрын
Sharing! I have way too many family members who say "but it can be recycled!" Sharon, that ain't doing anything.
@DrSirmacek
@DrSirmacek 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing this information!
@sorinareina
@sorinareina 2 жыл бұрын
The overall message I'm getting here is that it's going to take a lot more education and the actual DESIRE for people to improve their terrible habits around recycling. Fingers crossed...
@aimemaggie
@aimemaggie 4 жыл бұрын
This is why I try not to buy packaged good anyways. We need to try and reduce how much waste to consume including things that could be recycled
@crappymeal
@crappymeal 4 жыл бұрын
@Right Wing Lutheran Cowgirl most right wing cowgirls have bucket c**ts
@florenciaconde3817
@florenciaconde3817 2 жыл бұрын
In Australia, we recently had the issue with China not taking our recycling hit the news cycle and now we have a huge backlog of waste. Until that came out, I kind of assumed we deconstructed all our recycling here- I did not realise we had so much that we had to palm it off on other countries. It made me completely rethink my purchases in regard to packaging and use of disposable items.
@calvinhostetler
@calvinhostetler 2 жыл бұрын
One of the biggest issues preventing the change is that often the decision is made for us, whether we want the straw or not.... just another issue with our consumer society.
@candyengelhardt
@candyengelhardt 2 жыл бұрын
He is a natural, very fun to listen to and I don't feel lectured, yet I feel purposeful. Now which is this that again?
@michaelcyr5351
@michaelcyr5351 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks :) Purposeful is good!
@avatbadra
@avatbadra 2 жыл бұрын
This is what we need to do everywhere.
@bbygrlpt2
@bbygrlpt2 4 жыл бұрын
I wish I didnt make any waste at all😩 but so far Ive changed all my plastic toiletries to bars and NYC is bannin all olastic bags so I already have reusable ones. Also Im tryin to by produce that are not packed and of course no bottle water or coffe cups.
@evanmosk
@evanmosk 2 жыл бұрын
It's already so sad to think about all the rubbish dumps in the world but to think what we thought was getting reused actually isn't just... makes my heart sink.
@julianm8639
@julianm8639 2 жыл бұрын
The quantity of rubbish is just mind blowing
@geode9512
@geode9512 4 жыл бұрын
individual change won’t decrease plastic pollution, there must be collective change and political will
@foolgazer
@foolgazer 4 жыл бұрын
That's what he means by "vote with your dollar". Without people buying into single use plastics, companies have no business producing so much, resulting in the sheer volume of pollution we have today. It all starts with individual change. How could our personal daily choices not matter?
@Kris_M
@Kris_M 4 жыл бұрын
Collectives are groups of individuals, so yes, collective change does start with individual change.
@bbygrlpt2
@bbygrlpt2 4 жыл бұрын
Correct. Lets start by votin for a President who actually cares about our planets future.
@Iam-ob-liv-ious
@Iam-ob-liv-ious 2 жыл бұрын
went to the dump the other day or what they call "resource recovery" which i wish were true... it was sad to see how quick we throw away things.
@stefanorossi9643
@stefanorossi9643 4 жыл бұрын
Recycling is also very stressful, we always take care to throw the rubbish in the correct dumpster, and when we are at home we always controll if we throw away the rubbish into the appropriate recycle bin. I'm so tired!
@elaineclouston
@elaineclouston 2 жыл бұрын
Some of these lifestyle changes seem so big, but small changes like putting a fork in your bag make a difference and lead to big change.
@undeadmerlinisalivenow
@undeadmerlinisalivenow 2 жыл бұрын
haha yes, simple solutions
@elaineclouston
@elaineclouston 2 жыл бұрын
@@undeadmerlinisalivenow 👍
@CitySky_
@CitySky_ 4 жыл бұрын
Reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse, repurpose. :)
@hollymarston
@hollymarston 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the knowledge Michael!
@silviapalagi
@silviapalagi 2 жыл бұрын
It's crazy to think about plastic production on that kind of scale, where are all these cups and straws being used??
@TheRealLoveChannel
@TheRealLoveChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Brilliant idea!
@shhhadowisme
@shhhadowisme 2 жыл бұрын
I don't know who out there is still thinking recycling is sustainable but they definitely need to be watching this talk.
@caroldendy851
@caroldendy851 2 жыл бұрын
agree with that! thanks for the send.
@meg27mm
@meg27mm 4 жыл бұрын
What a great talk. Loved this. So worried for the state of our planet. Ugh!
@vardajesty
@vardajesty 2 жыл бұрын
Great idea!
@datingforwidowed1972
@datingforwidowed1972 4 жыл бұрын
*After watching this, please KZfaq... Crowe's message on the climate crisis*
@toughtimesneverlast
@toughtimesneverlast 2 жыл бұрын
What a perfect idea, we need more inovators like Michael!
@ozwylde1
@ozwylde1 4 жыл бұрын
Would you care if your Walmart delivery came in a used Amazon box?
@BrianPSpurr
@BrianPSpurr 4 жыл бұрын
Well spoken!
@dpesca
@dpesca 2 жыл бұрын
Such an informative talk, there is so much here I never knew about.
@realminipowers
@realminipowers 2 жыл бұрын
“Waste Addiction”. I needed to sit and let that sink in
@pennyhooker
@pennyhooker 2 жыл бұрын
I very recently discovered that just because something is recyclable doesn't mean ALL of it is, like a plastic bottle is but the bottle cap is not and I definitely have not been following that.
@keylakreations4159
@keylakreations4159 2 жыл бұрын
A food co-op opened near me and I was over the moon! I take all my own containers and refill them and it means my household has halved its waste. Yes, it takes a bit more planning and isn’t always as convenient as just ‘ducking to the shops’, but it has made a big difference and an added bonus is that I am much more mindful in what I eat and prepare.
@glennhamilton3rd
@glennhamilton3rd 2 жыл бұрын
The business I work in, the waste management is really store to store, there is no consistent policy.
@Punkledunk
@Punkledunk 4 жыл бұрын
I think the world as we know it has to be torn up by the roots. Pretty much everything we made to better our lives has a negative effect on our planet and on us as a result. It’s self interest to take care of this planet. We want to live here don’t we? Look at anything around you and think about how it came to be. Think of all the people it takes to make it, to invent the process by which it was made, the people that transport it, the trucks and cars they drive. It’s all self serving but also destructive. Pick up a plastic fork and think about the process of plastic injection moulding. Now think about all the tooling those factory’s need. Now think about how that tooling is made. How is the material for the tooling made/acquired? A few years ago I was made aware of the abysmal waste of energy when it comes to meat and how we consume it (among many others). An animal could eat thousands of pounds of feed before its slaughtered and made into something that’ll feed a few people and largely go to waste! I love meat as much as the other person but Jesus tapdancing Christ that’s absurd. Rant over. Now excuse me while I live in a way that contradicts everything I’ve previously said.
@MdJahangir-oj8mi
@MdJahangir-oj8mi 4 жыл бұрын
Extraordinary lecture, 🇧🇩
@natashafederov
@natashafederov 2 жыл бұрын
I always wash and clean my recycling, and people think I am being fanatical. It is the least I can do when I have paid for the ease of the product.
@just-4-meImworthit
@just-4-meImworthit 2 жыл бұрын
12:05 for the solution and go to! Though changes are, you already know what you need to be doing, you just aren’t doing it
@carlasteadman
@carlasteadman 2 жыл бұрын
Good project!
@slavacroates
@slavacroates 2 жыл бұрын
I’m been washing my recycling since I watched this. I didn’t realise it at the time, but this talk really stuck with me. Came back to rewatch
@justinjjtaylor
@justinjjtaylor 2 жыл бұрын
I've actually heard something like this before, that the only thing to really get recycled is metal because it's the easiest thing to filter out. Didn't want to believe it though.
@matTveshka
@matTveshka 2 жыл бұрын
My local council has compost bins for each house as well as the recycling and normal bins. They also provide us with kitchen compost bins and compostable bags. It has greatly reduced our waste
@camerongdowd
@camerongdowd 2 жыл бұрын
the greed we continue to show, so many unwilling to cut down their consumption because it is inconvenient.
@andrewfarason
@andrewfarason 2 жыл бұрын
They management of our waste needs to be made much more visible so people understand there is a flow on effect. Great message!
@Creative7inc
@Creative7inc 4 жыл бұрын
Definitely not enough but helps cement in an ideology of being at least a little bit conscious of where your waste is going. It still shocks me that in many cities and towns around the world recycling isn't even being thought of due to the slight extra cost in establishing a pickup system for it.
@kokokhan1839
@kokokhan1839 4 жыл бұрын
Well dude that was a really great speech I think its quite enough for opening our eyes.... 😇😇
@cedrickdroui
@cedrickdroui 2 жыл бұрын
Im so glad i listened to the whole thing. Well said.
@lucyiberard1219
@lucyiberard1219 2 жыл бұрын
Hahahaha! Especially now with compostable packaging- I am never sure which bin to put things in!
@lizettesimon478
@lizettesimon478 2 жыл бұрын
Smart man!
@ironmercMike
@ironmercMike 2 жыл бұрын
I'm good, do a lot of this already!
@dianelegerme
@dianelegerme 4 жыл бұрын
Go mike !
@65stang
@65stang 2 жыл бұрын
I had no idea that those bio plastics needed to be handled with heat! In Australia, we put them in the normal bins under the impression that they will decompose there.
@andreshedberg
@andreshedberg 2 жыл бұрын
ouch... how misinformed are we!
@zeldaselsta
@zeldaselsta 2 жыл бұрын
A very smart man with great ideas, ideas we need to save this planet!
@undeadmerlinisalivenow
@undeadmerlinisalivenow 2 жыл бұрын
I get this, smart talk smart idea!
@ermacohen
@ermacohen 2 жыл бұрын
I have started getting anxiety about the bin thing when I am with one friend. She is so finicky and lectures me whenever I make the wrong decision (or even the right decision)
@lesterroberts1628
@lesterroberts1628 Жыл бұрын
education can help with anxiety. My mom gives me trouble about recycling, but she doesn't understand the costs involved in recycling. Choosing which bin to use is a cost. It takes time and energy. We need policy to remove these costs and make it simpler for people to make the right choice. 1 simple solution is to require plastics to be printed with a label that says clearly "Do not Recycle" for materials that are not economically feasible to recycle.
@nubblesleopard9735
@nubblesleopard9735 2 жыл бұрын
Smart smart man, need more like him to save this planet!
@AmandineYlan
@AmandineYlan 4 жыл бұрын
At this point, I've given up on a lot of consumer shopping, simply because of guilt I feel when I buy stuff
@laycienega
@laycienega 2 жыл бұрын
liked. shared. great and smart.
@shastadeed
@shastadeed 2 жыл бұрын
Haha, what bin, how true. Even at home I have 4 bins now and they are always mixed up.
@kinsleyhawker
@kinsleyhawker 2 жыл бұрын
It's hard to stay on top of it!
@zoezanders
@zoezanders 2 жыл бұрын
I can't believe how long it has taken for the narrative to be changed, sometimes I wonder if the lack of education on reusing has purposely been left behind.
@MikeCyr01
@MikeCyr01 2 жыл бұрын
Great stuff, Mike Cyr! - Another Mike Cyr
@saleisalovic
@saleisalovic 2 жыл бұрын
Sharing.
@drikabastijn
@drikabastijn 2 жыл бұрын
Ugh it's such a shame that so many suppliers still DGAF about how they produce and package their goods
@digitalWrite-
@digitalWrite- 4 жыл бұрын
God help us
@stealth89thegreat85
@stealth89thegreat85 4 жыл бұрын
Do i use a metal straw. No i drink out of the cup no straw needed
@ivanljujic4128
@ivanljujic4128 4 жыл бұрын
Indeed. In Italy, some restaurants have not only banned plastic straws, but disposable plastic equipment all together.
@dannyduncduncan
@dannyduncduncan 2 жыл бұрын
Good talk Mike, really good idea too!
@vinniedurrant
@vinniedurrant 4 жыл бұрын
Would be nice if 'Kerbside recycling companies' treated their workforce with a bit more respect.
@retnow4497
@retnow4497 8 ай бұрын
simple, closed plastic manufacture
@MsSunstoned
@MsSunstoned 4 жыл бұрын
I'm disappointed you didn't talk & define the resources that are used in plastic/cardboard from drilling, making, & recycling to final clean up. Thanks for sharing the fact that if we are concerned about the health of our planet we should make a bigger effort to understand. We all have brains for thinking. Humans are lazy.
@joshauwidten
@joshauwidten 2 жыл бұрын
Okay is there a way to get this information more widely spread? Because I know people are willing to put the hard work in, I just don't think they know any of thist stuff!
@julianm8639
@julianm8639 2 жыл бұрын
It feels like this message is one that has been shared for decades, yet we still aren't understanding it.
@nataliyabelova
@nataliyabelova 2 жыл бұрын
The way we access information these days you would think we would have more of a handle on how to be on top of this. School's are doing their best but there has to be a way to educate the working masses.
@gobigorgohome1161
@gobigorgohome1161 2 жыл бұрын
finally watched, thanks
@luisximena
@luisximena 2 жыл бұрын
I have heard the stats before he uses, and each time I am as shocked as I was the 1st time we heard them. Seems little us being done at all to help.
@kaiaomanaia
@kaiaomanaia 2 жыл бұрын
Why don't we know this, why don't we have labels on everything so when we buy we understand what will hap[pend when we are done with them?
@magdaselenski
@magdaselenski 2 жыл бұрын
truth
@bilbobaggins3rd
@bilbobaggins3rd 2 жыл бұрын
Oh my all the stuff about the disposable cups really bummed me out, and the stuff about how they're made was just as bad.
@HarbindBrar
@HarbindBrar 4 жыл бұрын
Shout out to Buffalo, New York!
@gabehileski
@gabehileski 2 жыл бұрын
Oh wow I literally felt my heart sink when he was talking about the plastic cups.
@andrealawitzky
@andrealawitzky 2 жыл бұрын
I can't wrap my head around the fact we've been allowed to get to this point. It makes no sense.
@michaelcyr5351
@michaelcyr5351 2 жыл бұрын
Powerful lobbying and messaging efforts have made us think that everything is ok.
@WeddingDJBusiness
@WeddingDJBusiness 4 жыл бұрын
Excellent talk on recycling. I would add one more thing to aid recycling. Burn the waste and recycle the energy, with modern plants like the ones in Norway the emissions/toxins are also mostly taken care of.
@b0i-oh-bOi
@b0i-oh-bOi 2 жыл бұрын
I like this guy.
@christraczyk-1590
@christraczyk-1590 4 жыл бұрын
We as individuals must take responsibility for our own actions and the consequences of that action. Reduce - reuse and rethink
@alexandragrad5751
@alexandragrad5751 8 ай бұрын
❤❤
@billconconi3996
@billconconi3996 2 жыл бұрын
Like EVERYTHING the key here is to be conscious of what you're consuming.
@verapatrizio
@verapatrizio 2 жыл бұрын
This talk, has an idea, an an idea thats time has come. You MUST watch this...
@michaelcyr5351
@michaelcyr5351 2 жыл бұрын
Agreed, the time is now!
@verapatrizio
@verapatrizio 2 жыл бұрын
@@michaelcyr5351 Thanks Michael 👍
@ayaanthetruth
@ayaanthetruth 2 жыл бұрын
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