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Interview With A Green: The Three Pillars Of Solid Waste

Question: Even though you’ve just discussed how being green involves a lot more than just recycling, I’m guessing that most people start by doing just that. Is this a good first step??

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Of course it is, because every little bit helps. Remember that many folks are not yet willing to take the plunge into a fully green lifestyle, but they want to at least do something to help reduce their footprint on this planet. This is easy for them to do, and so it makes sense from that perspective. One thing Greens need to be careful of is carrying around a “greener-than-thou” attitude. Everyone is on a different path, and everyone is at their own rung of the ladder in terms of their personal evolution. I may ride a bicycle to work and you might not be willing to make that sacrifice yet, or be in a position to do so. But you might be doing something else, such as being vegan, where I just can’t seem to give up my steaks quite yet!! As long as one does what they can now, and keeps setting loftier goals for the future, then one is at least on the right track. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and where the trail starts depends a lot on what that individual is comfortable with doing at the present time.

However, most environmentalists agree on a three-tier hierarchy: reduce, re-use, and recycle. This means that, because recycling still consumes energy, it is better to reduce consumption in the first place when possible. This also avoids the initial cost of manufacturing the item in terms of the energy used and the pollution caused.

Then look for ways to re-use it before recycling.

I firmly believe it is absolutely criminal that this country makes up only 6% of the world’s population, and yet uses 60% of the world’s resources!! And with the on-going development and growth of other countries who want more of the pie, this will inevitably lead to additional strife between nations and eventually result in nothing less than all-out war. It is not the environmentalists who want us to go back to living in caves, it is the law of physics that says we cannot continue at this unsustainable pace. Do the math – even just 6 countries wanting 60% comes out to more than 100%!! So why not start now to “live simply that others may simply live”??

As a few examples, how difficult would it be for people to bring a ceramic mug for coffee at work instead of using throwaway styrofoam or wax paper cups?? Or to use cloth bags at the store instead of paper or plastic?? To avoid purchasing the latest plastic disposable gadget when a more durable eco-friendly method exists?? I don’t need to be the first one on my block to buy an HD TV, and I can live quite comfortably without a dishwasher or a garbage compacter…my feet still work just fine for smashing cans!!

In addition, watching what one does purchase can also reduce waste and pollution. One can use non-bleached 100% post-consumer recycled paper products (including printer paper, paper towels, and toilet paper). One can buy in bulk or shop for groceries at a co-op where the same containers can be re-filled each trip - or at least make purchases based on how eco-friendly the packaging is. Buying from green companies indirectly helps lower the impact on the planet, as does choosing well-built longer lasting items instead of cheap plastic Wal-Mart crap. Eating organic and locally grown foods avoids the overuse of pesticides, herbicides, and the pollution of cross-country transportation. There is a trend in this country to push “individual sized” portions – what ever happened to using tupperware??

While I finally broke down and bought a cell phone for emergency use, my pay-as-you-go plan provides an adequate number of minutes for around $7 per month without the need for texting or taking pictures or surfing the web until I get home. That way it doesn’t end up in the landfill next year when the “latest and greatest” brand new model with “tons of new features” comes out.

Even back in the ‘70s, Alvin Toffler demonstrated in his excellent book, Future Shock, how we had become a throw-away society. And there is no excuse, because there are so many imaginative ways to re-use things if folks cared enough to consider them. Rechargeable batteries work just fine for most applications, as do refillable pump spray bottles in place of aerosol cans. I re-use old packing peanuts, and when there are more than I need the local shipping store welcomes them. Some smaller stores will even take back egg cartons. Although I often lament the passing of those days when one could find places that service broken electronic equipment, with a little effort I have become very adept at making repairs myself on many different things. Otherwise, the parts may come in handy for some future project...

Of course, there is always the yard sale if one has the time, or a trip to donate the item to the Salvation Army or Goodwill or someone else. My brother and his wife have managed to make ends meet during his recent unemployment in part by finding valuable pieces that others have hastily thrown away and selling them at a profit on eBay. It is just as amazing what some people ignorantly discard as it is what other people will buy!!

Then, when all else fails, it is time to recycle. You would be amazed at what all could be recycled if the effort is taken. Not just pop cans, but junk mail and office paper, tin cans, bottles, some plastics, scrap aluminum, and more. I have the advantage of living in the country where I can burn my paper wastes (out here where there are less people the air can purify itself much faster than it takes for the paper to decompose in a landfill, due its poor design), but in the last 25 years I have probably taken less than a half dozen pickup loads to the dump – even with the construction wastes incurred in building a house. Compare this to the 3-4 bags or trash cans full that my neighbors dispose of each week!!

One last thought on this. One recycling center I used to patronize quit taking glass because no one was buying it for re-use. There has to be a need by a manufacturer before recycling a particular material becomes viable. This is the biggest reason no one in Ohio takes styrofoam or anything but #1 and #2 plastics. If the parks department and other government agencies, for instance, would commit to purchasing park benches made of recycled plastic – or contractors began using recycled plastic lumber – this could easily change.

This page was last updated on February 12, 2023

Always remember to "Think Green" because good planets are hard to find!!

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