God help us (Metlakatla: budget, work, sick)

[Moose Hollow]

Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons

I agree that global warming is a fact, but don't necessarily think we're causing it. It could just be natural climactic cycles. However, I can't imagine that some of the wasteful things we are doing can be helping the situation either. I'm not an eco-nazi and I certainly don't advocate increasing taxes for something that isn't even a reasonable proven solution; but I do try to live by the creed "touch the Earth lightly". I think everyone should be personally responsible for not wasting resources as much as possible - either through conservation, recycling, reuse, minimal packaging, alternate materials, etc. It's a sign of our culture that we buy stuff we don't need, then toss it in a landfill when we're tired of it (even if it still works), and don't even give a second thought to the resources we're wasting rather than reusing or what that waste does to the rest of the environment. I'm not saying that everyone has to go "ultra green" but doing small and affordable things really do make a difference.

Here's an example - when I used to buy yogurt, I'd go through 7-10 of those little cups a week. Those cups are made with #5 plastic, which isn't accepted in most recycle stations. I found a place that does recycle #5, so I washed and saved my cups for a month and sent 'em to that company ($6 USPS book rate for the whole box, about 50 cups). The comapny then turned around and sent me 50 disposable razors that they'd made out of my #5 cups. At the end of the year, I sent those disposable razors back to them ($6 again) and they sent me a gift card to purchase engineered decking at a big discount. For a measly $12 in postage, using things I would use anyway, I saved 30% on my brand new deck that resists insect and weather damage and will last about 10 years longer than conventional lumber in my climate (not to mention saving a few trees and reducing slow-degrading materials from a landfill).

It's just a matter at changing your perspective and looking at the larger cycle of things; and then trying not to take out more than you put back. Forget the alarmist "global warming" hoohah... being environmentally responsible just makes sense and can save you, and the world, money and toxins in the long run.

Wow! missingall4seasons, where do you find all that info on which plastic can or can't be recycled or not? The problem I've found is that too many companies in the recycling business won't recycle certain things because there is no money in it! Once you figure what can and cannot be recycled, where do you send it? The Salt Lake area sucks when it comes to recycling!

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Originally Posted by Moose Hollow

Wow! missingall4seasons, where do you find all that info on which plastic can or can't be recycled or not? The problem I've found is that too many companies in the recycling business won't recycle certain things because there is no money in it! Once you figure what can and cannot be recycled, where do you send it? The Salt Lake area sucks when it comes to recycling!

I had this same problem when I lived in Alaska a few years ago, it simply cost too much to transport plastics so they weren't being accepted as "recycle" (this might have changed in recent years for some areas though).

In the lower 48, the majority of waste management/recycling centers will accept #1 (PET) or #2 (HDPE) plastic (between 90 & 95% of the plastic used in the US) -- rule of thumb, anything with a mouth narrower than the body (like water & soda bottles or milk jugs). However, the ring and the cap aren't always recyclable because they are typically #5 (Polypropylene). If you don't know what plastics your service/station accepts, just call them... some actually have periodic drop-off events for the other types of recyclable plastic.

You can learn lots of stuff about the different types of plastics (resin identification codes), their common uses and their recyclability at AmericanChemistry.com, as well as a list of products and companies that use recycled plastics (many of these companies' websites contain information if they collect materials directly from consumers). For local recycling availability, you can contact the waste management company, or search the yellow pages/online for "plastic recycling".

Vote with your money! Let the producers of goods know that you want minimal packaging or recyclable packaging by not purchasing products that are over-packaged, encased in those irritating and inaccessible plastic packages, etc. The best way to deal with the "plastic problem" is to minimize how much of it is used in the first place

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Originally Posted by Alaskagrl

I think a lot more people (case in point, me) would start being more conservative, less wasteful if it made sense to their bottom line...money. Now, I believe in ethics too, but if it ends up COSTING me money to recycle something, then I have a problem with it. The fuel prices right now are making my companie's resolve to ship computer toner cartridges for recycling prohibitive; instead of being free now our air company has tacked on a fuel surcharge.

I agree. While I might be more apt to spend a little extra to save the planet in the end, I'm still as budget-conscious as the next person. I switched trash companies because the original one increased what was recycled, but also increased the bill. My new company recycles the same stuff (if not more), and actually pays you for the weight of your recycled goods. You won't get rich or anything, but it covers the pick-up fee... which makes sense, because they make money when they sell your recycled materials to post-consumer manufacturers.

In the end, the only legislation that is a win-win for people and ecology (ok, maybe it screws the corporations a little) is either not charge for recycle & bio-refuse used for methane energy-generation, or pay people for the materials they recycle/provide. Because, hey, we already paid for that stuff when we bought the original product, why get charged to get rid of it responsibly? That is just plain greedy!!! Hmmm... and how about tax incentives for businesses not to use so much darned packaging!!!

We all know if you want people to do the right thing you have to make it cheap and easy!

[Metlakatla]

Well, looks like old John McCain must have up and joined Greenpeace sometime recently, if his speech in Portland was any indication...

MIT climatologist Richard Lindzen

Uh, Satch, you and I have been through this before. Lindzen was bought and paid for years ago.

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Well, looks like old John McCain must have up and joined Greenpeace sometime recently, if his speech in Portland was any indication...



Uh, Satch, you and I have been through this before. Lindzen was bought and paid for years ago.

Met, that's BS but let's not rehash an old argument. I've finally gotten here and arguing politics isn't particularly high on my list of things to do.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Classic Satch

Met, that's BS but let's not rehash an old argument. I've finally gotten here and arguing politics isn't particularly high on my list of things to do.

Coulda' fooled me...

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

Coulda' fooled me...

Eh, my Pens just beat the Flyers to take a 3-0 lead in the series and that's far more important to me than global warming.

[Metlakatla]

That's fine, Satch, if you don't want to discuss the fact that Lindzen is an oil wh ore sellout, don't bring up his name and then we won't have that little problem. Just don't expect me to discuss sports or some such...we'll have to talk about hooch instead, I guess.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Classic Satch

Eh, my Pens just beat the Flyers to take a 3-0 lead in the series and that's far more important to me than global warming.

Why doesn't that surprise me?
I would have thought that as a father you would care about making sure your daughter inherits the best possible earth she could. But hey, a bunch of ugly guys are throwing around a piece of dead animal on a court, that's clearly more important.

[Metlakatla]

Now I'm pi$$ed:

The Definition Of Liberal In Portland

Really, really so.

I'm seein' red.