The goal is to recycle more than we waste. Way more.
“The world has a garbage problem.”
Sweden is taking a giant step in the right direction by recycling 99% of their trash as described in the video below. They incinerate about half to make energy, but first, they sort out the organic material, metals, glass, etc.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152368487537499&set=vb.199701427498&type=2&theater
My husband gets excited about composting. Having discovered first hand how 40% of the produce grown in this country is wasted, he does what he can to divert local organic material from rotting in the landfill, and dreams of a large scale composting operation that would create and capture energy. He’s always going on about black soldier fly larvae and worms being so helpful in breaking down garbage. I don’t mind him going on about it, because I know it’s a good thing.
I tend to be more localized to the home front, saving banana peels in the freezer, and putting everything I can in the recycle bin. I’ve recently started saving plastic reusable to-go containers from a couple of the more eco-friendly restaurants and taking them with me when we go out to eat where the only take out containers available are made of styrofoam. I don’t care if anybody thinks this is weird. That’s how much I hate styrofoam, which I say like a cuss word, because it can take up to one million years to decompose, and is typically refused by recycling companies.
Now, if I can just remember to take those canvas bags to the grocery store!
We can all make a difference, one step at at time.
What’s something you do, or would like to do to reduce, reuse or recycle?
September 9, 2014 at 2:41 pm
This year I’ve been de-cluttering and taking a lot of stuff to the thrift store. I found that there were plenty of old things in my house that I hadn’t used in years.
And I agree with you about styrofoam — it even feels icky!
September 9, 2014 at 9:45 pm
Thanks for your comment Meg. Come to think of it, styrofoam does feel icky, and it makes strange noises when you touch it. De-cluttering is something I need to work on too. Comes partly from buying too many second hand clothes that were such a good deal at the thrift store. Thanks for the reminder!