Chapter 16

Find three products that you regularly use that could be made using cradle-to- cradle design and manufacturing (Core Case Study). For each of these products, sketch out a rough plan for how you would design and build it so that its parts could be reused many times or recycled in such a way that they would not harm the environment.

Do you think that manufacturers of computers, television sets, cell phones, and other electronic products should be required to take their products back at the end of their useful lives for repair, remanufacture, or recycling in a manner that is environmentally responsible and that does not threaten the health of recycling workers? Explain. Would you be willing to pay more for these products to cover the costs of such a takeback program? If so, what percentage more per purchase would you be willing to pay for these products?

Think of three items that you regularly use once and then throw away. Are there reusable items that you could use in place of these disposable items?

Do you think that you could consume less by refusing to buy some of the things you regularly buy? If so, what are three of those things? Do you think that this is something you ought to do? Explain.

A company called Changing World Technologies has built a pilot plant to test a process it has developed for converting a mixture of discarded computers, old tires, turkey bones and feathers, and other wastes into oil by mimicking and speeding up natural processes for converting biomass into oil. Explain how this recycling process, if successful, could lead to increased waste production.

Would you oppose having (a) a sanitary landfill, (b) a hazardous waste surface impoundment, (c) a hazardous waste deep-injection well, or (d) a solid waste incinerator in your community? For each of these facilities, explain your answer. If you oppose having such facilities in your community, how do you think the solid and hazardous wastes generated in your community should be managed?