The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the average person generates more than 4 pounds of trash each day, amounting to about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year. It also estimates that 75% of the waste that goes into trash cans is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it.
Horse owners aren’t exempt from these statistics. Think of how many water bottles you’ve tossed after riding on a hot day or how many plastic shavings bags you’ve stuffed in the trash. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to make a few eco-friendly changes to your equine lifestyle. In this article we’ll discuss what and how you can recycle and reuse for a greener barn.
Set Up a Recycling System
First things first: Encourage a more recycling-minded atmosphere at your barn, regardless of whether it’s your two-stall personal barn or a large commercial boarding facility. And your efforts will be much more effective if they’re well- thought-out and organized.
“The most important part of setting up a good recycling system is to designate a ‘recycling person in charge’ who is really passionate about saving the world,” says Barbara G. Crabbe, DVM, of Pacific Crest Sporthorse Equine Veterinary Services, in Beavercreek, Oregon. Her practice made the commitment to “go green” in 2009, and she’s since set up an extensive recycling program for the clinic. “For me, reminding my employees constantly about how important it is to our practice is huge. I actually dig through the trash when I see things that could be recycled, hunt down whoever put it in there, and tell them where it should go,” adding that, yes, her colleagues sometimes fondly call her crazy.
Read the full story at http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37524/recycling-on-the-farm.