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Outsmart Waste: The Modern Idea of Garbage and How to Think Our Way Out of It
Ever-expanding landfills, ocean gyres filled with floating plastic mush, endangered wildlife. Our garbage has become a massive and exponentially growing problem in modern society. Eco-entrepreneur Tom Szaky explores why this crisis exists and explains how can we solve it by eliminating the very idea of garbage. To outsmart waste, he says, we first have to understand it, then change how we create it, and finally rethink what we do with it.
By mimicking nature and focusing on the value inherent in our by-products, we can transform the waste we can’t avoid creating from useless trash to a useful resource. Szaky demonstrates that there is value in every kind of garbage, from used chewing gum to juice pouches to cigarette butts. After reading this mind-expanding book, you will never think about garbage the same way again.
By mimicking nature and focusing on the value inherent in our by-products, we can transform the waste we can’t avoid creating from useless trash to a useful resource. Szaky demonstrates that there is value in every kind of garbage, from used chewing gum to juice pouches to cigarette butts. After reading this mind-expanding book, you will never think about garbage the same way again.
168 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2013
12 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Tom Szaky
8 books9 followersTom Szaky is the CEO and founder of TerraCycle, a company that makes consumer products from waste.
Szaky's parents are medical doctors, and Szaky himself is an only child. At age four, Szaky left his home in Hungary after the Chernobyl disaster. In 1987, Szaky immigrated to Canada, where he grew up in Toronto. Szaky attended high school at Upper Canada College. He attended college at Princeton University, majoring in psychology and economics. He dropped out during his sophomore year to focus on TerraCycle.
Early on in his career, Tom started three small 'dot.com' companies. These were Werehome.com, piority.com, and studentmarks.com. In 2006, Tom was named the "#1 CEO under thirty" by Inc. magazine in its July 2006 issue for his work in TerraCycle.
Szaky's parents are medical doctors, and Szaky himself is an only child. At age four, Szaky left his home in Hungary after the Chernobyl disaster. In 1987, Szaky immigrated to Canada, where he grew up in Toronto. Szaky attended high school at Upper Canada College. He attended college at Princeton University, majoring in psychology and economics. He dropped out during his sophomore year to focus on TerraCycle.
Early on in his career, Tom started three small 'dot.com' companies. These were Werehome.com, piority.com, and studentmarks.com. In 2006, Tom was named the "#1 CEO under thirty" by Inc. magazine in its July 2006 issue for his work in TerraCycle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 13, 2018
This is a well written book by the CEO of TerraCycle, Tom Szaky.
This is yet another book on garbage, waste, recycling, repurposing, that I have committed to read, learn and institute in my life. I thought my family and I were doing a fine job,but with each book I read, I recognize something I’m not doing properly. So this makes me understand why many people are too busy or confused to sort their garbage or are uneducated on what exactly is the right thing to do. I thought I was a concerned and committed recycler and waste reducer. Turns out I needed to read this and other books to get myself up to speed.
Did you know you can recycle a rinsed our plastic bottle of glass cleaner? But if you leave the spray top or cap on it, it immediately makes it unrecyclable and the whole thing gets tossed in the landfill. Same with a shampoo bottle. The bottle is a plastic but the cap can be something else entirely or a mixture of products, evennmetal. GUILTY 😐
Our village waste provider does not pick up and recycle used carry out pizza boxes because they are contaminated with food, sauce, cheese, oil. Yet, as I walk my dog through the neighborhood, everyone has their pizza boxes in their recycling bin. So the sanitation folks end up throwing it in with the regular-garbage and off it goes to the landfill. Me? - I’m GUILTY again 😐 I was told to rip off the top cardboard if it was clean and recycle that part as paper but whatever else had food on it should go in the regular trash (it’s eventual home: the landfill). And to tell the pizza joint not to put that little plastic table looking device in the middle of the pizza. (One small step for man, one giant step for mankind).
#5 (PP) polypropylene plastics - such as, our yogurt cups, margarine tubs, plastic cutlery, and many disposable cups. Supposedly curbside recycling of # 5 plastic products is very limited. So what happens to my yogurt cups, margarine tubs, cups that I throw into recycle bin? I thought I was being eco-conscious but instead, once again, I’m GUILTY 😐.
#7 “Other plastic(s)” - it means “we” have no idea what this is. It could be anything from contact lenses to DVDs. Ok, so how does one discard those things that have a #7 mystery designation?????? Someone please enlighten me because I am GUILTY.
I didn’t know there are recycling programs out there somewhere for dirty diapers and cigarette butts! NOT GUILTY 🤗 I don’t smoke and the grandkids are all out of diapers, thank goodness.
I liked that Old Navy was featured in the book for collecting and donating old flip flops to be repurposed into playground equipment for kids.
Interesting reading for sure; the bottom line is we really have to educate ourselves and make a better effort all around by looking more closely at our garbage input/output and our recycling/repurposing capabilities.
This is yet another book on garbage, waste, recycling, repurposing, that I have committed to read, learn and institute in my life. I thought my family and I were doing a fine job,but with each book I read, I recognize something I’m not doing properly. So this makes me understand why many people are too busy or confused to sort their garbage or are uneducated on what exactly is the right thing to do. I thought I was a concerned and committed recycler and waste reducer. Turns out I needed to read this and other books to get myself up to speed.
Did you know you can recycle a rinsed our plastic bottle of glass cleaner? But if you leave the spray top or cap on it, it immediately makes it unrecyclable and the whole thing gets tossed in the landfill. Same with a shampoo bottle. The bottle is a plastic but the cap can be something else entirely or a mixture of products, evennmetal. GUILTY 😐
Our village waste provider does not pick up and recycle used carry out pizza boxes because they are contaminated with food, sauce, cheese, oil. Yet, as I walk my dog through the neighborhood, everyone has their pizza boxes in their recycling bin. So the sanitation folks end up throwing it in with the regular-garbage and off it goes to the landfill. Me? - I’m GUILTY again 😐 I was told to rip off the top cardboard if it was clean and recycle that part as paper but whatever else had food on it should go in the regular trash (it’s eventual home: the landfill). And to tell the pizza joint not to put that little plastic table looking device in the middle of the pizza. (One small step for man, one giant step for mankind).
#5 (PP) polypropylene plastics - such as, our yogurt cups, margarine tubs, plastic cutlery, and many disposable cups. Supposedly curbside recycling of # 5 plastic products is very limited. So what happens to my yogurt cups, margarine tubs, cups that I throw into recycle bin? I thought I was being eco-conscious but instead, once again, I’m GUILTY 😐.
#7 “Other plastic(s)” - it means “we” have no idea what this is. It could be anything from contact lenses to DVDs. Ok, so how does one discard those things that have a #7 mystery designation?????? Someone please enlighten me because I am GUILTY.
I didn’t know there are recycling programs out there somewhere for dirty diapers and cigarette butts! NOT GUILTY 🤗 I don’t smoke and the grandkids are all out of diapers, thank goodness.
I liked that Old Navy was featured in the book for collecting and donating old flip flops to be repurposed into playground equipment for kids.
Interesting reading for sure; the bottom line is we really have to educate ourselves and make a better effort all around by looking more closely at our garbage input/output and our recycling/repurposing capabilities.
October 26, 2015
The stand out idea for me (just because I didn't know all that much about it) was the section on "Planned Breakability".
"Today, more than 150 years after the light bulb was invented, an average modern incandescent bulb lasts 750 hours. So why is there an incandescent light bulb in Livermore, California that has been burning nonstop for 110 years? It's because in 1924 in Geneva, all the light bulb manufacturers got together and created a cartel, at the time called Phoebus, to cut the life of a light bulb. Before 1924 the average bulb lasted about 2,500 hours. Within a decade it was at 1,500 hours and has since declined to today's 750." pg 29.
Whoa. I had no idea that this was even a thing.
There clearly needs to be a shift in how we create and view manufactured products in addition to the "waste" that is produced afterwards. I enjoyed this book for the new information and viewpoint that it provided on consumerism, what constitutes trash, and what we, the reader, can do to slow the growth of landfills.
If you enjoyed Outsmart Waste, I'd recommend Seed Libraries: And Other Means of Keeping Seeds in the Hands of the People by Cindy Conner (excellent book about the importance of seed cultivation, growing your own food, and how to create your own seed sharing co-op) and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (amazing instruction manual on how to downsize your stuff and live with/consume only those things which make you happy).
"Today, more than 150 years after the light bulb was invented, an average modern incandescent bulb lasts 750 hours. So why is there an incandescent light bulb in Livermore, California that has been burning nonstop for 110 years? It's because in 1924 in Geneva, all the light bulb manufacturers got together and created a cartel, at the time called Phoebus, to cut the life of a light bulb. Before 1924 the average bulb lasted about 2,500 hours. Within a decade it was at 1,500 hours and has since declined to today's 750." pg 29.
Whoa. I had no idea that this was even a thing.
There clearly needs to be a shift in how we create and view manufactured products in addition to the "waste" that is produced afterwards. I enjoyed this book for the new information and viewpoint that it provided on consumerism, what constitutes trash, and what we, the reader, can do to slow the growth of landfills.
If you enjoyed Outsmart Waste, I'd recommend Seed Libraries: And Other Means of Keeping Seeds in the Hands of the People by Cindy Conner (excellent book about the importance of seed cultivation, growing your own food, and how to create your own seed sharing co-op) and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (amazing instruction manual on how to downsize your stuff and live with/consume only those things which make you happy).
February 10, 2014
I picked this book up from the library because the title and topic of this book intrigued me. While the enviroment has never been "my cause" I still think it's important to be educated about things and also to do what I can to be a good stewart of the resources I have.
Tom Szaky's Outsmart Waste: The Modern Idea of Garbage and How to Think Our Way Out of It is interesting though slightly disappointing. At the beginning of the book he gives a history and science lesson about waste and how we as a human people created synthetic materials that are not part of the natural harmony of nature. This part was interesting; however, it really did nothing to explain what to do. He then goes on to discuss the ideas of reducing waste, reusing (upcycling) waste, and recycling waste. These are not new concepts and while the history behind the ideas was useful the book seemed to be a waste.
The two useful pieces of information gleaned from the book- his company TerraCycle and another company Recyclebank- could have easily been put onto pamphlets or promoted through social media and would've prevented the eventual waste that a book creates. I found it ironic at best. While I found the book enlightening the book didn't seem necessary.
Tom Szaky's Outsmart Waste: The Modern Idea of Garbage and How to Think Our Way Out of It is interesting though slightly disappointing. At the beginning of the book he gives a history and science lesson about waste and how we as a human people created synthetic materials that are not part of the natural harmony of nature. This part was interesting; however, it really did nothing to explain what to do. He then goes on to discuss the ideas of reducing waste, reusing (upcycling) waste, and recycling waste. These are not new concepts and while the history behind the ideas was useful the book seemed to be a waste.
The two useful pieces of information gleaned from the book- his company TerraCycle and another company Recyclebank- could have easily been put onto pamphlets or promoted through social media and would've prevented the eventual waste that a book creates. I found it ironic at best. While I found the book enlightening the book didn't seem necessary.
April 24, 2014
I received this free from goodreads.
Tom Szaky does an amazing job at making recycling, reusing and reworking garbage attractive. He covers reusing, upcycling and recycling in an informative and non threatening or preaching way. The book gives you tons of facts and an equal amount of solutions to the problem. The book left me motivated to apply these new ideas to my own life. I was left viewing trash as a resource and not a negative thing.
Tom Szaky does an amazing job at making recycling, reusing and reworking garbage attractive. He covers reusing, upcycling and recycling in an informative and non threatening or preaching way. The book gives you tons of facts and an equal amount of solutions to the problem. The book left me motivated to apply these new ideas to my own life. I was left viewing trash as a resource and not a negative thing.
July 19, 2024
In this book the author presents some circular solutions for the growing global trash (plastic and everything else) crisis. In a circular solution, nature’s process is the model: the waste of one organism is the food for another organism. Or one organism’s output is another’s useful input.
One action mentioned that can help: buy thoughtfully. This means the checkout line is your voting booth. Every time you make a purchase, you are punching an economic ballot, voting for more of your purchased item to be made. Buy wisely.
The book presents a needed discussion.
One action mentioned that can help: buy thoughtfully. This means the checkout line is your voting booth. Every time you make a purchase, you are punching an economic ballot, voting for more of your purchased item to be made. Buy wisely.
The book presents a needed discussion.
March 30, 2021
This book is highly practical for anyone looking to tackle climate change within their home or workplace thru garbage. It’s straightforward, not flowery, and basic, which I appreciate for this topic.
The author argues that a complete reframing of how we view garbage as useless is the first step in reducing how much stuff we put into landfills. He clearly explains landfill, incineration, challenges with recycling as we (or at least I) know it.
While he plugs TerraCycle as a service to assist in dealing with our traditional non-recyclables (e.g., dirty diapers, plastic wrappers) it’s not obnoxious but helpful since this is such a big, complex issue. With all quality work in this vein, voting with your dollars (by not spending them in the first place) is the most direct way to tackle our issue of waste, however, the author doesn’t act like that’s a viable solution and provides enough education to exercise other options.
The author argues that a complete reframing of how we view garbage as useless is the first step in reducing how much stuff we put into landfills. He clearly explains landfill, incineration, challenges with recycling as we (or at least I) know it.
While he plugs TerraCycle as a service to assist in dealing with our traditional non-recyclables (e.g., dirty diapers, plastic wrappers) it’s not obnoxious but helpful since this is such a big, complex issue. With all quality work in this vein, voting with your dollars (by not spending them in the first place) is the most direct way to tackle our issue of waste, however, the author doesn’t act like that’s a viable solution and provides enough education to exercise other options.
April 4, 2016
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I'm quite taken with Szaky's company TerraCycle and I love what they are trying to do by innovating recycling. But rather than get people to recycle things like cigarettes, plastic bags, or diapers or even gum and chip bags: why not push for people to reduce and/or stop purchasing those items. Certainly, he does talk about the need to reduce and to play an active role as a consumer in telling people to vote at the cash register. But why not talk about alternatives for those not in the know? Why not recommend using cloth diapers or carrying cloth bags in one's purse or backpack or pocket to use at the market? I think more emphasis in this area would be important for his next book.
March 1, 2019
I took so many notes on this book! It is filled to the brim with useful, practical, and important information on a sorely underestimated topic. The amount of waste we produce in this world is rampant and destroying our home, our health, and our future. Due to rampant, blind consumerism we've managed to plague oceans and acres alike with our garbage. "Outsmart Waste" outlines the problem and offers many solutions that we can all take, even in small ways, to create a less "trashy" world. I found a ton of thoughtful and provoking ideas here.
January 26, 2014
This is a great book. It talks about how to see waste differently. It touches on upcycling. It goes in depth about recycling and waste stream. It goes in depth also about incineration. It told me things I never even knew about waste. I would buy this book if I didn't win it from goodreads first reads free.
October 17, 2019
This is a very important and insightful book that opens the lid into the world of garbage (sorry for bad pun). Szaky gives a full view and sniff into our barbaric systems of waste management. He goes a step further with solutions to our garbage problem. This book really resonated with me and it has already changed my behavior especially concerning composting, recycling and up-cycling.
December 25, 2015
Easy read and good introduction to a lot of ideas.
December 22, 2019
#onedayonebookchallenge ehe
So, here we go
Setelah kemarin pacarku cerewet banget "idih dibiliin kindli tipi dipikii iji inggik"
Terus tadi aku cek ternyata emang minat bacaku menurun dari 2017, yang biasanya aku bisa nyelesaiin minimal 40 buku pertahun 2017-2018 separuhnya, 2019 terjun bebas jadi seperempatnya dengan alasan: sibuk kerja, nggak punya waktu buat baca buku, what a shame. Jadi di akhir 2019 menjelang 2020 ini aku pengen memperbaiki lagi track recordku, mumpung lagi senggang juga, kerjaan nggak sepadat itu.
Setelah dari kemarin "nyoba baca buku tapi selalu gagal nyelesaiin satu judul" akhirnya hari ini aku paksa, dengan ngambil buku yang judulnya random tapi topiknya emang lagi aku nikmati "waste management". Semenjak lihat foto + video gunungan sampah di Bantar Gebang, aku terobsesi banget buat nyelesaiin problem itu, but too bad, buat saat ini aku masih belum selesai dengan diriku sendiri untuk bisa invest ke sana. Jadi aku pengen nyelesaiin semua project-projectku dan mungkin move untuk ngelola sampah setelah ini. Dengan catatan minatku nggak belok kemana-mana.
Well, sejujurnya buku ini nggak membantu banyak mengingat sasaranku adalah pengelolaan limbah/sampah di level industri bukan perorangan atau rumah tangga.
Ngelihat Bantar Gebang aku lihat masalah sampah ini problem yang krusial & mengerikan sekaligus juga oportuniti meskipun aku belum tahu oportunitinya sebesar apa. Bakalan positif atau negatif. Karena kalau baca-baca dari testimonial semuanya bilang mahal. Sayangnya risetku belum sejauh itu.
Kenapa aku pengen ngelola limbah dengan skala industri? Karena mengedukasi orang/individu itu jauh lebih sulit dibanding bikin perusahaan. Aku nggak punya waktu sebanyak SJW. Lagi pula kalau udah ada wadahnya & contohnya nanti yang kecil-kecil ini akan mengikuti, idealnya dalam kepalaku seperti itu, tapi aku nggak tahu realitasnya nanti seperti apa. Cuma buat saat ini biarkan aku bermimpi dulu.
Dalam bayanganku ke depannya, "nyampah" itu mahal apalagi kalau nggak kita sortir atau kelola sendiri. Iuran satu bulan udah bukan 50rb lagi per-KK tapi bisa lebih.
Udah nggak sabar pengen tahu, sampah sebanyak itu kalau disortir & dikelola bisa jadi berapa banyak produk dan seberapa mahal untuk invest ke sini nantinya. Seberapa banyak orang yang mau taruh uangnya di sini karena peduli dengan bumi & lingkungan. Karena aku yakin biaya awal untuk mulai project ini nggak akan murah.
So, here we go
Setelah kemarin pacarku cerewet banget "idih dibiliin kindli tipi dipikii iji inggik"
Terus tadi aku cek ternyata emang minat bacaku menurun dari 2017, yang biasanya aku bisa nyelesaiin minimal 40 buku pertahun 2017-2018 separuhnya, 2019 terjun bebas jadi seperempatnya dengan alasan: sibuk kerja, nggak punya waktu buat baca buku, what a shame. Jadi di akhir 2019 menjelang 2020 ini aku pengen memperbaiki lagi track recordku, mumpung lagi senggang juga, kerjaan nggak sepadat itu.
Setelah dari kemarin "nyoba baca buku tapi selalu gagal nyelesaiin satu judul" akhirnya hari ini aku paksa, dengan ngambil buku yang judulnya random tapi topiknya emang lagi aku nikmati "waste management". Semenjak lihat foto + video gunungan sampah di Bantar Gebang, aku terobsesi banget buat nyelesaiin problem itu, but too bad, buat saat ini aku masih belum selesai dengan diriku sendiri untuk bisa invest ke sana. Jadi aku pengen nyelesaiin semua project-projectku dan mungkin move untuk ngelola sampah setelah ini. Dengan catatan minatku nggak belok kemana-mana.
Well, sejujurnya buku ini nggak membantu banyak mengingat sasaranku adalah pengelolaan limbah/sampah di level industri bukan perorangan atau rumah tangga.
Ngelihat Bantar Gebang aku lihat masalah sampah ini problem yang krusial & mengerikan sekaligus juga oportuniti meskipun aku belum tahu oportunitinya sebesar apa. Bakalan positif atau negatif. Karena kalau baca-baca dari testimonial semuanya bilang mahal. Sayangnya risetku belum sejauh itu.
Kenapa aku pengen ngelola limbah dengan skala industri? Karena mengedukasi orang/individu itu jauh lebih sulit dibanding bikin perusahaan. Aku nggak punya waktu sebanyak SJW. Lagi pula kalau udah ada wadahnya & contohnya nanti yang kecil-kecil ini akan mengikuti, idealnya dalam kepalaku seperti itu, tapi aku nggak tahu realitasnya nanti seperti apa. Cuma buat saat ini biarkan aku bermimpi dulu.
Dalam bayanganku ke depannya, "nyampah" itu mahal apalagi kalau nggak kita sortir atau kelola sendiri. Iuran satu bulan udah bukan 50rb lagi per-KK tapi bisa lebih.
Udah nggak sabar pengen tahu, sampah sebanyak itu kalau disortir & dikelola bisa jadi berapa banyak produk dan seberapa mahal untuk invest ke sini nantinya. Seberapa banyak orang yang mau taruh uangnya di sini karena peduli dengan bumi & lingkungan. Karena aku yakin biaya awal untuk mulai project ini nggak akan murah.
May 24, 2024
Anyone can look around and see the ever-growing problem of how much garbage our society produces. Landfills are constantly growing, trash is often in our parks and on our streets, and the oceans are filled with plastic. All the while businesses are creating products that are not durable all in an effort to increase sales while consumers throw away products and buy more.
Entrepreneur Tom Szaky explores this crisis of garbage and explains how we can eliminate it by ridding ourselves of the acceptance of creating garbage. The book explores many options for dealing with garbage from the most sustainable (not buying new products) to the least sustainable (throwing away items to go to the landfill). The best part of the book is the recognition of many different solutions.
For me, the big take away from this book is the value of various ways of upcycling and recycling. We often think about placing our glass or plastic in recycling bins, but there are more direct ways of upcycling our used products. Furthermore, when we choose to thrift shop we not only save ourselves money, we put money in charities or local businesses, and we eliminate waste.
Entrepreneur Tom Szaky explores this crisis of garbage and explains how we can eliminate it by ridding ourselves of the acceptance of creating garbage. The book explores many options for dealing with garbage from the most sustainable (not buying new products) to the least sustainable (throwing away items to go to the landfill). The best part of the book is the recognition of many different solutions.
For me, the big take away from this book is the value of various ways of upcycling and recycling. We often think about placing our glass or plastic in recycling bins, but there are more direct ways of upcycling our used products. Furthermore, when we choose to thrift shop we not only save ourselves money, we put money in charities or local businesses, and we eliminate waste.
April 12, 2024
Disclaimer: I worked at TerraCycle for 4 years and received a free copy from them. My opinions are my own.
This book does a great job of re-introducing the concept of recycling and challenging your preconceived ideas of what can be recycled. Nearly all materials (including waste like chewing gum!) can be repurposed in some way but it comes down to (not-so)good old economics; supply and demand. It will give you a crash course on responsible consumption and circular economy principles.
If you've ever wondered;
1. What do the numbered triangle symbols mean?
2. Why does material recycling vary from place to place?
3. What can I do with stuff I can't recycle locally?
... You'll learn something new!
At under 150 pages, it's a quick read. You won't feel overwhelmed and weighed down by technical language. If you're in the circular economy space or are already quite familiar with recycling, I would recommend going straight to 'The Future of Packaging' by Tom instead.
This book does a great job of re-introducing the concept of recycling and challenging your preconceived ideas of what can be recycled. Nearly all materials (including waste like chewing gum!) can be repurposed in some way but it comes down to (not-so)good old economics; supply and demand. It will give you a crash course on responsible consumption and circular economy principles.
If you've ever wondered;
1. What do the numbered triangle symbols mean?
2. Why does material recycling vary from place to place?
3. What can I do with stuff I can't recycle locally?
... You'll learn something new!
At under 150 pages, it's a quick read. You won't feel overwhelmed and weighed down by technical language. If you're in the circular economy space or are already quite familiar with recycling, I would recommend going straight to 'The Future of Packaging' by Tom instead.
May 15, 2022
The subtitle here should read 'buy' our way out of it. Most of what he says I agree with, although it's largely the same info as Make Garbage Great which also has fun pictures and DIY projects. But every once in a while he pulls out a doozy like "the great thing about capitalism is it is in service of our needs and wants, not the other way round." Way underselling the pressures, demands and exploitation of modern society, my guy. Just buying durable goods is a lot harder if you live in a place that doesn't sell them, can't afford them anyway and don't have the time and energy to maintain them because you're working 40 hours a week to live below the poverty line.
March 3, 2018
An informative read on how our waste is currently handled, the big gaping holes in the system and the roles we play to facilitate the economics of this industry. This should be taught in all schools! If you’ve read the Konmari Method and Zero Waste Home this book is a useful tool to supplement your journey.
October 6, 2018
For me EVERYONE on this planet should read this book, actually it should be a mandatory on school reading. This is an amazing book if you are starting to get interested in having a more sustainable way of living. You are gonna be surprised with where your garbage ends up and everything that we are doing that is wrong.
March 21, 2019
Such an eye opening book! I knew that recycling can vary by state, but did not know how largely ineffective and incomplete a process it can be. It can be one tool in the box to solve our world's environmental problems, but I love how this book also calls attention to a compendium of ways to make a healthy planet a reality!
August 8, 2019
As someone who has become more environmentally conscious, I think this is a great introductory book. It’s easy to read, informative and overall a step in the right direction in educating ourselves about the waste we produce and the simple ways we, as individuals, can contribute to clean up our planet.
March 29, 2019
Want to find solutions for the waste in your life? This is a great book to help you rethink waste. Great read, informative, and inspired me to think differently about waste and reduce waste in general.
June 15, 2019
Thinking about waste is a big thing. If you've been reading zero waste and other environmental works, there isn't much new here but it is still a title to read. I got excited at upcycling and I am inspired to, one again, try to reduce my garbage somehow.
May 17, 2018
A bit dry, but very informative
January 1, 2019
Delivers what it promises. Short and to the point, which I always appreciate.
February 13, 2019
It has good information but it seems like the author copied the story of stuff
May 13, 2019
A great little quick read.
July 10, 2019
A good book on a topic we as a society need to discuss more, but ultimately quite repetitive. Still, the points are worth repeating, so read it for the wisdom.
January 25, 2020
Highly recommend this !! I already knew a fair bit and doing much of it, but I did learn so much more. And most importantly to look at waste as a value and not as garbage.
April 12, 2014
I started reading Outsmart Waste expecting it to be a recycling guide similar to other books of that type but it turned out to be much more than that. While it does focus on reusing, reducing, recycling, and upcycling it really goes in depth about garbage and what we can (and need to) do about it. It offers solutions about common and not-so-common garbage areas, current problems and solutions regarding garbage at not only the individual level but also societal and industrial levels, different types of plastic, information about laws and programs in various countries and how those do (or don't) do much to help the world's waste problem.
It covers a lot of ground on a lot of garbage topics and I recommend it to anyone who tries to be "green", even if you consider yourself a green veteran. There's bound to be bits of info sprinkled throughout the book that you didn't know about. It'd be a good read for adults and teenagers. It will make you think differently about garbage; not just what to do about it, but what it really is.
I received my copy through GoodReads First Reads but that didn't affect my review of the book.
It covers a lot of ground on a lot of garbage topics and I recommend it to anyone who tries to be "green", even if you consider yourself a green veteran. There's bound to be bits of info sprinkled throughout the book that you didn't know about. It'd be a good read for adults and teenagers. It will make you think differently about garbage; not just what to do about it, but what it really is.
I received my copy through GoodReads First Reads but that didn't affect my review of the book.
June 9, 2014
A quick and easy primer on the modern day disaster that is the waste industry--and what we, as consumers, can do about it. Although Szaky's message can veer a bit extremist at times, and he makes the most of every opportunity to mention his company's name, the information and solutions offered here are relevant, realistic, and accessible. I found myself jotting down quick notes on things I can actually do today to make a small impact. I also really appreciate the accessibility of this book--Szaky is Princeton educated and could have written a long, intellectual tome, but instead this is an easily readable manual-like book.
Skip this if you're looking for an in-depth analysis of waste management or you have an aversion to a hippie-mentality.
Read this if you want to quickly understand how waste works today in the US and what your role might be in making it more efficient.
Skip this if you're looking for an in-depth analysis of waste management or you have an aversion to a hippie-mentality.
Read this if you want to quickly understand how waste works today in the US and what your role might be in making it more efficient.
July 26, 2014
When approached by anyone interested in but poorly educated in the realm of recycling this novel can be seen as an excellent source but to anyone reasonably environmentally conscious this is not ground breaking. Some of the ideas presented seem well thought out if a little poorly flittered. There seems an air of disapproval toward the production and use of materials seen as 'less than natural'. Advancement requires creation. Mankind is part of nature, everything we produce is constructed of natural components, yet they cease being natural for some unknown reason?
A lot of ideas lensed through the belief that man is separate from nature...
A lot of ideas lensed through the belief that man is separate from nature...
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