Why even bother? A lesson from the star thrower

Undeniably, one of the reasons why garbage is so complicated is the sheer enormity of it. The average American generates 4.9 pounds of garbage per person, per day, according to the latest data from the EPA. Landfills account for 14% of methane emissions that trap heat in the atmosphere. Coca-Cola produces 200,000 plastic bottles a minute. 10 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans each year. Over 380 million tons of plastic waste are produced globally each year and production is expected to triple by 2050.  I admit that often I get mired in statistics like these and question why I even bother trying to make a difference. Yet these same statistics are precisely the motivation for my actions. The numbers are too great to ignore, the thought of inaction too dire and unconscionable.

In my moments of doubt, I remind myself of the following story, an adaptation from “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley:

An old man was walking along the beach and saw a young girl reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and tossing them into the ocean. Curious, he approached the young girl and asked what she was doing. The young girl paused, looked up, and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

The old man was somewhat startled and asked, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

To this, the young girl replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

The old man commented, “Do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young girl bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, she met the old man’s eyes and said, “I made a difference to that one.”

What the story doesn’t tell, though, is whether the old man joined the young girl in her efforts, and whether other passers-by joined in as well. That’s the ending I envision. Similarly, as I stand on this metaphorical beach, I hope that you're inspired to learn more, raise awareness, adopt more sustainable habits, and even advocate for change. To that effect, I would love for you to subscribe to this site so you’ll get notified of future posts, and help spread the word by sharing this site with others.

Just as it took a collective effort to reach this garbage crisis, it will take a collective effort to reverse it. We’ll make a difference, one piece of garbage at a time.

With gratitude,

The Garbage Lady

Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash