How much does it cost to keep an average human alive? Is it a waste?

August 19, 2024

How much does it cost to keep an average human alive? Is it a waste?

The cost of keeping a human alive varies widely depending on factors like location, lifestyle, healthcare needs, and access to resources. The main expenses fall in several categories:

Basic Needs:

• Food: The average cost of food per person varies by country and dietary preferences. In the U.S., it might range from $200 to $400 per month per person for groceries, depending on location and diet.

• Water: In many places, water costs are bundled with utilities. On average, water costs can be around $50-$100 per month per household.

• Shelter: Rent or mortgage costs can vary greatly. In the U.S., average rent can range from $800 to $2,000 per month depending on location, size, and quality of the home.

• Clothing: Clothing expenses can vary, but a moderate estimate might be $50 to $100 per month per person.

• Utilities: Electricity, gas, and other utilities might cost around $100 to $300 per month.

Healthcare:

• Insurance: Health insurance premiums vary widely. In the U.S., individual health insurance might cost anywhere from $200 to over $1,000 per month, depending on coverage.

• Out-of-pocket Costs: These can include co-pays, medications, and treatments. It’s not uncommon for individuals to spend $100-$300 per month on these expenses.

• Medications: Costs vary, especially for chronic conditions. Some might spend $50 to several hundred dollars monthly on medications.

• For individuals requiring long-term care (e.g., the elderly or disabled), costs can skyrocket, especially in the case of private care facilities, which might charge thousands of dollars per month

Transportation:

• Public Transportation: Costs might range from $50 to $200 per month depending on location and usage.

• Car Ownership: Car payments, insurance, fuel, and maintenance could easily total $300 to $800 per month.

Education and Childcare:

• Childcare: Costs can vary widely but can be several hundred to several thousand dollars per month depending on the region and quality.

• Education: Public education is often funded through taxes, but private education or higher education costs can add thousands of dollars annually.

Miscellaneous Expenses:

• Personal Care: This includes hygiene products, haircuts, and other personal care items, which might cost $50 to $100 per month.

• Entertainment and Leisure: Expenses on leisure activities might range from $50 to several hundred dollars per month depending on lifestyle.

Total Cost:

In a developed country like the U.S., the total monthly cost to keep a human alive can range from about $1,500 to over $4,000 per person, depending on the factors listed above. In places high cost cities like New York City, London, or Tokyo, these costs can be significantly higher, potentially exceeding $5,000 or more per month. In developing countries, costs may be significantly lower running below $1,000 per month in average.

In sum, the cost to keep a human alive is highly variable and depends on a multitude of factors including geographic location, healthcare needs, lifestyle, and personal choices. It is never cheap. Sometimes it is a good investment. Sometimes it is a waste. You be the judge. Speaking of waste, let's a take a look at how much waste humans generate.

Part I. How much waste is generated per capita in the world?

The amount of waste generated per capita globally varies significantly depending on the region, economic status, and local practices. On average, the world generates about 0.75 kilograms (1.65 pounds) of waste per person per day. With a population of 8.2 billion humans, that's 13.5 billion pounds of waste generated daily in the world. 

The good news is that the amount of waste produced per person has been declining since 1960, when it was 2.68 pounds per day. Bad news is that the World Bank expects waste to increase by as much as 50% between now and 2050 as the world's population grows and becomes more affluent. The more money, the more waste. High-income countries only account for 15% of the world's population, but generate about one third (33%) of the world's waste. 

Breakdown by Income:

• High-income countries generate more waste due to higher consumption rates. The average waste generation can be as high as 2.1 kilograms (4.6 pounds) per person per day.

• Middle-income countries generate less waste, averaging around 0.65 to 1.1 kilograms (1.4 to 2.4 pounds) per person per day.

• Low-income countries generate the least amount of waste, with an average of around 0.4 kilograms (0.86 pounds) per person per day.

Waste generation is influenced by economic development, urbanization, and consumption patterns. Managing this waste is a growing environmental challenge, particularly in rapidly urbanizing and developing regions.

Annually, the world generates approximately 2.01 billion tons of municipal solid waste. As global population and urbanization increase, waste generation is expected to rise significantly. By 2050, global waste generation could reach 3.4 billion tons annually, increasing the average per capita waste.

Part II. Food Waste

For as much as humans need food and treasure it, humans waste tons of food, and almost 20% of food goes to waste. On average, 74 kilograms (163 pounds) of food per person per year is wasted globally. Food waste is thus a significant global issue. Approximately 931 million metric tons of food are wasted annually worldwide. 

Food waste occurs at all stages of the supply chain, including:

• Households: 61% of food waste.
• Food service (restaurants, cafes, etc.): 26% of food waste.
• Retail (supermarkets, stores): 13% of food waste.

High-income countries often waste food at the consumption stage, meaning it's thrown away by consumers after being purchased. In low to middle-income countries food loss primarily occurs at the production, post-harvest, and processing stages due to factors like inadequate storage facilities, transportation issues, and inefficient supply chains.

Food waste also leads to the waste of resources used in food production, such as water, energy, and land. It's estimated that 30% of global agricultural land is used to produce food that is ultimately wasted. Food waste can also be associated with about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When food is thrown away and ends up in landfills, it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Addressing food waste is essential for creating a more sustainable and equitable food system globally. Reducing food waste is critical for addressing global hunger, conserving resources, and mitigating climate change. However, it requires coordinated efforts across the supply chain, from producers to consumers. Ongoing efforts to reduce food waste include improved food storage technologies, better supply chain management, consumer education, and policies that encourage food redistribution and waste reduction.

Part III. Recycling

Besides consuming less and wasting less, recycling is a great hope in managing waste. Worldwide, the rate of recycling varies greatly depending on the region, country, and type of waste. Approximately 20% of global waste is recycled. Up to 15% is composted. Around 10% is incinerated. About 40% is landfilled. The remaining 15% is unaccounted for and maybe left to pile up like for example all the plastic waste forming plastic waste islands floating on the oceans. 

More money, more waste, but at least more recycling also. High-income countries generally have higher recycling rates, often exceeding 30%, with some countries like Germany, Austria, and South Korea achieving rates above 50%. 

Applause to Germany. Germany has had the highest recycling rate in the world since 2016, recycling about 56% of its waste. Germany's recycling rate is due to a combination of strict waste policies and programs, including: 

• Pfand system: A deposit system where customers pay extra for bottles and cans, and then get reimbursed when they return the containers to a vendor 
• Dual responsibility: Companies are responsible for their packaging, and customers are responsible for disposing of it properly after purchase 
• Green Dot System: A system that helps with public awareness 

Other countries with high recycling rates include: 

• Austria: 54% 
• South Korea: 54% 
• Switzerland: 54%

Middle-income countries: Recycling rates in these countries are typically lower, around 10-20%. Low-income countries: Recycling rates are usually much lower, often below 5%, primarily due to lack of infrastructure and resources. Many regions in developing countries lack the necessary infrastructure for effective recycling. Recycling can be less economically viable in areas where it is cheaper to landfill waste.

Overall, while progress is being made in some parts of the world, there is still much work to be done to increase global recycling rates. Increasing global awareness of environmental issues and the push for a circular economy is driving efforts to improve recycling rates worldwide. However, significant challenges remain, particularly in developing regions.

Part IV. The Future of Recycling

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the environmental impact of waste, new and innovative recycling technologies are being developed to improve efficiency, expand the range of recyclable materials, and reduce the environmental footprint of recycling processes. For example:

1. Chemical Recycling: Breaks down plastics into their original monomers or other basic chemicals that can be reused to produce new plastics. Unlike traditional mechanical recycling, which can degrade the quality of plastic, chemical recycling can potentially recycle plastics indefinitely without loss of quality. This technology is particularly promising for recycling complex or contaminated plastics that are difficult to process mechanically.

2. Advanced Sorting Technologies: AI-driven robots and machines use advanced sensors, machine learning algorithms, and computer vision to identify and sort recyclable materials more accurately and efficiently than human-operated systems. These technologies can improve the sorting of mixed waste streams, leading to higher recycling rates and less contamination.

3. Biodegradable Plastics and Compostable Packaging: The development of biodegradable and compostable materials that can break down naturally without harming the environment is a growing field. These materials are designed to degrade quickly in composting environments, reducing the burden on traditional recycling systems. Used in packaging, single-use products, and agricultural films, these materials offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.

4. Plasma Arc Recycling: Extremely high temperatures (up to 10,000°C) generated by a plasma torch break down waste into its molecular components. The process can convert organic waste into syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide), which can be used as a fuel or chemical feedstock, while inorganic materials can be turned into a glass-like byproduct that can be used in construction. This technology is particularly useful for treating hazardous waste and complex materials that are difficult to recycle through conventional means.

5. Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) in Recycling capture carbon dioxide emissions from waste processing plants (e.g., incineration facilities) and convert them into useful products like chemicals, fuels, or building materials. This approach not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also creates valuable resources from waste. Integration with existing waste-to-energy plants and other industrial processes.

6. Recycling of Rare Earth Metals: As demand for electronics and renewable energy technologies grows, so does the need for rare earth metals. New technologies are being developed to recover these valuable metals from electronic waste (e-waste) and other sources, reducing the need for environmentally damaging mining practices. This is critical for sustainable electronics production and renewable energy technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries.

7. Microbial and Enzyme-Based Recycling: Certain bacteria and enzymes have the ability to break down specific types of plastics, such as PET (used in water bottles), into their basic components. These components can then be used to create new plastic products, offering a potential solution to the problem of plastic waste. This biotechnology is still in the early stages but holds promise for the recycling of a wide range of plastic types.

8. Circular Economy Technologies: The circular economy focuses on designing products and materials that can be reused, remanufactured, or recycled into new products, creating a closed-loop system. Technologies that support the circular economy include modular product design, material tracking systems, and remanufacturing techniques. 

9. 3D Printing with Recycled Materials is evolving to use recycled plastics and other materials as feedstock. This approach not only reduces waste but also opens up new possibilities for creating customized products with a lower environmental impact.

10. Self-Healing Materials can repair themselves after damage, reducing the need for recycling or replacement. These materials could be used in a variety of applications, from electronics to construction, extending the lifespan of products and reducing waste.

These emerging recycling technologies and approaches hold the potential to significantly improve waste management practices, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Part V. Unlimited Opportunities 

As world population continues to increase, challenges and opportunities are practically infinite as the universe itself. Every human wants to be a godly queen or king. In seeking pain relief, humans consume tons and produce plenty of waste. Business opportunities abound on both sides of the equation, helping humans cope with their individual pain to stay alive, and helping humanity cope with their collective pain trying to keep the planet sustainable (i.e. able to sustain human life).

The more you know. the more you enjoy. Live well. Die better. 

www.creatix.one