The Cost of Your Entertainment

Amusement parks are seen as the pinnacle of entertainment: they have everything from rides of breathtaking heights to themed foods that would only be found there (only at the price of your life savings). When adding up all of these factors, it would appear that going to an amusement park would be quite attractive. But, what the majority does not realize is that these amusement parks that create harmless fun are actually very destructive to the surrounding environment.

According to the Sacramento Bee, the Walt Disney World Resort, in Florida, puts out about 441 tons of garbage per day! If we were to stick by that number as a constant, there would be 160,965 tons of garbage per year! And where does this waste go? According to Waste 360, the garbage is "eliminated" by a trash removal system that compresses and places it outside of Disney property. While the waste is compressed and moved, it is also "recycled into soil used for gardening, farming and landscaping" (Waste 360).

The capitalistic faces behind Disney World

Although the Walt Disney World Resort repurposes the waste, it would be better to control the root of the issue: amusement parks' need for sustainability in the way they operate. For example, it should be mandated that park-goers carry their own utensils if they want to eat food. Instead of spending money on plastic cups for a drink, park-goers should use their own reusable water bottles--that way, there would not be a large waste of plastic.

Despite the fact that this is a form of solution, it would likely not be established as a rule, as amusement parks, as Disney World, favor convenience over helping the environment or people. But that does not mean that the average person should stop their efforts to help the environment!