I’m here to talk about the most important five seconds of your day take
important five seconds of your day take
important five seconds of your day take a moment and imagine five seconds I know
a moment and imagine five seconds I know
a moment and imagine five seconds I know it might sound silly but what does five
it might sound silly but what does five
it might sound silly but what does five seconds mean to you for example I think
seconds mean to you for example I think
seconds mean to you for example I think some of the stuff that I run into every
some of the stuff that I run into every
some of the stuff that I run into every single day may include should I run that
single day may include should I run that
single day may include should I run that yellow light should I hit snooze or not
yellow light should I hit snooze or not
yellow light should I hit snooze or not should I swipe left or swipe right
should I swipe left or swipe right
should I swipe left or swipe right should I eat the cheese that fell on the
should I eat the cheese that fell on the
should I eat the cheese that fell on the floor but what if I told you there was a
floor but what if I told you there was a
floor but what if I told you there was a five-second decision that meant clean
five-second decision that meant clean
five-second decision that meant clean air clean water farmable lands a
air clean water farmable lands a
air clean water farmable lands a sustainable society a better standard of
sustainable society a better standard of
sustainable society a better standard of life well that sounds great doesn’t it
life well that sounds great doesn’t it
life well that sounds great doesn’t it because on a global scale there is
because on a global scale there is
because on a global scale there is there’s a five second decision that can
there’s a five second decision that can
there’s a five second decision that can change the world there’s a five second
change the world there’s a five second
change the world there’s a five second decision that we make every day multiple
decision that we make every day multiple
decision that we make every day multiple times a day I’m going to tell you what
times a day I’m going to tell you what
times a day I’m going to tell you what that five second decision is walking up
that five second decision is walking up
that five second decision is walking up to these I want you to think about what
to these I want you to think about what
to these I want you to think about what you’ve thrown away today I know it might
you’ve thrown away today I know it might
you’ve thrown away today I know it might sound innocuous or unimportant small
sound innocuous or unimportant small
sound innocuous or unimportant small miniscule even but remember seven and a
miniscule even but remember seven and a
miniscule even but remember seven and a half billion people make this decision
half billion people make this decision
half billion people make this decision every single day the average American
every single day the average American
every single day the average American throws away four-and-a-half pounds of
throws away four-and-a-half pounds of
throws away four-and-a-half pounds of waste every single day and that number
waste every single day and that number
waste every single day and that number is growing exponentially let me break it
is growing exponentially let me break it
is growing exponentially let me break it down for you 300 million Americans four
down for you 300 million Americans four
down for you 300 million Americans four and a half pounds of waste every day
and a half pounds of waste every day
and a half pounds of waste every day together we generate over 1 billion
together we generate over 1 billion
together we generate over 1 billion pounds of garbage every single day seven
pounds of garbage every single day seven
pounds of garbage every single day seven days of the week 365 days of the year so
days of the week 365 days of the year so
days of the week 365 days of the year so take a moment and visualize it think
take a moment and visualize it think
take a moment and visualize it think about that moment you’re walking up to
about that moment you’re walking up to
about that moment you’re walking up to the bins are you paying attention what
the bins are you paying attention what
the bins are you paying attention what are you feeling
are you feeling
are you feeling most of the time we don’t even realize
most of the time we don’t even realize
most of the time we don’t even realize what’s going on
what’s going on
what’s going on look it’s hard I get that you’re running
look it’s hard I get that you’re running
look it’s hard I get that you’re running behind
behind
behind maybe you’re late to work you’re trying
maybe you’re late to work you’re trying
maybe you’re late to work you’re trying to buy a coffee is this compostable is
to buy a coffee is this compostable is
to buy a coffee is this compostable is this recyclable I see some cups in the
this recyclable I see some cups in the
this recyclable I see some cups in the landfill screw it I get that I’m guilty
landfill screw it I get that I’m guilty
landfill screw it I get that I’m guilty of that but speaking frankly I’m not
of that but speaking frankly I’m not
of that but speaking frankly I’m not some avid academic or super go green
some avid academic or super go green
some avid academic or super go green ultra enthusiast I’m human I’m busy and
ultra enthusiast I’m human I’m busy and
ultra enthusiast I’m human I’m busy and I’m tired and I have deadlines sometimes
I’m tired and I have deadlines sometimes
I’m tired and I have deadlines sometimes you feel like ain’t nobody got time for
you feel like ain’t nobody got time for
you feel like ain’t nobody got time for that but just like I’m human I’m one
that but just like I’m human I’m one
that but just like I’m human I’m one human my trash doesn’t make a difference
human my trash doesn’t make a difference
human my trash doesn’t make a difference my trash doesn’t matter sometimes it
my trash doesn’t matter sometimes it
my trash doesn’t matter sometimes it feels like some hippie stuff but we have
feels like some hippie stuff but we have
feels like some hippie stuff but we have to remember that trash is a timeless
to remember that trash is a timeless
to remember that trash is a timeless problem and it begins with us as
problem and it begins with us as
problem and it begins with us as individuals because we as humans we
individuals because we as humans we
individuals because we as humans we consume and we dispose so if we want the
consume and we dispose so if we want the
consume and we dispose so if we want the clean air clean water better standard of
clean air clean water better standard of
clean air clean water better standard of life we have to remember what the
life we have to remember what the
life we have to remember what the profound impacts of this five-second
profound impacts of this five-second
profound impacts of this five-second decision are in order to understand that
decision are in order to understand that
decision are in order to understand that we need to begin by breaking down the
we need to begin by breaking down the
we need to begin by breaking down the ecosystem of waste I mentioned earlier
ecosystem of waste I mentioned earlier
ecosystem of waste I mentioned earlier that the average American throws away
that the average American throws away
that the average American throws away four-and-a-half pounds of waste now
four-and-a-half pounds of waste now
four-and-a-half pounds of waste now about a third of that we are composting
about a third of that we are composting
about a third of that we are composting in recycling so hats off to us but the
in recycling so hats off to us but the
in recycling so hats off to us but the other three pounds that we put into
other three pounds that we put into
other three pounds that we put into landfill how much of that do you think
landfill how much of that do you think
landfill how much of that do you think belongs in there 75% of what we throw
belongs in there 75% of what we throw
belongs in there 75% of what we throw away can be composted or recycled
away can be composted or recycled
away can be composted or recycled meaning 75% of what we throw away can be
meaning 75% of what we throw away can be
meaning 75% of what we throw away can be recovered on a u.s. scale that’s over
recovered on a u.s. scale that’s over
recovered on a u.s. scale that’s over 500 million pounds of waste that we
500 million pounds of waste that we
500 million pounds of waste that we could repurpose and reuse sustainably
could repurpose and reuse sustainably
could repurpose and reuse sustainably back into our economy but we don’t and
back into our economy but we don’t and
back into our economy but we don’t and that’s a direct consequence of us not
that’s a direct consequence of us not
that’s a direct consequence of us not taking those five seconds
taking those five seconds
taking those five seconds that’s a direct consequence of us being
that’s a direct consequence of us being
that’s a direct consequence of us being mindless so we have to think about
mindless so we have to think about
mindless so we have to think about what’s the next step how do we move
what’s the next step how do we move
what’s the next step how do we move forward from here you see when you
forward from here you see when you
forward from here you see when you landfill your waste isn’t actually
landfill your waste isn’t actually
landfill your waste isn’t actually sorted it’s just dumped and as these
sorted it’s just dumped and as these
sorted it’s just dumped and as these materials in the landfills begin to
materials in the landfills begin to
materials in the landfills begin to break down they release about equal
break down they release about equal
break down they release about equal parts methane and co2 we’ve all heard
parts methane and co2 we’ve all heard
parts methane and co2 we’ve all heard the rhetoric on co2 we’ve all heard the
the rhetoric on co2 we’ve all heard the
the rhetoric on co2 we’ve all heard the rhetoric on global warming but it’s my
rhetoric on global warming but it’s my
rhetoric on global warming but it’s my job I’m here to remind you that they are
job I’m here to remind you that they are
job I’m here to remind you that they are key culprits methane is 25 times more
key culprits methane is 25 times more
key culprits methane is 25 times more potent at trapping heat in the
potent at trapping heat in the
potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than co2 25 times more Swift
atmosphere than co2 25 times more Swift
atmosphere than co2 25 times more Swift in this sort of inevitable race to make
in this sort of inevitable race to make
in this sort of inevitable race to make our planet more like a thermos cup great
our planet more like a thermos cup great
our planet more like a thermos cup great for coffee but not so much where you
for coffee but not so much where you
for coffee but not so much where you live so up until this point we get it
live so up until this point we get it
live so up until this point we get it compost and recycle let’s make these 5
compost and recycle let’s make these 5
compost and recycle let’s make these 5 second decisions but if we know that
second decisions but if we know that
second decisions but if we know that composting and recycling are objectively
composting and recycling are objectively
composting and recycling are objectively better environmentally and financially
better environmentally and financially
better environmentally and financially why is landfills still the most
why is landfills still the most
why is landfills still the most prevalent the science is there problems
prevalent the science is there problems
prevalent the science is there problems with your waste streams begin with what
with your waste streams begin with what
with your waste streams begin with what you throw away so why aren’t we doing
you throw away so why aren’t we doing
you throw away so why aren’t we doing better the u.s. leader of the free world
better the u.s. leader of the free world
better the u.s. leader of the free world we have the biggest tech companies we’ve
we have the biggest tech companies we’ve
we have the biggest tech companies we’ve got the biggest economy we’re the best
got the biggest economy we’re the best
got the biggest economy we’re the best at sports we’re really good at a lot of
at sports we’re really good at a lot of
at sports we’re really good at a lot of things but throwing away our trash is
things but throwing away our trash is
things but throwing away our trash is not something that we’re very good at I
not something that we’re very good at I
not something that we’re very good at I wanted to give you guys a moment to find
wanted to give you guys a moment to find
wanted to give you guys a moment to find us I’m used to seeing us at the top but
us I’m used to seeing us at the top but
us I’m used to seeing us at the top but we come in 18th place so why is it that
we come in 18th place so why is it that
we come in 18th place so why is it that we struggle to divert our waste and I
we struggle to divert our waste and I
we struggle to divert our waste and I think this problem it comes down to
think this problem it comes down to
think this problem it comes down to twofold
twofold
twofold on one hand we aren’t making those 5
on one hand we aren’t making those 5
on one hand we aren’t making those 5 second decisions you know that classic
second decisions you know that classic
second decisions you know that classic image turtle in a six-pack trapped and
image turtle in a six-pack trapped and
image turtle in a six-pack trapped and gonna die that happens because we don’t
gonna die that happens because we don’t
gonna die that happens because we don’t make the
make the
make the five second decisions but on the other
five second decisions but on the other
five second decisions but on the other hand the waste infrastructure is not
hand the waste infrastructure is not
hand the waste infrastructure is not there to support us the players who
there to support us the players who
there to support us the players who control the waste industry are not
control the waste industry are not
control the waste industry are not interested in seeing us succeed they’re
interested in seeing us succeed they’re
interested in seeing us succeed they’re not interested in seeing us throw our
not interested in seeing us throw our
not interested in seeing us throw our waste away better I mean how can we when
waste away better I mean how can we when
waste away better I mean how can we when this is what we’re working with this is
this is what we’re working with this is
this is what we’re working with this is where it gets a little bit more tricky
where it gets a little bit more tricky
where it gets a little bit more tricky everyone knows that you get your garbage
everyone knows that you get your garbage
everyone knows that you get your garbage picked up by waste haulers the garbage
picked up by waste haulers the garbage
picked up by waste haulers the garbage trucks they’re called waste haulers but
trucks they’re called waste haulers but
trucks they’re called waste haulers but what you don’t know is that these few
what you don’t know is that these few
what you don’t know is that these few nationwide corporations control the
nationwide corporations control the
nationwide corporations control the entire waste industry and when I say few
entire waste industry and when I say few
entire waste industry and when I say few in the US I mean to these two companies
in the US I mean to these two companies
in the US I mean to these two companies have been around for a long time and
have been around for a long time and
have been around for a long time and with their legacy they’ve dipped their
with their legacy they’ve dipped their
with their legacy they’ve dipped their fingers in the entire waste ecosystem
fingers in the entire waste ecosystem
fingers in the entire waste ecosystem you can think of them as an old boys
you can think of them as an old boys
you can think of them as an old boys club suits caviar yachts and a lot of
club suits caviar yachts and a lot of
club suits caviar yachts and a lot of behind the door deals decades ago they
behind the door deals decades ago they
behind the door deals decades ago they invested early went out and bought up
invested early went out and bought up
invested early went out and bought up all of the landfills they bought a lot
all of the landfills they bought a lot
all of the landfills they bought a lot of cheap American soil and implemented
of cheap American soil and implemented
of cheap American soil and implemented space for future landfills they devoted
space for future landfills they devoted
space for future landfills they devoted acres and acres upon so in order to fill
acres and acres upon so in order to fill
acres and acres upon so in order to fill these landfills they had to go out
these landfills they had to go out
these landfills they had to go out standardized and monopolize the entire
standardized and monopolize the entire
standardized and monopolize the entire waste hauling industry that makes sense
waste hauling industry that makes sense
waste hauling industry that makes sense right you invested in landfills and now
right you invested in landfills and now
right you invested in landfills and now you want to fill them up so you’re gonna
you want to fill them up so you’re gonna
you want to fill them up so you’re gonna go out and create the trucks and
go out and create the trucks and
go out and create the trucks and infrastructure to do that so you may be
infrastructure to do that so you may be
infrastructure to do that so you may be asking what about compost and recycling
asking what about compost and recycling
asking what about compost and recycling well you see compost and recycling
well you see compost and recycling
well you see compost and recycling they’re much weaker players they’re
they’re much weaker players they’re
they’re much weaker players they’re fragmented compost and recycling streams
fragmented compost and recycling streams
fragmented compost and recycling streams are usually managed by smaller local
are usually managed by smaller local
are usually managed by smaller local companies in these companies have to
companies in these companies have to
companies in these companies have to spend a lot of money to create and
spend a lot of money to create and
spend a lot of money to create and maintain their facilities so they have
maintain their facilities so they have
maintain their facilities so they have to go to the big corporations and they
to go to the big corporations and they
to go to the big corporations and they say hey can you pick up my compost and
say hey can you pick up my compost and
say hey can you pick up my compost and recycling as you pick up your landfill
recycling as you pick up your landfill
recycling as you pick up your landfill I’ll strike you a deal here I’ll pay you
I’ll strike you a deal here I’ll pay you
I’ll strike you a deal here I’ll pay you a tip so these old boys
a tip so these old boys
a tip so these old boys these corporations they may pick it all
these corporations they may pick it all
these corporations they may pick it all up but they certainly aren’t
up but they certainly aren’t
up but they certainly aren’t incentivized into putting dollars into
incentivized into putting dollars into
incentivized into putting dollars into helping us do a better job do you think
helping us do a better job do you think
helping us do a better job do you think decades later we wouldn’t be much
decades later we wouldn’t be much
decades later we wouldn’t be much smarter about doing our waste similarly
smarter about doing our waste similarly
smarter about doing our waste similarly to those other countries if that was
to those other countries if that was
to those other countries if that was what was important to them we have to
what was important to them we have to
what was important to them we have to really explore why we’re set with the
really explore why we’re set with the
really explore why we’re set with the situations that we have right now we may
situations that we have right now we may
situations that we have right now we may imagine a future right you imagine a
imagine a future right you imagine a
imagine a future right you imagine a future that perhaps we throw away 10% of
future that perhaps we throw away 10% of
future that perhaps we throw away 10% of our waste just a little bit better and
our waste just a little bit better and
our waste just a little bit better and we can take a look at how this affects
we can take a look at how this affects
we can take a look at how this affects these monopolies right so regardless of
these monopolies right so regardless of
these monopolies right so regardless of the clean air clean water better
the clean air clean water better
the clean air clean water better standard of life these monopolies
standard of life these monopolies
standard of life these monopolies they’re more interested in the economics
they’re more interested in the economics
they’re more interested in the economics of it all they’re more interested in
of it all they’re more interested in
of it all they’re more interested in making money they may pay lip-service to
making money they may pay lip-service to
making money they may pay lip-service to be sustainable and the environment but
be sustainable and the environment but
be sustainable and the environment but they make the big bucks from landfill at
they make the big bucks from landfill at
they make the big bucks from landfill at the end of the day they are massive
the end of the day they are massive
the end of the day they are massive money making monopolies that profit off
money making monopolies that profit off
money making monopolies that profit off of our mindlessness so going back to the
of our mindlessness so going back to the
of our mindlessness so going back to the 10% that we talked about
10% that we talked about
10% that we talked about imagine the upstream effects if we were
imagine the upstream effects if we were
imagine the upstream effects if we were to just throw away our waste just a
to just throw away our waste just a
to just throw away our waste just a little bit smarter this industry is
little bit smarter this industry is
little bit smarter this industry is worth billions and billions of dollars
worth billions and billions of dollars
worth billions and billions of dollars there’s no shortage of money here so
there’s no shortage of money here so
there’s no shortage of money here so what would happen just like when you
what would happen just like when you
what would happen just like when you donate you get to choose who you support
donate you get to choose who you support
donate you get to choose who you support whenever you throw away your waste into
whenever you throw away your waste into
whenever you throw away your waste into compost or recycling you’re putting
compost or recycling you’re putting
compost or recycling you’re putting dollars in the companies that do believe
dollars in the companies that do believe
dollars in the companies that do believe in sustainability and innovation you’re
in sustainability and innovation you’re
in sustainability and innovation you’re putting dollars in the companies that
putting dollars in the companies that
putting dollars in the companies that believe in growing a better standard of
believe in growing a better standard of
believe in growing a better standard of life so if you want the clean air clean
life so if you want the clean air clean
life so if you want the clean air clean water better standard of life you have
water better standard of life you have
water better standard of life you have to remember that it comes on an
to remember that it comes on an
to remember that it comes on an individual basis I may not have all the
individual basis I may not have all the
individual basis I may not have all the facts down perfect but this industry is
facts down perfect but this industry is
facts down perfect but this industry is purposefully opaque we are transparent
purposefully opaque we are transparent
purposefully opaque we are transparent however
however
however the reason why we struggle it’s not
the reason why we struggle it’s not
the reason why we struggle it’s not because we don’t know it’s not because
because we don’t know it’s not because
because we don’t know it’s not because we don’t care it’s not because it’s hard
we don’t care it’s not because it’s hard
we don’t care it’s not because it’s hard it’s because we’re unaware so if we want
it’s because we’re unaware so if we want
it’s because we’re unaware so if we want to turn that experience in front of the
to turn that experience in front of the
to turn that experience in front of the bins from a frustrating awful
bins from a frustrating awful
bins from a frustrating awful mind-numbing experience then we have to
mind-numbing experience then we have to
mind-numbing experience then we have to be a little bit more cognizant of what
be a little bit more cognizant of what
be a little bit more cognizant of what the next steps are what I mean by that
the next steps are what I mean by that
the next steps are what I mean by that is that in order for us to make this
is that in order for us to make this
is that in order for us to make this change I take five seconds every single
change I take five seconds every single
change I take five seconds every single day and I do my best to throw that waste
day and I do my best to throw that waste
day and I do my best to throw that waste away but it’s a habit that I’m trying to
away but it’s a habit that I’m trying to
away but it’s a habit that I’m trying to develop no different than looking left
develop no different than looking left
develop no different than looking left and right before I cross the street it’s
and right before I cross the street it’s
and right before I cross the street it’s a habit that we should share encourage
a habit that we should share encourage
a habit that we should share encourage your friends your family encourage
your friends your family encourage
your friends your family encourage yourself take the five seconds and be
yourself take the five seconds and be
yourself take the five seconds and be empowered knowing that your choice does
empowered knowing that your choice does
empowered knowing that your choice does make a difference that your choice does
make a difference that your choice does
make a difference that your choice does matter you’re five seconds affects
matter you’re five seconds affects
matter you’re five seconds affects demand you’re five seconds with my five
demand you’re five seconds with my five
demand you’re five seconds with my five seconds can change the world thank you
seconds can change the world thank you
seconds can change the world thank you [Applause]
”
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