The latest episode of @the_prepared podcast with @pencerw and @AdamMinter on the global scrap market is absolutely fascinating. At the very small scale, managing waste streams is one of the biggest challenges I face in my small manufacturing operation. Story time follows: I try really hard to be as efficient as possible (for environ. and econ. reasons), but the reality is that at least half of the wood (by volume) that enters my shop leaves it as a waste product. Wood comes in rectangular solids and leaves as complex 3d maps, so there's waste.

This isn't some revolutionary insight (I'm very basic, after all), but it bears repeating: infrastructure is the fundamental thing that enables you to do everything else. In my shop, that means good lighting, heat, ear protection, comfortable shoes, compressed air and outlets where I need them, trash cans, dumpster service, etc. In my office it's printers (what, you don't have 7 printers too?), tape dispensers, trash cans, shelves, etc.