The United States of Recycling

Ten Reasons for Recycling

A New Year’s reminder – this may be old news but I think it worthwhile to remind ourselves once in a while why we do reuse, reduce, recycle.

According to estimates, every American produces an average of 7.5 pounds of trash on a daily basis.  Yikes!  That may not seem like much, but when you do that for a year, you have produced 2737.5 pounds of trash.  That’s over a ton!  Now, multiply that by the number of people in the US and you will quickly realize why we need to recycle our wastes.   With that being said, here are ten reasons to recycle now.

1. It Makes For Good Economy

Recycling makes good economics.  Many states profit from recycling revenues. This can run into billions of dollars.  These reveues  can then be poured into making the economy stronger.  Our country also exports its recycled products to other nations, creating more income because we recycled.  And today, many companies rely on recycled materials to produce new products.

2.  It Creates Jobs

The recycling industry is on a roll.  The industry requires manpower which means more jobs – even in these recessionary times.  In fact, the recycling industry earns over $236 billion annually and employs more than 1 million workers.

3.  It Reduces Waste

This is a no-brainer, as one of the main purposes for recycling is to lessen the wastes in our landfills.  And you are probably aware of the negative impact landfills have on the environment.  They create toxic leaks into the soil, which breeds a host of other problems for our society.

4.  It Is Eco-Friendly

Another no-brainer.  Recycling utilizes fewer natural resources and requires less energy, not to mention decreasing the burden on the landfills and other trash areas of the nation.

5.  It Saves Energy

Instead of using virgin materials that require greater energy expenditures to transform into their final forms, recycling old materials utilizes only about half of the energy.  For example, recycling aluminum saves 90 percent of the cost necessary to make aluminum from scratch.

6.  It Lessens the Burden on the Land

Here’s an example:  A glass company contacted local contractors to use their stockpiled mountains of glass.  What did they use it for?  They used it as a substitute for sand and gravel in building roads and highways.  Imagine the space that stockpile would take in the landfills.

7.  It Mitigates Global Warming

Each material that we recycle means fewer greenhouse gases being emitted into the air. This can mitigate the effects of global warming.

8.  It Reduces Water Pollution and Use

There are many ways this is possible.  Transforming recycled materials into new products often requires less water.  Toxic leaks from landfills are reduced with less trash in them.  We all end up with healthier, cleaner, clearer water.

9.  It Protects Wildlife

Because there is less need to harvest the forests of its riches – trees, that is – the habitats of many wild animals are spared.  Because of this, we are protecting the wildlife.

10. It Creates New Demand for Recycled Products

Thanks to the ripple effect, the process of making and buying recycled products creates a new demand for them.  And so the cycle of recycling starts again and again, all for the benefit of society and the environment.

So remember, every little paper, tin can, plastic bottle and other things that you recycle is for the benefit of not just you and your immediate surroundings, but also the national economy and international community as well.

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Card Recycling

How many ways were you able to make your Christmas green?  Here are some ideas you can still use if you haven’t yet.

1.  Christmas Cards:  the obvious answer here is to recycle the cards, as they are made of paper. Another idea is to reuse the cards; i.e. tear off the fronts and use the picture or greetings for a craft project.  Or donate the cards to an after school project that needs supplies.

2.  Wrapping paper:  again, recycle this with your paper recycling.  If it is in good shape, fold it and pack it away to reuse next year.  Bows can also be reused.

3.  Christmas Trees:  if you have an artificial tree – this is simple.  Put it back in the box to reuse it next year.  If you bought a “live tree” you can plant it in your yard – after the thaw, of course!  Did you buy a cut tree?  Most cities of any size have a pick up service that then shreds the trees into mulch.  I live in a small town with no pick up, but we do have a local place to take trees and they will then shred them.  Check out your city to see what is available.  Do you live near a woods?  Take your tree into the woods and let it decompose naturally.  In the meantime the birds and other wildlife will enjoy it.

4.  Extra food:  get together with your neighbors, friends, family, and have a “leftover” party.  Everyone can bring their leftovers – hopefully renewed in their preparation – and share not only the food, but a good time together and possibly some new recipes.

5.  Memories of wonderful moments:  keep them close to your heart and bring them out to review as needed. 

Have a Green New Year!

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Christmas Cards

Are you still sending Christmas cards to everyone you know?  This has always been a great tradition this time of year.  It is a way to reach out to those who live far away or those we don’t see very often and let them know that we are thinking of them.

I would ask, though, how responsible to our environment are we being by sending cards?  They are made from trees, right?  And they do use our monetary resources which could be used to help the world in other ways.

So as much as I love hearing from friends and getting cards in the mail, I find that this year I have decided to do a different way.  Yes – you guessed it!  I am e-mailing my greetings!  I have decided to be responsible this year and here are three reasons.

EXPENSE:  Cards with envelopes as well as the postage can really add up.  I know people who used to send cards to well over 100 people.  And while I have fewer people on my list, the cost still adds up.

TIME:  Making a list, finding the addresses, addressing the envelopes, writing personal messages all take LOTS of time.  Time is valuable and can be used for other purposes during this season.  Instead of taking the 2-3 hours it takes to get the cards ready  – go down to your local soup kitchen and donate a couple of hours.  They will be grateful and you will have done something good for society.

KEEP IT GREEN:  Christmas cards use a LOT of paper which comes from trees.  Save a tree or two.  Send digital cards.

The fact is that, with the use of the computer, we are able to  “keep in touch” with others more easily.  So, if you haven’t mailed any cards yet and you want to send your greetings, sit down and write a nice note that can be sent to everyone.  And let them know your reasons – you’ll be glad you did.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Related articles:

• How To Recycle Christmas Cards (howcast.com)
• Christmas Cards a Dying Tradition (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Queerty Wants Your Holiday Cards: Send In Your Xmas, Hanukkah + Whatever Cards (queerty.com)

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Christmas Tree

We could have a very lively discussion on this topic.  There are pros and cons no matter which way you go.  I will cover some of those, but first, DO NOT feel bad or guilty about the decision you make.  You have your reasons and your needs and are entitled to deal with a Christmas tree as you see best for you and your family.

Here goes:

Fresh cut trees

PROS: Wonderful smell in your home.  Fun for the family if you go cut your own.  Has it’s own “natural” shape.  Helps keep the Christmas Tree farmers in business.

CONS:  Dangerous if not cared for properly.  Needles dry and drop off.  Kids get poked.  After it’s all said and done, you must find a way to dispose of it.

Live trees

PROS:  Are “recycled” by being planted.  Same great pine smell in your home.

CONS:  Expensive.  Usually shorter than fresh cut trees.  Someone has to plant it!  In some climates that means keeping it alive until the ground thaws.

Artificial Trees

PROS:  Can be up and decorated as early in the season as you like.  Beautiful shape.  Selection of heights, needles, material used to make it.  Needs no care.  Expensive – but just once.  Lasts for years,

CONS:  Expensive.  Must find a place to store it all year.  Must be creative to get it all back in the same box.   No natural pine odor.

The way I see it, they all have enough pros to make any of them “right” for whatever your need.  Choose wisely.

Related articles about trees.

• Pick Out a Great Christmas Tree and Keep it Green [Holidays] (lifehacker.com)
• The Great Tree Debate: Real or Artificial? (svmoms.com)
• How To Choose an Artificial Christmas Tree (howcast.com)

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Holiday Gift Bags

Keeping it green during the Holidays.  Some of us may fall down on that as we get too busy to really be concerned about our Earth.

Here are just a few ideas to help.

I know that many people say “make the gift,” “make the decorations,” “use natural materials.”  And yes, I agree wholeheartedly.  However, some of us have a difficult time making that happen.  I’m sure I’m not the only non-crafter in the group and the prospect of making gifts and decorations is overwhelming.  So what to do?

The majority of my home decorations have been purchased.  But, I purchased some of them over 30 years ago.  And I’m still using them.  So I consider that recycling by reusing.  And, I would guess that almost everything I have and have toted around the country all these years was purchased half price at the After Christmas Sales.

I do buy gifts.  I consider how things are packaged and try to avoid too much of that, but let’s face it, sometimes you can’t avoid the packing.  I generally wrap my gifts in gift bags with tissue paper that I have used before (well, not exactly for 30 years! )  But I find the gift bags can easily be saved and reused.  Most people enjoy “reaching into the bag” rather than tearing open the paper and throwing it away.

I attempt to keep my gift shopping trips to a minimum, getting as much done as possible with one outing.  I also am a great proponent of online shopping.  That saves my automobile, my time, and avoids the mall crowds.

Extra baking and cooking goes on this time of year.  I am careful to recycle any and all containers and papers that are accepted by my recycler.  If I find something is not getting eaten, I put it in the freezer rather than throw it out.  It will certainly be enjoyed at a later date.

Christmas Cards can really be a problem.  The expense of the cards and the postage, the use of the paper, not knowing if the receiver will recycle it.  What to do?  I send a very few cards and then send out an e-mail to all my friends telling them I have donated the cost of cards and postage to my favorite charity.  And then I wish them all a Merry Christmas.  I know that is not as personal as some people like, but it does help to solve the problem.

These are just a few simple things – reminders – that we need to keep up the efforts no matter how busy and rushed we may be. This is also meant to relieve those not “into” making everything of the guilt they may feel from those who are “gung-ho” about it.  We each can do only the best that we can do at the moment.

Happy Recycling!

Related articles.

• Simple & Sustainable Holiday Gifts (momblognetwork.com)
• 5 great reusable gift bags (timesunion.com)
• How to have a green Christmas (ismckenzie.com)

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