Affluence Produces Effluence

"Affluence produces Effluence" 

I was reading Garbology, a book by Edward Humes, and came across this quote. I had to stop to write it down so I wouldn't forget it.  It's just three words but it says so much.  I'm sure a lot of people who read the book may have passed by it without giving it much thought.  To me, anyway, it was very powerful and true of the life I am fortunate enough to have.  

So what does it mean?  According to Merriam-Webster, Affluence and Effluence mean the following:

Affluence (noun)

1.  Abundance of property.

2.  An abundant flow or supply.

Affluence comes from the Latin verb affluere, "to flow abundantly". Thus, someone or something blessed with affluence has received an incoming flood of riches. Since the affluent residents of suburbs often work in the central city but pay taxes back home, the wealth of some metropolitan areas tends to flow in one direction—out.

Effluence (noun)

1.  Something that flows out

2.  An action or process of flowing out.

Effluent comes from the Latin verb effluere, "to flow out". In an older meaning, an effluent was a stream flowing out of a river or lake. But nowadays effluent almost always means wastes that pour into our water and air. Liquid factory waste, smoke, and raw sewage can all be called effluents. An effluent filter keeps treated waste flowing out of a septic tank from clogging up its drainage pipes.

In the context of Garbology, affluence produces effluence, simply means that the richer we are, the more wasteful we are.  When you stop to think about all that it means, you will realize that it is true.  We live in a very rich country.  We produce between four and a half and seven pounds of garbage per person, per day.  During recessions, waste going to the landfills declines and when the market is doing well, waste going to the landfill soars.  We toss out things that we no longer like or want just because we want something newer, better, or nicer.  We fill our homes with more material items than we can use or wear.  Shopping is a hobby or a pass time because we are so rich.  

This quote is powerful and we can all learn from it.  The next time you think you need something, think about it and ask yourself if it is a need or a want.  Nearly every time I ask myself that question, the honest answer is that it's a want.