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A few years ago, I was disappointed when I saw the garbage picked up and the contents of the recycling boxes thrown directly into the garbage.
I called, canceled my service and now pretty much live in my trash from time to time...but eventually I get my stuff dropped off in the community recycling bins.
It's more inconvenient, but I feel good about it.
We're going to give a good effort (better effort) on composting this year to reduce waste further, but we'll see if it turns out well, or turns into a bio-hazard...
The question was meant to reflect on the people that built this country vs. your selfishness, not examples of pollution. Although it's not surprising you failed to look much deeper than computer monitor.
The people who built this country didn't worry about it--it didn't affect them, so they had a "devil may care" attitude about the whole thing.
Recycling is a money maker.
Aluminum, paper & plastics
These are sold, not given away.
Our city has separate curb side rolling trashcans. One for the trash and one for all recyclables. They have to sort it, no separate aluminum/paper/plastic. Top of that, they have to ship it all 100 miles to the plant. We don't have one built locally.
We pay more in our bill because they are not breaking even in the deal, because of the cost to sort and ship it. Even if they built a recycling plant here, we would not see a financial benefit for 15 years, to pay for and employ it.
There are 2 trash cans side by side. One is labelled: Aluminum cans only. The other is for regular trash.
I see people throw cans right into the regular trash.
I don't understand why something so simple to do can be beyond the ability of these people. I can only conclude that they just DON'T CARE.
These people operate the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. They don't see the landfills so garbage doesn't exist. And they go ahead and produce as much unbiodegradable trash as they please, when they have EVERY opportunity to lessen the impact.
Do you recycle? Why don't you, if you don't? Remember, it's not about being left or right. One of the most devastating things INDUSTRIALISM has created for our country and the rest of the world is the lack of good soil to produce food.
I used to not recycle before my city adopted curbside pickup for recyclables. I only recycle because of this convenience, not because I feel any altruistic duty.
But I think the OP describes a problem that goes far deeper than whether or not one should recycle. One problem is the degradation of common courtesy. No matter what you feel about recycling, the community asks you to separate your garbage from your aluminum can. Why do people have to disrespect the wishes of a community, especially over trash? Save your fights for something of consequence, and stop being childish.
People who don't recycle , are the same people that do not believe mankind can affect the environment, the same ones that shot several species into extenction and believe the planet is theirs to use and abuse as they see fit and to H*ll with leaving our children with a clean place to live.
Casper
People who don't recycle , are the same people that do not believe mankind can affect the environment, the same ones that shot several species into extenction and believe the planet is theirs to use and abuse as they see fit and to H*ll with leaving our children with a clean place to live.
Casper
I know plenty of people who have CARS and don't bother.
What we really need is MANDATORY curbside recycling to replace regular garbage pickup. This means:
No garbage pickup UNLESS your garbage is pre-sorted.
You mean there are parts of the US that DON'T have curbside recycling??? I've had curbside recycling for the past 14 years, both here in Denver and in Orange County, CA. Maybe they don't have it where people are still allowed to smoke in restaurants lol!
I wouldn't paint all conservatives with the "don't recycle" brush, but I have known a couple conservative Republicans who refused to recycle because it was "for pansy, tree-hugging, hippie Democrats". They would proudly throw recyclables in the regular trash.
You mean there are parts of the US that DON'T have curbside recycling??? I've had curbside recycling for the past 14 years, both here in Denver and in Orange County, CA. Maybe they don't have it where people are still allowed to smoke in restaurants lol!
There are a ton of rural communities throughout the US that don't have it.
Recycling centers are an investment for the communities they serve and though they can be profitable, in smaller communities the risk of losing money increases.
Many private companies are finding ways to make it work and so those smaller communities will eventually be served. It's just creeping along... chug -a -chug -a -chug
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