Residential Real EstateRecycling At Home
A survey of communities across the United States would reveal that some
regions of the country are far more enlightened than others when it comes
to recycling. Within many communities, city leaders are taking a proactive
stance and have successfully pushed through such initiatives as curbside
pick-ups for newspapers, glass, plastic, aluminum and other common
recyclables. Other communities have no such conveniences for their
residents, and while the majority of communities do have public drop-off
points for recyclables, these centers are based on the assumption that
families regularly separate their recyclables, package them up, load them
in the car and drive across town to the nearest drop-off point.
In the age of two-income families, and given that the 9-to-5 workday is a
thing of the past, that"s a big assumption to make. Convenience is a must
if recycling programs are to be successful. When consumers have to drive
across town to drop off their recyclables, they"re more likely to question
the impact that their individual contributions will make to the
preservation of the planet.
Environmentalists have estimated that the average American produces more
than 4 pounds of garbage each day, a figure that translates into an average
of 1,500 pounds of garbage per person each year. Even more eye-opening is
the nationwide daily statistic of approximately 200 million tons of garbage
produced in the United States. Cities of every size are debating about just
where this garbage should be stored. That"s a long-term decision, given
that it takes glass an average of 1 million years to break down, aluminum
an average of 500 years and tin approximately one century.
Drive by any landfill, and you"re likely to see what has become a national
problem: overflow. As a result, cities have turned to incinerating their
waste, which is hardly a solution because of the air pollution that such
methods can produce. Ironically, incinerators often produce a variety of
toxic ash which must then be stored somewhere, creating a vicious circle.
Even more ironic is the estimate environmentalists have projected that
nearly 70 percent of this waste could be recycled. What can consumers do
within their own households to promote recycling, regardless of whether or
not their communities have adopted environmentally conscious programs?
It starts the next time you"re at the grocery store. Instead of relying on
the bags your store uses to package your groceries (most of which tear
under the weight of cans and other heavy items), bring your own bag. If you
didn"t bring your own bag and you"re making a small purchase of just one or
two items, tell the clerk you don"t need a bag. While you"re strolling the
aisles, seek out products -- paper napkins and paper towels, for example --
made of recycled material. They"re labeled with a series of arrows that
form a circle, so they"re easy to spot. Yes, they often cost a little more,
but the payoff is definitely worth the small investment. When you"re in the
laundry detergent aisle, select containers labeled as refills, rather than
brands packaged in large, plastic containers. There"s no need to repurchase
containers when you can simply reuse the one you already own. Avoid
purchasing paper plates and cups and plastic utensils. They provide you
with a shortcut come dishwashing time, but they also create needless waste.
Many modern grocery stores -- and in particular, organic food stores --
offer a variety of items sold in bulk, from spices to cereal to pasta to
peanut butter. Take advantage of these items; they avoid using packing
material and producing waste, and best of all, they"re often much less
expensive. You"ll also find that buying in bulk allows you to experiment
with a variety of new spices and varieties of foods. Since you package your
own food, you"re free to purchase as little as you wish, so your commitment
is minimal. It"s an excellent way to expose your family to new foods, and
you"re doing your part for the environment.
Before you purchase anything -- food or otherwise -- consider how long it"s
likely to last. It"s more cost-effective both to your bank account and the
environment to save your money and purchase long-lasting, more durable
items that translate into less waste.
When you arrive home, consider such measures as installing a trash
compactor in your kitchen (or using yours if you"ve neglected to do so).
While they don"t eliminate waste, trash compactors can at least reduce the
amount of space consumed by garbage. Not everything has to be thrown in
your trash compactor, either; call your local utility company to determine
which materials are safe for putting down your garbage disposal, if you
have one. Some utility companies will tell you it"s safe to place such
materials as coffee grounds down your garbage disposal, and others will
tell you to avoid it.
If your community doesn"t have its own recycling program in place, you can
still do your part and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Purchase
your own separate containers for newspaper, glass, plastic, alumnium, etc.,
making the collection process easier for your family. Make a date once a
week for delivery to your nearest recycled material drop-off center.
Designating the same day every week will make the task easier to remember
-- and honor.
To help illustrate the significance that your individual efforts can have
on the environment, consider the following factoids:
Two plastic soft-drink bottles create enough polyester for a baseball cap.
One recycled glass bottle saves enough energy to illuminate a 100-watt
light bulb for four hours.
A recycled park bench contains approximately 1,000 bottles and jugs.
Also See:
Earthship Brokers
Garbage In, Garbage Out
Think Green and Compost Household Scraps
"Off-the-Shelf" Products Turn White House Green