Does everything we take from earth, return to earth? By Julie Peller Ph.D.

Green Junction

The materials that we require in our lives are sourced from the earth. One example is lithium, an element used extensively in batteries and medications, which was discussed in the last Green Junction column. When nature’s resources are recovered from used products (waste) and reformulated for new products, they are part of a sustainable, circular system of materials. Circular or regenerative systems honor the value of resources as opposed to most of the current linear systems that discard used materials in landfills. Circular systems create circular economies.

The World Economic Forum defines circular economy as “a paradigm shift in how we do business, focusing on minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency.” According to the agency, the world can realize up to $4.5 trillion in savings by 2030 if it adopts a circular economy. Just as significant are the improvements for the earth and its inhabitants in a circular economy. The current linear system relies on unsustainable mining of resources, which destroys ecosystems and degrades natural systems. Land and resources are mismanaged, leaving future generations with substantial problems.

In the state of Indiana, an organization called Circular Indiana works on conversions to sustainable, circular processes. “CIRCULAR INDIANA is focused on education and advocacy to strengthen the circular economy.” I recently had the opportunity to attend their annual conference, which discussed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. These are not familiar programs in Indiana, but have been adopted in other states and other places around the world. EPR policies require that manufacturers take responsibility for the end-of-life management of products.

This takes us back to the lithium-ion batteries (and other batteries). This past June, Nebraska joined other states by implementing the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, a law to ensure the safe collection and recycling of batteries by the producers. To provide a circular system, a component of the law prohibits improper disposal methods like landfilling or incinerating batteries. Circular systems benefit everyone and protect our Common Home. If you live in Indiana, contact your state representatives and ask them to support a similar law in Indiana.

Julie Peller, Ph.D., is an environmental chemist (Professor of Chemistry at Valparaiso University). She has been writing a weekly column called The Green Junction for the past seven years and is helping to move the call of Laudato Si to action forward. Her research interests include advanced oxidation for aqueous solutions, water quality analyses, emerging contaminants, air quality analyses, challenges along the Lake Michigan shoreline (such as Cladophora, water, and sediment contaminants), and student and citizen participation in environmental work.