Lithium in old batteries. Cobalt in discarded electronics. The rare earths in retired wind turbines. A landmark EU-funded study finds these buried materials could supply over half of what the clean energy economy will need.
It’s all a cost-question. Most of these materials cost more to recover, than to buy new. But that will surely change in the future, and it’s good that we increase focus on it already from the start.
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Being “zero waste” means that we adopt steps towards reducing personal waste and minimizing our environmental impact.
Our community places a major focus on the 5 R’s: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. We practice this by reducing consumption, choosing reusable goods, recycling, composting, and helping each other improve.
We also recognize excess CO₂, other GHG emissions, and general resource usage as waste.
It’s all a cost-question. Most of these materials cost more to recover, than to buy new. But that will surely change in the future, and it’s good that we increase focus on it already from the start.
That’s why I hate capitalism so much as I grow older. Can’t afford being stewards of the environment. Drives me crazy