Yesterday, I stumbled across this shocking and disheartening collection of photos that show the very real consequences of pollution and irresponsible waste handling. They’re hard to shake. It would be easy to seek comfort by assuming that scenes like this are not possible in this country, and for the most part, that’s true. But that strikes me as a cop out.

The fact is, much of the material depicted in these faraway lands originated in or passed through the United States. And it is U.S.-based companies that deliver and heavily market these products (and product containers) overseas without providing any method for reclamation or helping to provide for proper disposal. There’s no escaping our complicity in what is an environmental and human tragedy.