In case you missed it: Thoughtful, newsworthy comments from industry professionals, consumers, and legislators.
"Real life isn’t like a game; you don’t get to go back to the beginning if you’re killed."
— U.K.-based Business Waste spokesperson Mark Hall to Recycling Today regarding Pokemon Go players trespassing into dangerous waste and recycling sites to play the popular mobile video game. Hall warned that by exploring bins full of scrap metal, active landfill sites, or sites with plant machinery, players are putting themselves at risk of being hurt.
"The right to clean water and clean air are amongst the basic human rights which we all have."
— International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) President David Newman on the challenges Rio de Janeiro is facing regarding trash in its waters — specifically Guanabara Bay. Waste Dive took a look at how such waste management issues will affect the upcoming 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
"I just believe that if we all do this, no matter where you live across the country, that we could clean up this country — clean up our neighborhoods."
— Cincinnati Councilman Christopher Smitherman to Cincinnati.com on the city's #OneBagOfTrash challenge. Smitherman introduced the challenge to encourage city officials and residents to collect one full bag of trash in 48 hours and push for a communitywide cleanup.
"If something seems overwhelming, it is built into the human condition to stick your head in the sand and say, ‘I’m not going to deal with it’ ... But you have to take baby steps and change people's mindsets..."
— ByFusion CEO Gregory Gomory to Sustainable Brands on the company's efforts to begin an innovative startup that tackles the problem of plastic pollution. ByFusion has been turning waste, specifically plastic marine debris, into construction blocks that can be used in a variety of infrastructure projects.
"My main objective is to do what’s best for the citizens and the City of Flint. Members of city council and I may have different views on what that is, but residents should not be inconvenienced because of it."
— Flint, MI Mayor Karen Weaver in response to the city resuming trash collection after a brief hiatus. In the beginning of the week, Mayor Weaver announced that the city would halt trash collections due to a waste contract dispute between her and the city council.
"It shows small actions can make the biggest difference, but we must not be complacent, as there is always more we can all do to reduce waste and recycle what we use."
— England's environment minister, Therese Coffey, to The Guardian on the country's recent 5-pence charge on single-use plastic bags. Since implementing the charge in October, the country has seen an 85% reduction in the use of such bags.
