"Recycling"

I come from a place of truly believing that if you do something consistently it becomes habit.  Exercise (which is not a habit yet, but I am trying), eating well, skin care, recycling!  If you were to challenge yourself to start recycling everyday, make an effort to recycle you would see how easy and effortless it is.  Okay so here we go, my blog is called Earthy Consumer for a reason here is my small rant about recycling!


Just for those of you that have been living under a denial rock, here are a few fun facts about our wastefulness:

How Much Trash Do Americans Produce?

Something important to know when talking about recycling is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), better known as trash. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes into account the MSW statistics each year when computing national recycling figures. MSW includes common household throw-away items such as food scraps, package wrapping, grass clippings and even bigger items like an old microwave, sofa or refrigerator. In relation to recycling statistics, MSW does not include items such as hazardous, industrial or construction waste.

The EPA gives mixed news about total household MSW. The agency reports that while America is experiencing sustained improvements in waste reduction, the overall bulk of the nation's MSW continues to rise. From 1980 to 2005, the amount of MSW generated increased 60 percent! Luckily, since 2005, there have been small decreases in total and per capita MSW. From 2007 to 2009,the total MSW decreased from 255 million tons to 243 million tons. That's still a lot of trash, but it's evident that waste production is on a downward trend.

I have noticed in my life that the idea or recycling, has been recycling thru society.  It was important, then trendy, then a hassle, to trendy again, to a hassle, to not important, to trendy as of now again!  Talk about hot and cold!  You have the people that believe it is not necessary, to the fanatical people that think that it will cause the end of the world via global warming (that being me kinda sorta ;( I do believe that global warming is happening, but I fall short at ALWAYS recycling although I make a valiant effort)! I feel that if all of us would just try that would be pretty rad, I have compassion for the people that work super hard that just don't have the time so they think!  But to those really busy people I have to say that "You do have the time and it is easy I promise"! ;)

Recycling facts:

The last time the EPA reported the national recycling figures was in 2009 for 243 million tons of trash generated:

• 82 million tons composted or recycled for recovery rate of 33.8 percent
• 29 million tons of MSW combusted for energy recovery
• 74 percent of office-type paper recovered
• 60 percent of yard trimmings recovered
• 34.5 percent of metals recycled
• 7 million tons of metals recycled reduced greenhouse gas emissions at equivalent of removing 5 million cars from road for one year
• Approximately 9,000 community curbside recycling programs exist in United States, increase over reported 2002 figure of 8,875
• Approximately 3,000 community composting programs exist - decrease from reported 2002 figure of 3,227 programs
• Current amount of MSW per-person discarded in landfills lower than 1960
• Due to population growth, current total amount discarded MSW in landfills significantly higher than in 1960, yet lower than 1990

Super cool tool to see where your state rates:

http://www.epa.gov/myenv/myenview2.html?minx=-121.86035&miny=38.47778&maxx=-121.47926&maxy=38.61472&ve=11,38.54635,-121.66994&pSearch=95618,%20CA

I am sure most of us learned this in elementaryt school, but too many of us don't pay attention because we are often too busy in our lives!  But here is an ole school recap:

Reducing Landfill

The environmental problems of landfills is a difficult issue to fix. As more waste is put into landfills, the bigger the problem gets. Products that are not biodegradable or are slow to decompose can remain in landfill sites for centuries, often emitting gases that could be harmful to the environment. Keeping paper out of landfills is just one way that recycling helps the environment.

Reduce Energy Consumption

Recycling items often uses less energy than manufacturing products from virgin sources. Making paper that is using recycled pulp, for instance, is much less energy intensive than using new wood. While there are benefits to growing trees because of the carbon that they consume, this has to be offset against the damage that is done to the environment by putting paper in landfills and using energy to produce new items.

Decrease Pollution

Waste in landfills emit gases as it rots. This can pollute the environment. Anyone who has passed a landfill site during hot weather will be familiar with the smell and flies that can be found near a landfill site. Reducing the items in landfills will help to reduce the pollution that it causes. Recycling products also typically emits less carbon, thus reducing the carbon footprint of a product.

K enough of that you get my drift!  The best way to solve this problem is to consume less, make more, pay attention!  That can be something we all work on as a society, but on top of that starting to recycle daily will help a whole Heep as well!  K on to the fun stuff here are a few cool ideas for aiding you in the recycling endeavor!

Having a good system is key!  If you don't have a convenient handy way to do said recycling it is not going to happen! I have learned from personal experience.  As in recycle bins being in the cold garage during the winter means the item is going in the garbage for me period!  I am not taking my butt to the cold garage!  But having fancy recycling bins in your house by your washer or dryer, or in the pantry might make it a little easier.  Living in the community I do, the houses are small and humble.  My kitchen doesn't have a luxurious pantry.  I have a table I use for counter space and under the table-clothed table I have my recycling system!  If people were to look under that tablecloth they would see the recycling mayhem, but since they normally don't I am good to go!  And nothing is easier than just putting the paper, cardboard, or bottles be it glass or plastic in there designated spots if it is pretty close to where the garbage is anyway!  ;)

Making and buying recycling bins:

Old Large boxes- When something comes in a large box, wrap it in pretty contact paper and there you have it, luxurious paper and cardboard recycle bin!

Re-use those huge blue ikea bags- have 3 to separate, glass, paper or cardboard, and plastic!  In Davis CA where I live we have an all recycle bin so there is no need to separate unless we are turning them in for money!  Which I have yet to do! ;)  We mostly separate the items by category to look thru when grabbing fun stuff to make recycled crafts with! 

These are pretty rad for your laundry room!
 http://www.ecoz.co.uk/Outdoor75LitreTrioHomeRecyclingBin.htm

For your home office:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100641447?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051&

For your pantry:
 http://www.amazon.com/Suncast-Recycle-Bin-Kit-BH183PK/dp/B000QJEW9K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361515549&sr=8-1&keywords=recycle+bins

For BBQ's or parties, I like to pop these babies up:
http://www.amazon.com/Flings-Bins-POP-UP-Recycle/dp/B002PDDXCW/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1361515622&sr=8-13&keywords=recycle+bins

This is swanky enough for a kitchen:
http://www.amazon.com/Organize-It-All-Stainless-Steel-12-Gallon/dp/B0014RG5NY/ref=sr_il_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1361515695&sr=1-2&keywords=recycle+bins

I feel that investing in these is a great thing.

ReUse first:

I find that there are several things that I can reuse before it hits the recycle bins, Mason jars for food storage or making friends jams and preserves.  I also store soup in them!  Baggies, if you are a baggy using family can be rinsed and hung and used again!  Boxes can be broken down and stored in garage by size smallest to largest for sending xmas gifts!  Yogurt containers with lids can be rinsed out and used again for snacks or storage.  Or just left overs.   Bottles that you buy juice in can be used to make sun tea outside, Fancy soda bottles like the glass ones can be rinsed out and used for water at your dinner table, or for homemade concoctions.  I use my girls vitamin bottles for bulk spices.  Cereal boxes for crafts, big plastic soda bottles for your garden to help small plants from a freeze, glass olive oil bottles can be washed out and used for more homemade liquids such as salad dressings or simple syrups.  The list goes on.  Please try to use the item one more time before tossing in recycling if at all possible.
 

What can I recycle?

http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/PublicEd/EarthDay/What.htm 



Kids:

 I feel that setting an example for our children is key!  Having them help will remind them of the importance!  I feel another post all about recycling with kids coming on soon ;)  But for now I challenge us adults to take a minute.  We have one planet!  We have one life, we need to take care of the earth!  We need it to be a great place for our children and their children, and that just is not going to happen if we consume at this rate!  Teaching earthy consuming to our children is such a gift to them.

 Make sure to buy products that are packaged in recycled matter!  Make sure to buy products that have less to no toxins.  Just be aware!  It takes more time I do so understand, but it is for the greater good!  Tread Lightly!