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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Do You Recycle????

OK, one of the biggest things I noticed while I was swanning around the UK visiting with friends and family is that they're all recycling... everyone is at it... some more than others but it's a way of life, a given, no second thoughts about it.

My sister even recycles left over food into a brown square box, I think there was a plastic bag in it... a green plastic bag but plastic nonetheless. There are wheely bins for glass and paper, some for plastics and cardboard and a regular trash can. I couldn't help feeling totally guilty about my lack of recycling. I mean, I know I should do it but no one is forcing asking me to do it. My local utility company just gives us a large wheely bin to fill as we please and they come and very nicely pull it to the road, then they empty it, then very nicely put it back in it's place. Nothing more for me to think about.

There is a recycling place down the street to which I take cardboard boxes so as not to fill the trash can, but I never take my milk jugs or my magazines and newspapers there. I never take my shredding to the local pet shelter, I don't keep my glass bottles and take them to the bottle bank or anything like that. There's a huge chain-link pen type thingy at the fire station for aluminum cans, but do I take our cans there?.... no... we don't drink out of cans that's probably why.

The other thing that struck me as strange at first was that every time I went into a store to buy something they'd ask me if I wanted a bag... yes of course I want a bag... I need something to put this crap in. Oh.. in good old M&S they CHARGED me 10p for a freakin' plastic bag. My sissy was quick to explain their tactics of charging for bags as a deterrent to using plastic bags!!! Should have taken my "shopper" with me. I bought a few "shoppers" while I was there because I didn't want to have eggs thrown at me for carrying plastic bags.

So all in all it's left me wondering just what we can do to make South GA catch up with the rest of the world in their efforts to rid the planet of all the waste we're creating.  First things first, I am totally committing to taking my "shoppers" with me EVERYWHERE!!!!  There are so many cute ones to be had, it's like the latest must have accessory. Secondly, I am purchasing a rotary clothes line to plant in the yard, hubby is dead against this but he's fighting a losing battle on this one. The laundry smells so fresh and clean when dried outdoors so rotary line it is. Join me, bloggers, get yourself one and let me know how you like it. Of course the nether garments will remain inside and be dried by the big bad drier but it won't take long will it??? what do you mean my Granny panties may take three hours on hot?????
I think I'll also lobby the "City" to find out what they're doing about recycling and why we don't have to separate our trash? You know me, I'll keep on and on and on and on and on and on until they can't take it anymore!!!!!! Why in the world are we so behind with this... why don't they give you paper bags at Walmart, why is the Earth round??? Check in later for answers to these and other questions!!!! for now... Recycle baby, recycle!!!! Think Green, WOOP!!!!!!!!!!

6 comments:

Mrs. M said...

I recycle everything I can! I live in a great community that even provides us (for a modest fee of course) with a yard/food waste compost bin that they pick up every 2 weeks!!

Liz Mays said...

I have a clothesline too, but I actually can't stand the smell of the clothes when they dry out there!

Brian Miller said...

we do and we got the boys to help make the bins and paint them so they are excited about it as well...cool to see them so concious of it...

Tracie said...

Yes, we recycle and it's a bit of a pain here because we don't have curbside either. I also take my 'shoppers' everywhere. I like them so much more than plastic bags.

mrs green @ myzerowaste.com said...

Well this makes me feel better! I'm from the UK and I don't think we do anywhere near enough. So now, from your perspective you've helped me shift mine. .
Glad this had such a positive impact and I hope you manage to bring about some changes in your part of the world :)

Fidgeting Gidget said...

Living in Canada has really changed us from a recycle/garbage standpoint. They pick up recyclables and compost each week and garbage every other week. We're only allowed 2 bags of garbage every 2 weeks or we have to pay extra. They also aren't big on garbage disposals in sinks, here, either. They charge 5 cents for every plastic bags and are huge on using plastic bins and reusable bags for groceries.