Trashing the Planet: Examining Our Global Garbage Glut

Kallen, Stuart A.

ISBN 10: 1512413143 ISBN 13: 9781512413144

Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books ™, 2017

Synopsis

On a global scale, humans create around 2.6 trillion pounds of waste every year. None of this trash is harmless―landfills and dumps leak toxic chemicals into soil and groundwater, while incinerators release toxic gases and particles into the air. What can we do to keep garbage from swallowing up Earth? Reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling are some of the answers. Learn more about the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Ocean Cleanup Array, the zero waste movement, and the many other government, business, research, and youth efforts working to solve our planet's garbage crisis.

About this title

About the Author

Stuart A. Kallen has written more than 350 nonfiction books for children and young adults. His books have covered a wide arc of human history, culture, and science. Kallen is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and guitarist in San Diego, California.

Review

"A taut overview of humans' environmentally shameful impact on the face of the Earth―plus its subsurface and supersurface. From the 'first flush'―that is, when Los Angeles experiences its first cleansing (read: deeply polluting) rain in autumn―to the 'twenty-three thousand pieces of orbital debris larger than 4 inches (10 cm) across' currently being tracked by NASA, Kallen describes in aching detail the abuse we humans have heaped upon our nest. Scattered with sharp, supporting photographs, the text is a litany of malfeasance: landfill issues, incineration issues, chemicals and plastics degrading everything they touch except themselves, planned obsolescence, the petrochemical fiasco, the two-edged sword of recycling―stores offer free e-waste recycling, for instance, the better to lure in consumers to purchase new products. He dots the narrative with boxed items of especial infamy, such as 'Black Monday,' the day in 1943 when downtown Los Angeles smog became a blackout. The one misstep in Kallen's otherwise strong treatment of the topic is that he is, frankly, a downer. The tone is somber, and while there are examples of people taking positive steps, there aren't enough to counter the gathering darkness. We have met the enemy and it is us. But unless humans go extinct and nature goes her healing ways alone, we are the solution, a message grimly driven home."―Kirkus Reviews

(Journal)

"Veteran nonfiction author Kallen's latest is a great primer on the world's trash problem. The 'global garbage glut,' as he calls it, is at almost epic proportions and demands worldwide attention. Garbage and waste have long been problems for humans, but prior to Western industrialization, mostly everything people used or produced was made of organic materials, which would eventually biodegrade. However, the advent of industrialization made products more affordable and thus easier for people to buy in larger quantities. Also, the invention and widespread use of plastics and synthetics that do not biodegrade and often release toxins when they do break down have contributed to the problem. The book is well written, the tone is matter-of-fact and not preachy, and the text is approachable but not simplified. The design is colorful and appealing, with excellent photos, text boxes, and graphics enhancing the presentation. Unfortunately, by the time of publication, some of Kallen's statements regarding the Environmental Protection Agency and its policies will be dated because of changes made by President Trump's administration. VERDICT An excellent resource that's chock-full of facts about human impact on the planet. Hand to students concerned about the environment, and put it on the shelf for research and reports."―School Library Journal

(Journal)

"It is easy to forget about the refuse that people discard once it's in the garbage can, but this book seeks to draw the attention of young readers to an ever-growing problem: the tremendous amount of trash polluting the earth. This puts modern ecological issues in historical context, explaining the impact of the Industrial Revolution on human consumption and the genesis of the environmental movement. Color photographs of some of the most polluted areas drive home the severity of the global garbage problem, while charts, maps, and diagrams support understanding of fundamental STEM concepts. Additionally, the topic lends itself to discussions of global politics and international relations, as well as the economic differences between underdeveloped and developed nations. Soundly researched and carefully sourced, the text speaks to the complexity of the issue, while offering suggestions for action in readers' own backyards. Kallen hits the right balance of informative, cautionary, and alarmist, helping young readers grasp the urgency of the global garbage issue and be inspired to act on it."―Booklist

(Journal)

Edition details

• Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books ™
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1512413143
• ISBN 13: 9781512413144
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 104