Who are the movers and shakers in our community helping to build a circular economy?

Our California sea lion, LB, is the Zoo’s most notable ambassador for the conservation of our oceans. Everyday around the world our oceans are impacted by plastic pollution, overfishing and climate change. LB helps the Zoo remind our guests that his kind and the ecosystem that his wild cousins are a part of, should not be out of sight and out of mind here in our little corner of the world. Healthy oceans are important to a healthy planet and to El Paso. Oceans provide food in the form of fish, they regulate our climate and produce most of the oxygen we need to breathe. Unfortunately everyday we unknowingly impact our oceans by contributing to climate change, buying fish that are being overharvested and in using single use plastics.

What can we do to help save our oceans and the overall health of our planet? More often than not I find myself trying to do something towards helping to build a circular economy. The other day when I ate my last pickle I decided not to throw away the jar. My empty pickle jar still smelled of pickle juice so before I started using it for something else I soaked it in soapy water. When the smell was gone I planned to use it to store left over chicken soup rather than use a plastic container. Plastic takes a long time to disappear so avoiding plastic and other single use materials as much as possible helps to build a circular economy.

Most economies are linear meaning that they operate by taking materials from the environment, making things from them and then throwing them away. Economies that are linear produce goods at the expense of our ecosystems and then jeopardizing essential ecosystem services such as water, air and healthy soils. Circular economies on the other hand help to regenerate ecosystems. When we recycle and reuse we help to fight climate change, improve access to nutritious food and eliminate waste, all important to maintaining a sustainable future.

So who are the movers and shakers in El Paso trying to help build a circular economy? The El Paso Zoo celebrates the value of animals and natural resources and creates opportunities for people to rediscover their connection to nature. The City’s Curbside Recycling Program offers residents an easy and convenient way to reduce waste and contribute to the preservation of our environment. El Paso’s Green Hope Project is educating the public on ways to take better care of our planet. Eco-El Paso  is working to create a more sustainable and resilient El Paso for future generations to come.

I could of simply thrown my pickle jar in the trash and let environmental services take to a landfill. But I decided that using one less plastic container to store my chicken soup can only help our world in becoming more sustainable for future generations. My conservation hero, Dian Fossey, once said “when you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.” That is what we are trying to do at the El Paso Zoo, concentrate on the preservation of the future. Will you join us and help to build a circular economy?

Rick LoBello, Education Curator

Photos
Cover – Recond Oil at Wikimedia Creative Commons