Consume less, create more, and recycle.

I was “pissed” when I moved in my new apt and that there were no recycling program – so frustrating when you are used to recycle and have to throw away paper etc in the garbage trash, you know? Actually I couldn’t fully do it and was sparing newspapers and papers and carry them to a public recycling bin a little far away.

And a couple of weeks ago: here it is, a blue bin for recycling!!
I’m so happy! I don’t even know why this trash appeared.. Haven’t read anything in the newspaper about a public recycling program and its like my building is the only one in the street or neighborhood to have it.. nice landlord then .. hope it’s not a mistake and that it will stays! At least it’s always kinda full :)

We have a well-organized provincial recycling program for household materials. I also try to avoid purchasing items which have non-recycleable packaging.

However, our business community has been exempted from some of the recycling rules, (temporarily, I believe), and many still-useable things still seem to end up in dumpsters because in order to salvage them, the right person would have to be there at the right moment with the means to haul the things out of the way of whoever discards them. Businesses can’t just put it out curbside as homeowners can. Sometimes other staff can take home still-useable discarded things. I was lucky this week to save a 2’ x 4’ piece of rubber fatigue mat before it hit the dumpster; my boss said I could have it (it was leftover after the rest was cut to fit a work space). It will go in my kitchen, and my feet will appreciate the comfort.

But I still regret the waste of resources where so much gets discarded. I hope that whoever hauls the dumpsters away might save some things, but I doubt they could do so, especially after everything is mixed together. I have never ‘dumpster-dived’ because they can contain broken glass, lumber with spikes in it, and other hazards. I’m not shy about picking up things like furniture or leftover building materials from the curbside on collection days.

thanks for joining the team… small beginnings

I avoided paper napkins, I controlled my hungry demon, I like this self talk. Consume less, create more.