WASTE
© Schvets Production
Was waste “invented” in the twentieth century? In any case, it has not always taken on the face that we know today. The waste we see now comes from consumer society, the petrochemical industry, and exponential economic growth in both wealthy and emerging countries. The history of waste is a story of the slow realization of a global ecological problem, initially treated with a form of carelessness or ignorance, and then tackled head-on by authorities and businesses. In the era of ecological transformation, Veolia no longer “treats” waste but “valorizes a product”: recycling materials, producing energy, fertilizing soils, and more. It marks the beginning of another story.