Trash in Toronto

I can't access the university website, so naturally, I'm not doing my homework.

After a long hiatus (how do you spell that?) from writing about what my blog is actually supposed to be about, I have another Greener Life post.

At home in the States, I thought my town was pretty avant garde for all the things they picked up in recycling bins. Books? Yep. Milk cartons? Totally. Newspapers, cardboard, tin cans? Of course!

Reality check. Toronto picks up your regular curbside trash, your regular curbside recycling... AND they pick up composting! It's taking me awhile to get used to putting my food scraps in a separate bag. Finally yesterday I got the little bin everybody uses. I feel so much... Greener ... than before.

So the deal is, they pick up trash and recycling on a bi-weekly (by that I mean once every other week) alternating basis. Compost, cleverly, they pick up every week.

They even have a "waste wizard" online to help out with the "what goes where" question.

I almost forgot: On the street, they even have separated bins for trash, different kinds of recycling, and often, special compartments for coffee cups! I challenge you to find another city that recycles coffee cups on the street. (Really, please share. Is it Canadian? Is it a west-coast mindset? A big city thing? I'm curious).

Responsibility

Is recycling a responsibility? Yes. To nature, to all living things on Earth, and to the future generations of said life.

For whom should recycling become a responsibility, and who should recycle? Individuals, corporations, government - everyone plays a part.

Is it always convenient, or an easy responsibility to perform? No. Sometimes counties, cities, municipalities, apartments, condominiums, or neighborhoods don't have the most convenient or complete recycling programs on offer.

Does this mean that people should only recycle when it's convenient? Emphatically, no! If everyone only did what was convenient in every aspect of his or her life, then our societies would be in chaos. Imagine a father not caring for his children because it's inconvenient. Or a daughter not looking after her aging mother because it's not convenient. Try employers not going to work because it's inconvenient. What about corporations who don't look out for their employees because it's easier and more convenient to look out for the big head at the top? Or people as a whole not participating in government elections and procedures because maybe it's not convenient to stand in line for four hours just to cast a vote. There are other examples I haven't listed, but I'm sure the idea comes across.

I have now taken on the responsibility of recycling for my whole apartment (that's three people total, and a lot of recycling!). Because, my roommates don't worry about recycling - it's not a concern of theirs, that the landfills grow bigger every day, that toxic chemicals are left sitting around, that plastic and styrofoam are left to decay over thousands of years. Granted, I'm not perfect - I bought a coffee this morning that came in a styrofoam cup. Had I thought of that as I passed Starbucks, I may have changed my mind and bought coffee there. I didn't.

What bothers my roommates are appearances. So having bags of recycling in the kitchen and the living room bothers them, because it doesn't look pretty. Nevermind that the landfills are much, MUCH uglier than our crowded kitchen. The other reason for their lack of motivation to recycle is that our apartment has just the bare minimum of recycling bins set out in the basement. So in order to recycle most of what we don't throw away (which is paperboard, as opposed to glass and plastic, and white paper, as opposed to newspapers) must be recycled at the local recycling center. Read here to find out more about recycling in your area. Our center is only about four blocks away, a two minute drive... a trip I can't make by myself, as I don't own or have regular use of a car. Though I am going to look in to Zipcars. Someday. I may be able to walk to the grocery store, but there's really no practical way to walk to the recycling center, with all the recycling we have.

But. My roommates don't care to drive there. Because they just don't want to. Personally, I think sorting and throwing things into bins and or dumpsters is kind of fun, especially if you're along with a friend. I'm not the only one, either. Well, I've looked for the quote and can't find it, but to paraphrase: Will Ferrell has said he looks forward to driving up to the recycling center in his plug-in hybrid.

They don't have the time, yet there are 24 usable hours in every day (watch Empire Records to find that quote). Sure, subtract some hours for sleep, and on weekdays some for work, and for hanging out - how many people don't have downtime during the week? An hour? That's all it takes.

So, even though I'm not as concerned about appearances as my roommates, I am the only one who cares about the future of the planet. Did I mention I turn off lights we're not using? And I make sure the TV and cable are off when we're not using them? And I unplug appliances that aren't in use, even if they're off. Pat yourself on the back if you do, too. Because degrees of cleanliness reflect on one's immediate surroundings, and on a small, small part of our individual worlds, but recycling positively affects our entire Earth, and everyone in it.

The Washington Post Goes Green All Over

Attended an event this past Wednesday at the Washington Post, a Q&A session with Post writers. Only stayed for the first half, which was quite interesting. But I'm jumping ahead.

When we arrived, we received a green publication, and a bingo-like card to fill as we walked around each of the tables, which were set up as a small Going Green expo. Everyone who visited every table got a raffle ticket. There were too many window companies, in my opinion, but at one of the window companies' tables I got a free reusable shopping bag!

Ironically, most of the tables were handing out half a dozen pamphlets and brochures each.. most of them white paper, which is easily recycled, but some not - and the first step is to not create that paper, so that it doesn't need to be recycled, which unsurprisingly uses more energy than not having anything to recycle in the first place.

I found the panel session to be fascinating. Firstly, the MC asked a question, which made for a great ice-breaker, IMO. Not only that, it was a pertinent question: Is this new green consciousness a fad, or is it here to stay? The members of the panel almost unanimously agreed that trends show it seems to be here to stay. Although on trips up to Massachusetts over the Labor Day weekend, they noticed just as many cars speeding (which uses more fuel than going the speed limit) there were, they mentioned, fewer cars on the road than in previous years. (I took the train). More effort is being made by companies to create big changes, like NASA, which is moving toward eliminating coal plants in the near future. Furthermore, Jura Koncius, writer for the Home section, mentioned that green labels are selling more. Incandescent lightbulbs are being phased out, and apparently will soon be outlawed in the US (haven't checked up on this and am a bit sceptical). Also on the rise are farmers markets.

The last point made in answer to this question was the one main motivating factor: Greed. It all comes back to money. If green products become cheaper, or even if they're statistically cheaper over the long run, consumers will start buying them, and corporations are going to market what sells.

Question number two asked why all the focus is on consumers. One panel member responded that it is also a political question (hint hint: if you're not already involved in politics, get started!!). Marc Kaufman put it this way: Obama says environmental policies are going to change, McCain says they're going to change, Biden wants change, Palin doesn't.

One attendee asked why green products like Seventh Generation detergents aren't on the shelves, and the answer was: Speak to the store manager. If that doesn't work, write the company itself. Also, Proctor and Gamble (according to a panel member not the most environmentally conscious company) has started packaging its detergents in more concentrated forms, which cuts back on transportation emissions and materials used in the packaging itself.

Lastly, a lady asked if organic food, which evidently sits on shelves longer, isn't less healthy than normal produce. One panel member's opinion was that organic food, no matter how long it's sitting on the shelves (I wouldn't buy fuzzy vegetables) is healthier, because there are no pesticides. Statistically the produce that gets the most pesticide treatment is the peach, followed by apples and lettuce. I'm never going to not wash my produce again, and when I wash my lettuce you can bet I'm washing the insides of the leaves, too. No doubt.

Some useful websites:
Environmental Working Group (for lists of produce that are grown with pesticides)
Green Pages (lists of companies that sell green products)

Why Bother?

I know a few readers and I have been having something of a debate to answer the question: What effect can one individual have on the Big Problem? (Whichever problem one might be referring to at the time, or indeed, all of them at once). In this case, however, we'll stick to the Green Problem.

This article, by Michael Pollan of the New York Times, proposes to answer the question, Why Bother ? Why bother growing your own garden, or turning off your water faucet while you wash your hands or brush your teeth? Why bother using a clothes line instead of a dryer, or handwashing dishes instead of using a dishwasher (see post about Dishwashing Dilemma, and article at Slate.com for more on that issue, however)... Why bother opening windows instead of turning on the AC in the summertime? Why re-use and recycle when the trash can is right there? Why make all these little changes in your life when it's easier, and more habitual, to go on as you always have?

What can one person do, when the crisis is already here? Does it really require legislation and different technology before the change can be effective? Then again, what happens when 300 million people make the decision to bother?

Going Green at Wolf Trap, With the Backstreet Boys!!

I realize this makes me uncool in the extreme, but I definitely enjoyed myself last night at the Backstreet Boys concert.

Before you laugh so hard your drink exits through your nose, however, let me just point out that the concert was sold out, and attended by people of varying ages. And too many teenie-boppers in too-short dresses. But nevermind.

Girlicious started off the evening with hip hop beats that 'featured' stars like Sean Kingston (they made a recording, so he was there digitally, at least). For the uninitiated, Girlicious was created by the Pussycat Dolls. Essentially the same band, with maybe one fewer member and ten fewer years on them.

Then we waited, and waited.... and waited. Finally the house lights went down, the stage lights went up, and a voice announced... the Backstreet Boys! I still can't believe I actually attended their concert. To start, it was sort of a joke. "Ha ha, wouldn't it be funny if..."

Much to my surprise, they are (still) very good performers. They even opened with a blow-up boxing rink, where they did their uniform dance moves and pretended to battle. The dancing did not disappoint. Same stuff they used to do 10 (15?) years ago. Of course, they sang the classics (I'm sure everyone knows what they are ;), and plenty of songs I hadn't heard before (I wasn't that big a fan as a pre-teen). They all have their own solo thing going on now, so they sang some songs individually - AJ's had to be my favorite. At one point, he even came out wearing a Run DMC t-shirt, which I found particularly interesting. Some of his dance moves ought to be checked out on YouTube, if there are any videos up.

Throughout the whole concert there was much screaming, clapping, arm-waving, and singing, as there should be at any pop concert worth its speakers. And, to finish the night off on an especially good note, we left before the traffic got so bad we would have had to spend an hour in the parking lot. All in all, a very good, if late, night.

I feel I should also mention that Wolf Trap's concessions stands have gone green, with all biodegradable plastics and glass and plastic recycling. If you don't mind that they're made out of corn that people all over the world could be eating, go ahead and waste your money buying food in plastic containers at Wolf Trap. Though it is more fun to bring your own picnic (drinks and food allowed into the park).

The Peanut Hotline. Or, How To Recycle Styrofoam Packing

A colleague of mine contacted me today about recycling some packaging peanuts she didn't want to waste. Previously this year I was handed a stack of stapled papers so that I could remove the dozens of staples before recycling the white paper (which is all that is officially recycled at the museum). My determination to re-use and recycle is well-known here. The offer was presented with a laugh, and I willingly spent the next 10 minutes de-stapling the pages by hand (I don't have one of those nifty staple-removers that remind me of the back end of hammers).

To get back to the main point of the story, I told my co-worker that I didn't actually have any idea how to recycle packaging peanuts, except to re-use them in later shipments. I offered to do a little research to find out how and where plastic loose fill can be recycled. Very quickly I found The Plastic Loose Fill Council, which has a very convenient online form to find drop-off centers in your area. There is also the Peanut Hotline, which refers thousands of customers each month to nearby drop-off facilities for packing peanuts.