Ranting about Recycling


Yes, I'm going to rant about recycling. Not about whether or not we SHOULD recycle, but about the fact that some people don't recycle properly. I know this sounds odd, but I just spent half an hour in the garage tonight organizing all the stuff that exits this house and ends up in the recycle bin in the garage. First of all you should know that I LOVE to recycle. I really do enjoy rinsing out containers, cutting lids off cans and folding up cardboard. I share a house with 3 people who live downstairs and lately they've really been getting into the recycling mood. Which is GREAT except they don't sort anything, they just dump it into the green box. And they haul out box upon box but don't break any of them down. So every two weeks I end up sorting their stuff, breaking down boxes, and throwing out all the stuff they think they can recycle but can't. Tonight it was 3 milk cartons, a lot of plastic wrap and 2 tetra packs that can go to the bottle depot. Now, because I love to recycle, I end up only throwing out one white bag full of garbage a week. The thing that really gets me is that I have a feeling they are not recycling half the things they could. I find very few plastic bottles, no paper, and no glass or metal cans at all. As a result, they produce 2 big black bags of garbage a week. I know it's 3 against one, but they totally monopolize the 2 garbage bins we are allowed to put out each week. Anyway, I'm not complaining about organizing their recycling for them, because I really do enjoy it...I just wish they could be better recyclers! Well, it's late and you probably all think I'm psycho for writing this, but hey, whatever! Happy recycling! And yes...I'm watching you...

Comments

Nicole's Creations said…
Well Kelly, you would be very proud of us. We are very big on recycling as well and each week we only have one bag of garbage from a house of 5 people. Along with your rant, I wish the town would pick up our recycling every week because those of us who do recycle have a lot to put in the bin and it gets very cluttering in the house saving it for two weeks. I so wish there were still bins in town that you could take your recycling to on your own for those occassions when you have an excess. I do take our cardboard to the bins each week. (It is close to Timmies and then I have another excuse to have a coffee. HaHa)

That's my rant. Have a great week and weekend.
Thu Mar 22, 09:47:00 am
JHoos said…
I am glad to read a rant about recycling because now I know that I am not alone! In Winnipeg, we have our recycling picked up every week and we are not required to sort. I think this is great, because it will encourage more people to recycle. We put out a garbage bag once every 2 or 3 weeks. I am also excited because spring is coming and I love to compost!
Thu Mar 22, 09:56:00 am
Kelly said…
You are so lucky Janelle! We have to sort, and it only gets picked up every 2 weeks. And on our street it gets picked up at around 7 am so I have to be sure to remember to put it out the night before and pray that a skunk or cat doesn't tear everthing to shreds. sigh...
Thu Mar 22, 12:30:00 pm
Haugans said…
We are also recyclers. But our problem lately has been that when the town originally started picking up the recycling they didn't get to our house until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. So we always had alot of time to remember to put it out. I usually wake up in the morning and see that our neighbors have put theres out. Well lately they have been picking it up first thing in the morning so by the time I realize it is recycling day, the truck has already gone past my house. Which means that we have alot of recycling that we have to store around our house for another 2 weeks. So annoying but a great program at the same time.
Thu Mar 22, 12:38:00 pm
Anonymous said…
I'm just so proud of all of you! Keep up the good work .... and just go out there and "hug a tree"!
Fri Mar 23, 10:44:00 am
Desiree said…
Why don't you have a little pow-wow, and tell the folks HOW TO RECYCLE. Maybe then they will do it properly.
Fri Mar 23, 09:50:00 pm
Kelly said…
i've already had to have a "talk" with them about WHEN to put out the recycling...they started taking it upon themselves to put it out every tues day when the garbage gets picked up but our recycle pick up is every second thursday. i'd come come from work and haul it all back into the garage again...
Fri Mar 23, 10:18:00 pm
the Haazens :) said…
Dags, with the passion you have regarding this issue I think you should get paid or something! Your housemates should at least fork over a bit of change for fixing their mess!!

By the way, don't look in our pantry the next time you are over. You may be 'crushed'!
Fri Mar 23, 10:37:00 pm
Anonymous said…
i wish someone would sort through our recycling.
Sat Mar 24, 09:30:00 am
Swoosh said…
Well, I don't know how you're going to take this, but we don't recycle anything but cans/bottles, newspapers and food. Newspapers are great in the classroom for art (and they don't just throw out a sheet after they've used it unless it's completely destroyed), and the dog gets all of our scraps and loves it. But other than that, it's way too hard to store it all. We don't have a garage, and we definately don't have recycling pickup, which means if I want to recycle, not only do I have to store it in places I don't have, but I also would have to load it up in the truck and haul it into town.
Mon Mar 26, 04:32:00 pm
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