Good morning. Welcome to the eleventh edition of The Leaflet.

In this month’s issue, we’ll dive deep into the ocean to uncover the truth about plastics in our oceans, then Ben will help guide us through the cornfields as we learn about Big Agriculture’s effect on the environment, and we’ll end up traveling back to Omaha to take a look at UNO’s Green Guide to being “sustainable” in Omaha.

Oh, and we have a special guest appearance in the “The Leaflet’s Simple Steps to Sustainability” portion of this issue.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Is it Really That Bad?

Forty percent of our world’s oceans are covered in plastics. By 2050, the total weight of plastics is estimated to outweigh the total weight of fish in the ocean (CBD). That sounds insane. But, is it really that bad?

It’s easy to feel displaced from this problem being in the most landlocked state in the country. We never see the problem. We really only hear about it once in a while in normal conversation. It doesn’t feel that bad. 

I am here to tell you that it is that bad. Let me put this into perspective. 

1. Every year, 259 aircraft carriers of plastic (in weight) are pumped into the ocean (UNEP; NOAA)

2. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into our waterways (UNEP).

3. Microplastics have been found in over 100 species that we humans consume (National Geographic). It is no secret that these plastics and microplastics kill animals and wildlife as well.

4. The same amount of plastic is produced every two days as the total amount of plastic produced during the entirety of WW2 (ENL; UNEP).

5. If you stacked 14 full bags of plastic on every foot of coastline around the world, that is the same amount of plastic we are putting into our oceans every year (National Geographic). 

6. The Great Pacific Garbage patch is roughly 13 times the size of Nebraska (The Ocean Cleanup).

Yes, this is something we need to worry about. Yes, it is as bad as you may think it is—it’s probably even worse than you can imagine. And yes, you can do something about it. 

Perfection is not possible. Doing what you can and reducing your plastic use is possible. Be mindful of what you are buying and how you are disposing of it. We can fix this, we can rid our oceans of this plastic, but we have to stop the plastic before it gets to our oceans.

~ Seamus Haney

There’s No Upside

It is an undeniable fact that the conditions in American factory farms are deplorable, for both the animals and people, and are a driving cause of climate change. In the United States alone, around 55% of all agricultural land is used on livestock despite being the most inefficient type of farming when it comes to energy expenditure. Only 1.9% of the total calories used to raise a cow is converted into consumable meat despite the beef industry causing around 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, about the equivalent to the nation of India. In contrast, chicken farming converts about 13% of the calories needed to raise the animal into edible meat. Furthermore, the American meat industry is infamous for its shoddy welfare standards and lack of regulation. There is no shortage of documentaries, articles and investigations into the brutality of slaughterhouses and factory farms. And because of this widespread awareness of the conditions in factory farms, around 94% of Americans believe that animals raised for food should be treated humanely. But despite this widespread opposition and well documented evidence against factory farming, it still manages to be the dominant force of food production around the world.

The EPA’s official term for a factory farm is “concentrated animal feeding operation” or CAFO. These CAFOs are typically indoor environments where large amounts of animals are held to be fattened before slaughter for more than 45 days. This is usually the stage between the farm where an animal is born and the slaughterhouse, as well as the stage where the animal will spend most of its life. In the US alone, 99.96% of meat chickens, 98.6% of pigs, and 98.3% of egg hens spend the majority of their lives in CAFOs. These farms have one purpose and that is to fatten these animals as much as possible for as cheaply as possible. A specific example of the conditions of these farms are those built for meat chickens. If not labeled as “free range” or “cage free”, chickens are often confined to cages smaller than a single sheet of paper for almost their entire lives while being force fed grain that has been treated with antibiotics as a way to combat the unsanitary conditions and ensure they grow as fat as possible. It does not get much better for “cage free” chickens either, with most farms that are designated as cage free having equally terrible conditions, just in open barns that not are not even mandated by the government to provide a minimum space for each chicken. This emphasis on efficiency at the cost of animal welfare extends to all other livestock as well, with pigs and cows both experiencing similar treatment surrounding living space, forced feeding and unsanitary living conditions. 

But this system of cruelty in the name of cost is not just bad for the animals, it is bad for the farmers and the communities that rely on agriculture. While factory farming is cruel, it is viciously cheap and efficient. But despite being so profitable, farming communities are often directly harmed by the presence of CAFOs. Around 85% of cattle, 70% of pork production and 54% of poultry farms are owned by just four companies, driving up the price of infrastructure and forcing smaller farms to either sell their land or become contractors and earn a fraction of what they deserve. Animal agriculture is also the leading polluter of rivers and streams along with being responsible for around 12,000 air quality related deaths each year, and using around 55% of all water consumption in the United States for growing feed crops. This harm to human wellbeing extends beyond the communities surrounding the CAFOs and permeates every level of the meat industry. Slaughterhouse workers were found to be at a higher risk for drug abuse, PTSD, felonies and suicide than most non-combat jobs. Meatpacking plants are also infamous for their usage of child labor, with the DOL finding 54 children in meatpacking plants across Nebraska in 2024 with the actual number probably being much higher. 

It is no secret that factory farming is a travesty of epic proportion. But if it is so universally reviled, then why is it still the backbone of the American food system? Simply put, money. The only people who benefit from factory farming are those that are willing to sacrifice human and animal life in order to save a pretty penny. Factory farms are extremely cost effective with the beef industry alone bringing in hundreds of billions in profit each year despite 85% of beef production being operated by just four companies. These companies have enough money to sway elections and buy politicians who in turn strip regulations, make it harder for meat alternatives to become a potential alternative and limit the ability of journalists to investigate misconduct. 

~ Benjamin Whealy

The UNO Green Guide to Omaha

Have you ever thought about getting your produce at a farmer’s market, going out to eat from a restaurant with locally-sourced food, maybe you’re having a hard time getting your electricity bill to go down, or you just want to explore our common home while it's still here, but you don’t know where to start?

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has assembled a guide to answer all of your questions about practicing sustainability in Omaha—and much more. Let’s go through a little of what the guide covers.

How to support local farmers — UNO has scavenged around Omaha to find out exactly where you can go to find your local produce at a farmer’s market or where you could learn to grow your own produce at places such as The Big Garden. But what if you wanted to enjoy a night out with friends, knowing that you are supporting a local farmer in the process? Well, they’ve compiled a list of Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Omaha for that very purpose. Feeling thankful for that farmer’s efforts? Join a Community Supported Agriculture Program (more listed on guide) to form a personal relationship with a farmer and gain access to fresh, local produce in the process.

Recycling and waste management information — we, at The Leaflet, have given you a few resources to help you manage your waste and recycling more effectively, but UNO’s guide provides yet another quick and easy reference about what can and cannot be recycled. They’ve also assembled a list of ‘alternative disposal programs,’ such as composting services, soft plastics disposal (The Hefty ReNew Program), household chemical disposal and electronics recycling disposal.

Transportation — understandably, a large part of this guide covers how students at UNO can find their way around campus in an environmentally friendly fashion, but they also provide a link to the Heartland Bike Share and the Omaha Metro Bus System, which are more eco-friendly ways to get around Omaha in general and are systems that anyone in Omaha can use.

Wellness — UNO also provides some basic tips for engaging in environmental wellness, such as spending time in nature, learning about the environment and being mindful about your individual practices. They also provide an Omaha trail map if you want to take part in a walk or bike ride out in nature (make sure you can use a bike on the trail first).

Energy Saving — Nebraskans are using more energy than ever before, according to UNO. There’s an ever-greater importance in doing all that we can to reduce our energy/electricity consumption. Some of the tips they suggest are unplugging appliances overnight, optimizing your thermostat for each season, meal planning, using curtains to control heat entering your house, and using cold water & reducing shower times to save on hot water.

We highly suggest you check out the full guide listed below for more in-depth information. 

https://www.unomaha.edu/sustainability/green-guide.php

~ Seamus Haney

The Leaflet’s Simple Steps to Sustainability

This Week’s Waste Management Tip: Glass Candles

While helping tear down a fundraiser for Bags of Fun, I had a painful time throwing much of the materials used at the fundraiser away. I did my best to save the paper and the candles to be recycled later.

But, it’s not always as easy as just throwing them in the Purple container. Some additional considerations and steps have to be taken.

Some glass, especially glass used in application for candles, is called borosilicate glass. It is a special chemically-treated glass that can’t normally be recycled. But, according to the City of Omaha’s recycling guide, Omaha does accept this type of glass.

But, the glass has to be free of wax and clean in general. Labels and lids are ok to be left on. We are very fortunate that Omaha has the facilities to be able to accept this type of glass. So yes, glass candles can be recycled. They just have to be clean and thrown in a Purple collection container.

The Leaflet’s 2025 Goal: Status

Helpful Links for Your Own Research

1. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

2. Omaha Recycling Guide

3. Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

4. Mongabay Newsletter

5. UNO Green Guide to Omaha

6. The Leaflet’s Shared Resources

Thank you for reading this issue of The Leaflet.

The Leaflet is not affiliated with any organization or school.

Newsletter produced primarily by Seamus Haney

Cover image linked here