Stop Thinking Recycling is Sustainable | Michael Cyr | TEDxBuffalo

Waste industry expert, Michael Cyr gives a look into the life cycle of our waste and the best solution to our consumption problem. Michael Cyr is a waste industry expert based in New York City on the front lines of the zero waste movement. In his talk, he explains the incredible journey that our recyclables go through and why this isn't a sustainable solution to our single use plastic addiction. Reduce, reuse, and rethink. He is now an operational consultant and co-founder of Cup Zero - a reusable cup service for events and festivals. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 207

  • @joanademascarenhas9567
    @joanademascarenhas9567 Жыл бұрын

    My mom always taught me " Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" and I couldn't agree more

  • @pri.sci.lla.
    @pri.sci.lla.4 жыл бұрын

    It’s reduce, reuse and recycle (in that order) for a reason! It’s great to be conscious of the waste we produce so we can try to minimize it to the best of our abilities.

  • @michelleassous

    @michelleassous

    4 жыл бұрын

    Priscilla great point!!

  • @hannahyvictoria
    @hannahyvictoria2 жыл бұрын

    "Vote with your dollar." this is such an empowering sentence and I hope people realise just how much of an impact that can make over time.

  • @joytoyouandme4593
    @joytoyouandme45934 жыл бұрын

    Recycling begins with personal responsibility. Start with bring your own bags to the market, including produce bags. Stop purchasing items that use plastic unnecessarily- such as bags of fruit. Clean and sort your recyclables responsibly. Stop buying all clothing new, shop for reusable goods.

  • @dParakeet

    @dParakeet

    4 жыл бұрын

    That doesn't prevent plastic products being produced

  • @sds9781

    @sds9781

    4 жыл бұрын

    Even if you take your own bags to the market a lot of items are already packed in plastic, so you are just transferring the problem to someone else.

  • @bbygrlpt2

    @bbygrlpt2

    4 жыл бұрын

    SdS Those items are gona be packed in plastic regardless, youre just usin one less plastic bag for them.

  • @joytoyouandme4593

    @joytoyouandme4593

    4 жыл бұрын

    Temprest - Demand equals supply- If the market lowers their demand the supply will be reduced- They will not continue to manufacture if no one purchases their product.

  • @joytoyouandme4593

    @joytoyouandme4593

    4 жыл бұрын

    SdS - I can choose to not purchase items packaged in plastic, such as products available in the bulk section by providing my reusable containers (jars). Buying produce not packed in bags- Reducing packaging begins with each one of us, reducing when possible. Slowly the market will reduce their packaging. Look at McDonalds- they no longer package their items in styrofoam boxes. Based on public comments and attitudes. The change has to start somewhere- Such as not purchasing plastic bottles of water for everyday consumption.

  • @joannot6706
    @joannot67064 жыл бұрын

    At this point it's so complicated that it's just easier to go zero waste.

  • @delmendigorin5709

    @delmendigorin5709

    4 жыл бұрын

    Dn I

  • @angrybeagles4108

    @angrybeagles4108

    2 жыл бұрын

    well society isn't doing that, so maybe at least this starts to help.

  • @1luckylepine

    @1luckylepine

    2 жыл бұрын

    I agree with you 100%

  • @mylescolton

    @mylescolton

    2 жыл бұрын

    Impossible now, but possible in the future.

  • @brucemcmillan1149

    @brucemcmillan1149

    2 жыл бұрын

    sad, but true

  • @jevasamy
    @jevasamy4 жыл бұрын

    We need to conserve our resources and nature

  • @BigTruckingDreams
    @BigTruckingDreams4 жыл бұрын

    Vote with your dollar, I like that. 👍👍👍

  • @agcocoa
    @agcocoa2 жыл бұрын

    I have spent a lot of time in Japan and their recycling waste system always fascinated me. They have SO MUCH packaging!! Even the tiniest items are excessively packaged- it was the first time I saw bananas wrapped in plastic and there are so many people there. They also send quite a bit of waste to be incinerated, so their bin options usually include ‘combustible’ and ‘non-combustible’ as well as recycling. I always wondered where all that rubbish went since they have such little space available.

  • @tommasinibafford7272
    @tommasinibafford72724 жыл бұрын

    That was a very interesting presentation. The South don't understand recycling that much. We need some seminars in the South to address that more.

  • @michaelcyr5351

    @michaelcyr5351

    2 жыл бұрын

    Happy to come down! Landfill space is cheaper and transport to the coasts to export is more expensive.

  • @mirshahbazali2727
    @mirshahbazali27274 жыл бұрын

    Recycling alone isn't enough. Do it with friends.

  • @ivanljujic4128

    @ivanljujic4128

    4 жыл бұрын

    Lol XD

  • @ivanljujic4128
    @ivanljujic41284 жыл бұрын

    Crowd seemed difficult at first, but he made them laugh anyway like a champ.

  • @gemi10togood

    @gemi10togood

    2 жыл бұрын

    difficult subject though

  • @jackcryner
    @jackcryner2 жыл бұрын

    Such an important message!

  • @thomashurbert
    @thomashurbert2 жыл бұрын

    So relevant and so needed.

  • @zackpinonet
    @zackpinonet2 жыл бұрын

    I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've never thought about how plastic is made. I had no idea so much water was used in the process.

  • @thetoddfrank
    @thetoddfrank2 жыл бұрын

    The stuff he says at 4:28 about the narrative of recycling is so true. I've never thought about what happens beyond that and I've also never thought about the fact that those materials need to be purchased by someone in order for them to be recycled.

  • @phillipnorris3rd

    @phillipnorris3rd

    2 жыл бұрын

    yes same spot for me...

  • @barbarapowell776
    @barbarapowell7764 жыл бұрын

    Love this opening our eyes, I’m all in

  • @arminrau-makingstartupspro7878
    @arminrau-makingstartupspro78784 жыл бұрын

    Michael Cyr is doing such a great job!

  • @DrSirmacek
    @DrSirmacek4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing this information!

  • @TheRealLoveChannel
    @TheRealLoveChannel2 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant idea!

  • @alyhdickinson
    @alyhdickinson2 жыл бұрын

    Sharing! I have way too many family members who say "but it can be recycled!" Sharon, that ain't doing anything.

  • @Bubbly-Snowflake
    @Bubbly-Snowflake2 жыл бұрын

    Well done Michael, the truth is the truth no matter how uncomfortable it is

  • @janetsplace1953

    @janetsplace1953

    2 жыл бұрын

    thanks for the send!

  • @alannamyers
    @alannamyers2 жыл бұрын

    I don't think many people can be counted on to even make sure there's no food scraps in their recycling, let alone follow all those procedures so thoroughly.

  • @julianm8639

    @julianm8639

    2 жыл бұрын

    Agreed. There is little concern from most people about sustainability

  • @avatbadra
    @avatbadra2 жыл бұрын

    This is what we need to do everywhere.

  • @evanmosk
    @evanmosk2 жыл бұрын

    It's already so sad to think about all the rubbish dumps in the world but to think what we thought was getting reused actually isn't just... makes my heart sink.

  • @julianm8639

    @julianm8639

    2 жыл бұрын

    The quantity of rubbish is just mind blowing

  • @vardajesty
    @vardajesty2 жыл бұрын

    Great idea!

  • @CitySky_
    @CitySky_4 жыл бұрын

    Reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse, repurpose. :)

  • @calvinhostetler
    @calvinhostetler2 жыл бұрын

    One of the biggest issues preventing the change is that often the decision is made for us, whether we want the straw or not.... just another issue with our consumer society.

  • @sorinareina
    @sorinareina2 жыл бұрын

    The overall message I'm getting here is that it's going to take a lot more education and the actual DESIRE for people to improve their terrible habits around recycling. Fingers crossed...

  • @carlasteadman
    @carlasteadman2 жыл бұрын

    Good project!

  • @aimemaggie
    @aimemaggie4 жыл бұрын

    This is why I try not to buy packaged good anyways. We need to try and reduce how much waste to consume including things that could be recycled

  • @crappymeal

    @crappymeal

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Right Wing Lutheran Cowgirl most right wing cowgirls have bucket c**ts

  • @ozwylde1
    @ozwylde14 жыл бұрын

    Would you care if your Walmart delivery came in a used Amazon box?

  • @stefanorossi9643
    @stefanorossi96434 жыл бұрын

    Recycling is also very stressful, we always take care to throw the rubbish in the correct dumpster, and when we are at home we always controll if we throw away the rubbish into the appropriate recycle bin. I'm so tired!

  • @lizettesimon478
    @lizettesimon4782 жыл бұрын

    Smart man!

  • @bbygrlpt2
    @bbygrlpt24 жыл бұрын

    I wish I didnt make any waste at all😩 but so far Ive changed all my plastic toiletries to bars and NYC is bannin all olastic bags so I already have reusable ones. Also Im tryin to by produce that are not packed and of course no bottle water or coffe cups.

  • @datingforwidowed1972
    @datingforwidowed19724 жыл бұрын

    *After watching this, please KZread... Crowe's message on the climate crisis*

  • @geode9512
    @geode95124 жыл бұрын

    individual change won’t decrease plastic pollution, there must be collective change and political will

  • @foolgazer

    @foolgazer

    4 жыл бұрын

    That's what he means by "vote with your dollar". Without people buying into single use plastics, companies have no business producing so much, resulting in the sheer volume of pollution we have today. It all starts with individual change. How could our personal daily choices not matter?

  • @Kris_M

    @Kris_M

    4 жыл бұрын

    Collectives are groups of individuals, so yes, collective change does start with individual change.

  • @bbygrlpt2

    @bbygrlpt2

    4 жыл бұрын

    Correct. Lets start by votin for a President who actually cares about our planets future.

  • @just-4-meImworthit
    @just-4-meImworthit2 жыл бұрын

    12:05 for the solution and go to! Though changes are, you already know what you need to be doing, you just aren’t doing it

  • @dianelegerme
    @dianelegerme4 жыл бұрын

    Go mike !

  • @ironmercMike
    @ironmercMike2 жыл бұрын

    I'm good, do a lot of this already!

  • @candyengelhardt
    @candyengelhardt2 жыл бұрын

    He is a natural, very fun to listen to and I don't feel lectured, yet I feel purposeful. Now which is this that again?

  • @michaelcyr5351

    @michaelcyr5351

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks :) Purposeful is good!

  • @BrianPSpurr
    @BrianPSpurr4 жыл бұрын

    Well spoken!

  • @silviapalagi
    @silviapalagi2 жыл бұрын

    It's crazy to think about plastic production on that kind of scale, where are all these cups and straws being used??

  • @realminipowers
    @realminipowers2 жыл бұрын

    “Waste Addiction”. I needed to sit and let that sink in

  • @Iam-ob-liv-ious
    @Iam-ob-liv-ious2 жыл бұрын

    went to the dump the other day or what they call "resource recovery" which i wish were true... it was sad to see how quick we throw away things.

  • @undeadmerlinisalivenow
    @undeadmerlinisalivenow2 жыл бұрын

    I get this, smart talk smart idea!

  • @meg27mm
    @meg27mm4 жыл бұрын

    What a great talk. Loved this. So worried for the state of our planet. Ugh!

  • @laycienega
    @laycienega2 жыл бұрын

    liked. shared. great and smart.

  • @glennhamilton3rd
    @glennhamilton3rd2 жыл бұрын

    The business I work in, the waste management is really store to store, there is no consistent policy.

  • @MdJahangir-oj8mi
    @MdJahangir-oj8mi4 жыл бұрын

    Extraordinary lecture, 🇧🇩

  • @elaineclouston
    @elaineclouston2 жыл бұрын

    Some of these lifestyle changes seem so big, but small changes like putting a fork in your bag make a difference and lead to big change.

  • @undeadmerlinisalivenow

    @undeadmerlinisalivenow

    2 жыл бұрын

    haha yes, simple solutions

  • @elaineclouston

    @elaineclouston

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@undeadmerlinisalivenow 👍

  • @dpesca
    @dpesca2 жыл бұрын

    Such an informative talk, there is so much here I never knew about.

  • @toughtimesneverlast
    @toughtimesneverlast2 жыл бұрын

    What a perfect idea, we need more inovators like Michael!

  • @lucyiberard1219
    @lucyiberard12192 жыл бұрын

    Hahahaha! Especially now with compostable packaging- I am never sure which bin to put things in!

  • @saleisalovic
    @saleisalovic2 жыл бұрын

    Sharing.

  • @digitalWrite-
    @digitalWrite-4 жыл бұрын

    God help us

  • @kokokhan1839
    @kokokhan18394 жыл бұрын

    Well dude that was a really great speech I think its quite enough for opening our eyes.... 😇😇

  • @florenciaconde3817
    @florenciaconde38172 жыл бұрын

    In Australia, we recently had the issue with China not taking our recycling hit the news cycle and now we have a huge backlog of waste. Until that came out, I kind of assumed we deconstructed all our recycling here- I did not realise we had so much that we had to palm it off on other countries. It made me completely rethink my purchases in regard to packaging and use of disposable items.

  • @cedrickdroui
    @cedrickdroui2 жыл бұрын

    Im so glad i listened to the whole thing. Well said.

  • @hollymarston
    @hollymarston2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the knowledge Michael!

  • @retnow4497
    @retnow44978 ай бұрын

    simple, closed plastic manufacture

  • @natashafederov
    @natashafederov2 жыл бұрын

    I always wash and clean my recycling, and people think I am being fanatical. It is the least I can do when I have paid for the ease of the product.

  • @magdaselenski
    @magdaselenski2 жыл бұрын

    truth

  • @shastadeed
    @shastadeed2 жыл бұрын

    Haha, what bin, how true. Even at home I have 4 bins now and they are always mixed up.

  • @kinsleyhawker

    @kinsleyhawker

    2 жыл бұрын

    It's hard to stay on top of it!

  • @justinjjtaylor
    @justinjjtaylor2 жыл бұрын

    I've actually heard something like this before, that the only thing to really get recycled is metal because it's the easiest thing to filter out. Didn't want to believe it though.

  • @65stang
    @65stang2 жыл бұрын

    I had no idea that those bio plastics needed to be handled with heat! In Australia, we put them in the normal bins under the impression that they will decompose there.

  • @andreshedberg

    @andreshedberg

    2 жыл бұрын

    ouch... how misinformed are we!

  • @camerongdowd
    @camerongdowd2 жыл бұрын

    the greed we continue to show, so many unwilling to cut down their consumption because it is inconvenient.

  • @slavacroates
    @slavacroates2 жыл бұрын

    I’m been washing my recycling since I watched this. I didn’t realise it at the time, but this talk really stuck with me. Came back to rewatch

  • @andrewfarason
    @andrewfarason2 жыл бұрын

    They management of our waste needs to be made much more visible so people understand there is a flow on effect. Great message!

  • @matTveshka
    @matTveshka2 жыл бұрын

    My local council has compost bins for each house as well as the recycling and normal bins. They also provide us with kitchen compost bins and compostable bags. It has greatly reduced our waste

  • @nubblesleopard9735
    @nubblesleopard97352 жыл бұрын

    Smart smart man, need more like him to save this planet!

  • @pennyhooker
    @pennyhooker2 жыл бұрын

    I very recently discovered that just because something is recyclable doesn't mean ALL of it is, like a plastic bottle is but the bottle cap is not and I definitely have not been following that.

  • @keylakreations4159
    @keylakreations41592 жыл бұрын

    A food co-op opened near me and I was over the moon! I take all my own containers and refill them and it means my household has halved its waste. Yes, it takes a bit more planning and isn’t always as convenient as just ‘ducking to the shops’, but it has made a big difference and an added bonus is that I am much more mindful in what I eat and prepare.

  • @zeldaselsta
    @zeldaselsta2 жыл бұрын

    A very smart man with great ideas, ideas we need to save this planet!

  • @zoezanders
    @zoezanders2 жыл бұрын

    I can't believe how long it has taken for the narrative to be changed, sometimes I wonder if the lack of education on reusing has purposely been left behind.

  • @dannyduncduncan
    @dannyduncduncan2 жыл бұрын

    Good talk Mike, really good idea too!

  • @AmandineYlan
    @AmandineYlan4 жыл бұрын

    At this point, I've given up on a lot of consumer shopping, simply because of guilt I feel when I buy stuff

  • @alexandragrad5751
    @alexandragrad57517 ай бұрын

    ❤❤

  • @ermacohen
    @ermacohen2 жыл бұрын

    I have started getting anxiety about the bin thing when I am with one friend. She is so finicky and lectures me whenever I make the wrong decision (or even the right decision)

  • @lesterroberts1628

    @lesterroberts1628

    Жыл бұрын

    education can help with anxiety. My mom gives me trouble about recycling, but she doesn't understand the costs involved in recycling. Choosing which bin to use is a cost. It takes time and energy. We need policy to remove these costs and make it simpler for people to make the right choice. 1 simple solution is to require plastics to be printed with a label that says clearly "Do not Recycle" for materials that are not economically feasible to recycle.

  • @luisximena
    @luisximena2 жыл бұрын

    I have heard the stats before he uses, and each time I am as shocked as I was the 1st time we heard them. Seems little us being done at all to help.

  • @Punkledunk
    @Punkledunk4 жыл бұрын

    I think the world as we know it has to be torn up by the roots. Pretty much everything we made to better our lives has a negative effect on our planet and on us as a result. It’s self interest to take care of this planet. We want to live here don’t we? Look at anything around you and think about how it came to be. Think of all the people it takes to make it, to invent the process by which it was made, the people that transport it, the trucks and cars they drive. It’s all self serving but also destructive. Pick up a plastic fork and think about the process of plastic injection moulding. Now think about all the tooling those factory’s need. Now think about how that tooling is made. How is the material for the tooling made/acquired? A few years ago I was made aware of the abysmal waste of energy when it comes to meat and how we consume it (among many others). An animal could eat thousands of pounds of feed before its slaughtered and made into something that’ll feed a few people and largely go to waste! I love meat as much as the other person but Jesus tapdancing Christ that’s absurd. Rant over. Now excuse me while I live in a way that contradicts everything I’ve previously said.

  • @HarbindBrar
    @HarbindBrar4 жыл бұрын

    Shout out to Buffalo, New York!

  • @vinniedurrant
    @vinniedurrant4 жыл бұрын

    Would be nice if 'Kerbside recycling companies' treated their workforce with a bit more respect.

  • @shhhadowisme
    @shhhadowisme2 жыл бұрын

    I don't know who out there is still thinking recycling is sustainable but they definitely need to be watching this talk.

  • @caroldendy851

    @caroldendy851

    2 жыл бұрын

    agree with that! thanks for the send.

  • @bilbobaggins3rd
    @bilbobaggins3rd2 жыл бұрын

    Oh my all the stuff about the disposable cups really bummed me out, and the stuff about how they're made was just as bad.

  • @Creative7inc
    @Creative7inc4 жыл бұрын

    Definitely not enough but helps cement in an ideology of being at least a little bit conscious of where your waste is going. It still shocks me that in many cities and towns around the world recycling isn't even being thought of due to the slight extra cost in establishing a pickup system for it.

  • @drikabastijn
    @drikabastijn2 жыл бұрын

    Ugh it's such a shame that so many suppliers still DGAF about how they produce and package their goods

  • @joshauwidten
    @joshauwidten2 жыл бұрын

    Okay is there a way to get this information more widely spread? Because I know people are willing to put the hard work in, I just don't think they know any of thist stuff!

  • @julianm8639

    @julianm8639

    2 жыл бұрын

    It feels like this message is one that has been shared for decades, yet we still aren't understanding it.

  • @kaiaomanaia
    @kaiaomanaia2 жыл бұрын

    Why don't we know this, why don't we have labels on everything so when we buy we understand what will hap[pend when we are done with them?

  • @stealth89thegreat85
    @stealth89thegreat854 жыл бұрын

    Do i use a metal straw. No i drink out of the cup no straw needed

  • @ivanljujic4128

    @ivanljujic4128

    4 жыл бұрын

    Indeed. In Italy, some restaurants have not only banned plastic straws, but disposable plastic equipment all together.

  • @MikeCyr01
    @MikeCyr012 жыл бұрын

    Great stuff, Mike Cyr! - Another Mike Cyr

  • @b0i-oh-bOi
    @b0i-oh-bOi2 жыл бұрын

    I like this guy.

  • @WeddingDJBusiness
    @WeddingDJBusiness4 жыл бұрын

    Excellent talk on recycling. I would add one more thing to aid recycling. Burn the waste and recycle the energy, with modern plants like the ones in Norway the emissions/toxins are also mostly taken care of.

  • @nataliyabelova
    @nataliyabelova2 жыл бұрын

    The way we access information these days you would think we would have more of a handle on how to be on top of this. School's are doing their best but there has to be a way to educate the working masses.

  • @gobigorgohome1161

    @gobigorgohome1161

    2 жыл бұрын

    finally watched, thanks

  • @ayaanthetruth
    @ayaanthetruth2 жыл бұрын

    IMPORTANT TOPIC!

  • @jaymoneyDollaHolla
    @jaymoneyDollaHolla2 жыл бұрын

    So is there any way to actually recycle your pizza boxes?

  • @rosemerle540
    @rosemerle5402 жыл бұрын

    Sadly, sustainability kind of went out of the window with the pandemic. Masks, sanitiser in plastic bottles, extra protective layers and all the cafes no longer allowing me to byo cup.

  • @christraczyk-1590
    @christraczyk-15904 жыл бұрын

    We as individuals must take responsibility for our own actions and the consequences of that action. Reduce - reuse and rethink

  • @MsSunstoned
    @MsSunstoned4 жыл бұрын

    I'm disappointed you didn't talk & define the resources that are used in plastic/cardboard from drilling, making, & recycling to final clean up. Thanks for sharing the fact that if we are concerned about the health of our planet we should make a bigger effort to understand. We all have brains for thinking. Humans are lazy.

  • @gabehileski
    @gabehileski2 жыл бұрын

    Oh wow I literally felt my heart sink when he was talking about the plastic cups.

  • @verapatrizio
    @verapatrizio2 жыл бұрын

    This talk, has an idea, an an idea thats time has come. You MUST watch this...

  • @michaelcyr5351

    @michaelcyr5351

    2 жыл бұрын

    Agreed, the time is now!

  • @verapatrizio

    @verapatrizio

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@michaelcyr5351 Thanks Michael 👍

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