Scroll
Scroll
million tons of trash generated
by the U.S. in 2011
Recycling Plant
Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.
However, this is often difficult
or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources),
so the “recycling” of many materials involves their reuse in producing different products.
Landfill
While these confined sites have many liners and drainage systems, pollution of the local environment may occur. Faulty liner systems or earthquake damage can loosen materials, causing groundwater or soil contamination.
Methane generated by decaying organic wastes is a greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide. Steps are now being taken
to convert methane into clean-burning fuel.
Communities may charge a fee or levy to discourage waste and/or recover the costs of site operations. Many landfills are publicly funded, but some are commercial businesses, operated for profit.
Incinerator
Incineration is a waste treatment
process that involves burning
waste materials, converting the
waste into ash, flue gas, and heat.
Depending on the waste being burned, the tons of solid ash leftover may be hazardous and disposed of carefully.
The flue gases must be cleaned
of pollutants before they are
dispersed into the atmosphere.
In some cases, the heat generated by incineration can be used
to generate electric power.
Environmental racism is racial discrimination in environmental policy making.
It is the deliberate targeting
of racial and ethnic communities
for environmental hazard
facilities like toxic waste facilities and incinerators.
It is also the disproportionate presence in these communities
of sources of these toxins.
Dr. Benjamin Chavis
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation,
and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Fair treatment means that
no group of people should bear
a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.
It will be achieved when
everyone enjoys the same degree
of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live,
learn and work.
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Justice Framework
Resource Allocation
Distribute funding, equalize education, etc.
Recognition Of Each Social Group
Acknowledge group’s presence and power
Participation In Community
Voice opinions and needs actively
Power In Decision-Making
Exercise influence
Voice In Creating Solutions
Who is implementing these changes?
The Successes of Grassroots Community Efforts
Lessons From Case Studies
Analyzing Trends
Success of the people
Protest nonviolently through blockades
Involve entire community
Delegate leadership roles to youth
Attend government meetings
Read carefully over legal documentation
Hold state accountable
Conduct environmental studies
Harness media attention
Create national activism support system
Vocalize concerns at international summits
Failure of the state
Shortcut political protocol
Withhold information
Distribute waste unevenly over state
Target a minority community
Offer few hosting benefits
Operate under economic blackmail for jobs
Disrespect local culture and religion
Exclude community from decisions
Delay detoxification
Disregard promises
Clean-Burning Methane Fuel
Redeem is an innovation. Because the fuel is made from methane given off
by landfills, it counts as a renewable fuel source. When the methane-derived fuel is burned, it is far less harmful to the atmosphere than petroleum fuels. Redeem is cheaper than most existing fuels, and it can burn 90% cleaner than diesel.
Because of its price tag and minimal impact, Redeem is perfect for transit companies looking to cut costs
while promoting sustainable
business practices.
Brownfields Into Parks
Fresh Kills landfill in New York City was once the largest landfill in the world. Now closed and detoxified, the remaining brownfield is being turned into a state-of-the-art set of five public parks. The developing Freshkills Park will harvest methane and solar energy, in addition to offering recreational greenspace for local residents, educational wildlife preserves, and spectacular views of the city.
Gas Pipes Under Your Landfill
Perforated pipes just above sealed waste in landfills collect escaping gases, such as methane
Cap Your Landfill
Seal all waste with multiple layers
of soil, HDPE and clay liners
to prevent any leaks
Fan Compressor
Fans compress the gases, chilling them to start processing
Test Water & Soil
Make sure the land is fit for humans and animals
Heat
Thermal energy is generated through the processing of methane
Grant Funding
Hire a grant writer to draft project proposals for local, private, state,
or national funding for your site
Electricity
Processed gases can also be sold
to generate electircity as well as heat
Replant The Land
Allow time for the capped landfill
to settle, then replant
Fuel Conversion
Gases can also be cheaply converted
to cleaner-burning fuels than diesel
Build And Open Your New Park
Involve the whole are in creating this new public space, if possible
You
Gain the psychological consumer benefits of supporting vendors using sustainable energy
You
Enjoy fruits of your labor with the positive impact of new greenspace
in your community
Message
Missouri 63021
Steet Address
Your Congresswoman is Anne Wagner, 2nd District of Missouri
Your Contact Information
You
Community
There is truth in that there is power
in numbers. Try to get as much of your community involved as possible, especially engaging youth leaders.
Pro Bono Lawyer
While you may have a basic understanding of the law, this generous individual will make your case all the stronger with their expertise. Try to find someone from your area who will also have be invested in the welfare of the region.
Environmental Scientist
This person can conduct basic site tests to determine the toxicity of the land in your community, as well as reference similar cases. They should collaborate with the pro bono lawyer and the grant writer.
Media
Don’t underestimate the power of the press. Make sure you and your community harness the media attention and clearly express your side of the story.
Grant Writer
Use a grant writer to improve your chances of getting the funding and resources you need, both during your advocacy campaigns and afterwards
to re-purpose the site as need be.
Public Figure / Politician
Persons in power can lend their voice
to aid those who aren’t allowed many
opportunities to be heard. Try to find
someone who can relate to your issue and make it a personal passion of theirs.
Resources
Videos
The Genesis of Environmental Justice
Robert Bullard, expert in social justice and father of the movement, discusses its roots
in an interview
Earthkeeping: Toxic Racism
Experts in the field of social justice discuss how the Warren County protests catalyzed
the Environmental Justice movement
Tom Goldtooth Interview
The leader of the Indigenous Environmental Network shares IEN's perspective on native peoples' concerns about climate change and the environment
1982 PCB Protest
Actual news footage of citizens of Warren County, NC, non-violently protesting against
a landfill
A Village Called Versailles and A Village Called Versailles Discussion Guide
Heartwarming and challenging film about the Vietnamese immigrant community
in New Orleans fighting a landfill in their area following Katrina
Maps & Stats
EPA EJ (Environmental Justice) Viewer
Map of all known hazardous waste in the U.S.
EPA Superfund Sites
Map of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites being cleaned up by the federal government
EPA Brownfield Basic Information
National efforts to clean up hazardous waste sites
EPA Re-Powering America’s Land
Maps of potential brownfield recovery sites where methane or other energy could
be harvested
The Racial Dot Map
One Dot Per Person In The U.S.
America Fact Finder
Easy, digestible U.S. census data filtered by location
Books & Research Studies
The Quest For Environmental Justice: Human Rights And The Politics
of Pollution. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 2005.
Bullard, Robert, Paul Mohai, Robin Saha, and Beverly Wright. Toxic Wastes and Race
at Twenty 1987–2007.
Cole, Luke W, and Sheila R Foster. From The Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the
Rise of the Environmental Justice Movement. New York: New York University Press, 2001.
Pellow, David N. Garbage Wars: The Struggle For Environmental Justice in Chicago. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2002.
Rhodes, Edwardo Lao. Environmental Justice in America: A New Paradigm.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2003.
Walker, Gordon P. Environmental Justice: Concepts, Evidence And Politics.
London; New York: Routledge, 2012.
Environmental inequality is a multi-faceted socio-political issue.
While this site investigates some
of these concerns as they appear
in the U.S., these problems are amplified around the world in our globalized economy.
Equality.
we need a new cycle of behaviors
that will move us towards
Access
Resources and education
Protection
Law creation and
implementation
Impact
Input and control over what happens in a community
Participation
Social and political recognition of power
“No community,
rich or poor, urban
or suburban, black
or white, should
be made into
a sacrifice zone
or dumping ground.”
Robert Bullard,
Father of the Environmental Justice Movement
about the project
summary
The United States annually generates 250 million tons of waste. Not In My Backyard investigates how impoverished and minority communities are nearly twice as likely
to host U.S. waste facilities.
This informational website aims to expose the consequences of prejudiced policy-making, as well as the astounding resilience of grassroots communities in creating national change. The ultimate goal of this site is to inspire those facing similar challenges and enlighten those with more voting power who are more removed from the front lines.
TITLE
Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) has become a touch-point phrase in the Environmental Jusitce Movement. This political slogan has been used in years past by affluent communities to offload waste facilities to less politically-powerful areas. Coinciding with the rise of the Environmental Justice Movement against these types of biased influence, NIMBY has also become a battle cry of those who have been discriminated against.
The title of this project suggests this duality and impasse within the U.S. political system.
ABOUT ELIZABETH KORB
The design, code, data visualizations, and edited text for this website was created
by Elizabeth Korb in the Spring of 2014 for her seminar thesis project. Elizabeth will
be graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a BFA in Communication Design and a minor in Art History. She is passionate about using Human-Centered Design and interdisciplinary collaboration as a way to simplify complex systems.
If you would like to contact Elizabeth, send her an email at korbelizabeth@gmail.com
or visit her portfolio site elizabethkorb.com
Elizabeth would like to thank her seminar instructor, Jim Walker, her interaction professor, Abram Siemsen, and her thesis mentor, Jason Stoff, for the gift of their time
and instruction. She would also like to thank her loving family, friends, and studiomates, as well as Heather Corcoran and Jen Meyer for their constant encouragement.
COLOPHON & SOURCES
This site was created using League Gothic, Arvo, and Lato font families, and made
in Edge Reflow, Sublime Text, Keynote, and the Adobe Creative Suite. Images and videos are from a variety of online sources.
Full Bibliography
Bibliography
Videos & Online Resources
afiercegreenfire. "Robert Bullard – The Genesis of Environmental Justice." Youtube. Youtube, 14 April 2011. Web. 20 January 2014.
Chiang, S. Leo. A Village Called Versailles. [Harriman, N.Y.]: New Day Films, 2009. Film.
Chiang, S. Leo. “A Village Called Versailles Discussion Guide.” 2010. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.
Diné CARE - Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment. Diné CARE. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.
Fresh Kills Park: NYC Parks. NYC Parks, 2014. Web. 16 December, 2013.
iblefty1951. "PCB Protest in Warren County 1982." Youtube. Youtube, 16 May 2012. Web. 15 January 2014.
Indigenous Environmental Network. IEN, 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Labalme, Jenny and the United Church of Christ. Earthkeeping: “Toxic Racism.” 1994. Film.
MQVN CDC. MQVN Community Development Corporation, Inc., 2014. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.
RTCC. "Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network." Youtube. Youtube,
5 September 2013. Web. 4 April 2014.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA, 2014. Web. 28 December 2013.
Maps & Stats
EPA EJ (Environmental Justice) Viewer
Map of all known hazardous waste in the U.S.
EPA Superfund Sites
Map of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites being cleaned up by the federal government
EPA Brownfield Basic Information
National efforts to clean up hazardous waste sites
EPA Re-Powering America’s Land
Maps of potential brownfield recovery sites where methane or other energy could
be harvested
The Racial Dot Map
One Dot Per Person In The U.S.
America Fact Finder
Easy, digestible U.S. census data filtered by location
Books, Articles & Research Studies
Bullard, Robert D. The Quest For Environmental Justice: Human Rights And The Politics
of Pollution. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 2005.
Bullard, Robert, Paul Mohai, Robin Saha, and Beverly Wright. Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty 1987–2007.
Cardwell, Diane. "Fuel From Landfill Methane Goes on Sale." The New York Times
2 October 2013. Web. 28 December 2013.
Cole, Luke W, and Sheila R Foster. From The Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the
Rise of the Environmental Justice Movement. New York: New York University Press, 2001.
Eaton, Leslie. "A New Landfill in New Orleans Sets Off a Battle." The New York Times
8 May 2006. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.
Environmental Protection Agency. Landfill Manuals, Landfill Site Design. EPA, 2000.
ICIS Detailed Report of Chef Menteur C&D Landfill. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.
Lydersen, Kari. “Battling the Chef Menteur Landfill.” COLORLINES. 9 Dec. 2009.
Web. 30 Dec. 2013.
Pellow, David N. Garbage Wars: The Struggle For Environmental Justice in Chicago. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2002.
Rhodes, Edwardo Lao. Environmental Justice in America: A New Paradigm.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2003.
Walker, Gordon P. Environmental Justice: Concepts, Evidence And Politics.
London; New York: Routledge, 2012.
Images
Fischer, Eric. Demographic Maps (2010). Digital image. Flickr. Yahoo!, Web. February 2014.
Various Images. Digital Image. Flickr Creative Commons. Yahoo!, Web. December–
April 2014.
Various Icons. Digital Image. The Noun Project. January–April 2014.
