What a great day off from work! I managed to clean out my shed (by which I really mean reorganized and crammed in more stuff like the patio chairs, grill, etc) and in doing so I also took out all the bagged returnable bottles and cans which have been accumulating in an ever growing pile! So yes, I finally brought them into the redemption center which not only gave me a few bucks but also got me thinking about the whole recycling thing -which is good and not so good. Okay - it also got me wondering how the guy was able to talk with his buddies without losing track of the number of returnables I brought in...
But back to the recycling... I mean, I take the time to recycle returnable beverage containers and I also recycle glass, aluminum, plastic and paper because we have curb side recycling in town -which is a great thing. But I also have to wonder about all it involves. First we have these extra trucks coming by every week stopping at each house to collect and sort the materials. So right there is fuel use and pollution added into the environment. Then the stuff gets brought to the center where machines (also using power and causing pollution) breaks down the materials into re-usable materials. I try to weigh it all out in my mind. It provides jobs... but it also takes job from the makers of the original products; but it saves on limited resources and helps save trees and... well whatever stuff is used to make plastic, aluminum and glass... okay so I didn't say I researched this... just got me thinking. I also suppose there is less waste in the landfills which is definitely a good thing.
Of course I will continue to recycle because it feels like the right thing to do - even if I'm not completely convinced on how much of a difference it makes. I guess when you hear the three-part slogan "recycle, reduce, reuse" that "reduce" really trumps the other two, with "reuse" as second best, and then what you don't eliminate or reuse, you should recycle. Okay - I really have no idea how that stinky sock (was that mold?) ended up with my bottles but I don't think I want to reuse or recycle it!
Continuing the good verses not so good mind trip I'm currently on - I refrain from using paper products and plastic but when you don't use paper plates, for example a kid's birthday party, then think about all the extra water you're using to clean the glass plates? And aren't we suppose to be mindful of water usage? And of course I'm totally guilty of buying lots of products that I just can not recycle because my town limits the types of plastics it recycles - but I really need certain hair products (and it's not up for debate).
We say we want to make a difference and we do a few little things and feel good about ourselves, but sometimes it feels fake. I know they say that ignorance is bliss -which is why I looked away when the guy at the redemption center opened a bag of rather sticky and not so clean bottles - but mostly I don't want to be ignorant. Despite the fact that I am using plastic bags that are getting thrown away to bring in the returnable plastic beverage containers! Yet I trust that someone out there has done the research and I am totally on board with the "reduce" and "reuse" and will just have to trust that "recycling" is a good thing too!
2 comments:
You know, the funny thing is that not all of the products we recycle actually gets recycled. I can't remember where I read it but it turns out that only a little over a tenth of what we recycle actually gets processed and used again. Still, it's the right thing to do.
Reducing what we use, not buying or wasting what what we don't need actually helps and, if nothing else, it teaches future generations not to be so wasteful. Nevertheless, it does feel like a futile uphill battle at times, does it not?
We recycle too and have been doing it for some time. It is nice because the center for drop off is really close to the house and we separate and dispose into bins without the assistance of anyone.
I am guilty of not rinsing out every bottle, but what are you gonna do. It is either get a dirty bottle once in awhile or my huge family not recycle...I think I am doing the right thing for the world. My little part at least. :)
It's a pain in the a$$ occasionally, but I still do it.
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