Recycling is definitely a green activity that feels good. But is recycling enough? And does it address the core challenge of our consumption and waste habits?
The goal of recycling is threefold. First, it can help cut back our excessive extraction of natural resources. Recycling also can scale down the energy it takes to extract, produce and transport new products, thus cutting carbon emissions. And finally, it can reduce our landfills.
Americans are recycling only 30 percent of what could be recycled, leaving the other 70 percent going straight to the landfills. While increasing these recycling rates is important, it’s still just a Band-Aid. Even with the newest, largest recycling center in the U.S., Southern Nevada still generates an exponential amount of waste.
Recycling everything possible is vital. Buying products that can be recycled and are made from recycled materials is a necessary step in the right direction. And paying attention to what can and can’t be recycled is also necessary.
When asked what should not be put into all-in-one recycle bins, Len Christopher, general manager of the Southern Nevada Recycling Center, quickly responded, “plastic utensils, styrofoam, food waste, anything wet, plastic shopping bags and, oh yes, garden hoses and syringes.”
While many of these no-no’s are no-brainers, the rest only require simple changes, such as using reusable shopping bags and doing away with plastic utensils altogether.
Now, lets start thinking beyond recycling.
Out of sight, out of mind
Most people have seen TV stories of hoarders who live in spaces filled with stuff. I entered a home in Japan where there was no place to sit or even stand except in the crowded hallway.
While I stared at the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling stuff, I was amazed and slightly disgusted. However, it occurred to me that most Japanese urban homes have limited closet space and cupboards and zero coat closets, pantries, garages or sheds.
Imagine if we emptied our closets and storage spaces into our homes. We may be just as surprised and disgusted if piles of unused stuff filled our homes.
To read the full story, visit http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/home-and-garden/beyond-recycling-reduce-consumption-and-waste-habits.