Friday, April 28, 2006

Other Options

As you are sorting through your recycling and wondering where they go,think about donating things like egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, film canisters...etc...to the YM/YWCA or the Eureka Science Program. They can use these materials for arts and crafts or experiments.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Coffee

I love coffee and order coffee out at least one morning a week. Every time I get a coffee to go, I end up with a paper cup and sometimes even a styrofoam cup...Can you believe that there are coffee shops and restaurants that still use styrofoam???? Ahhhhhhh....Now I am as guilty as the next person in not using my own to go mug...In fact, there is quite the collection in our house. So here is what I propose...it should be the challenge of every coffee drinker who doesn't stay at the shop to carry a to go mug at all times...just in case...or perhaps the coffee shops should offer a cut in price for those who do use a to go mug...More than $.10 that Starbucks offers would be incentive enough to go through the effort of carrying and cleaning a to go mug on one's own.

City of Kamloops

When will you get a more comprehensive recycling program??????

Food

I love to eat, but the one thing that I cannot stand is food waste. Last night, I was at the Columbo Lodge for chicken, salad and pasta. Always the same; always good. Anyways, I learned at my previous visit, that anything that doesn't get eaten on the tables is thrown away. I asked about this again last night, and nothing had changed. I would like to see the unused food donated to the New Life Mission, the Women's Shelter or the Food Share program. I'm sure that any of these places would appreciate the donation. Now I understand that there is some law that holds an organization responsible if someone who eats the donated food becomes sick. I also understand that the organization cannot control what happens to the food once it gets to the table. Did someone have to stick their thumb into the platter of meat in order to pass the plate around? Did someone pick something off the serving plates with their fingers? However, there are some things that can be controlled. The ten people at our table only ate half a bowl of pasta; there were two pieces of chicken left over. The Columbo Lodge should give out smaller portions to each table. I know that some tables will go through two or three bowls of pasta, but the beauty of this is that the bowls can be refilled. Anything else left in the kitchen can be saved for next time orvery safely donated.

Dumpsters

Like I mentioned previously, I live in an apartment and all of our garbage is thrown into a communal dumpster. Because of my recycling efforts, it seems we are producing about half (if that) the garbage we once did. I only wish that other apartment dwellers were so conscience of what they throw out. This week when I put out my trash, I saw a baby's car seat with a few extras - blanket, rattle....I almost wanted to go in there and make sure that the baby wasn't in there too!!!! Now I know that baby seats need to be approved and probably have a limited life. But this seat looked in pretty good shape.

So here are some options for recycling (everything):

The City recycle bins take: food tins, milk jugs, cardboard, mixed paper and newspapers.

At General Grants, you can get money for: milk cartons/juice cartons, small plastic milk containers, juice boxes, cans, bottles, and food tins.

Donate old clothes and household goods to: Penny Pinchers, Salvation Army Thrift Store, Value Village and Big Brothers and Big Sisters (they take it to Value Village for $).

Take good used items to Mint Condition Boutique and the Mulberry Bush (children's items) on a consignment basis. (I'm sure the Mulberry Bush would know whether that car seat is any good).

Or have your own garage sale!!!

I apologize if I missed any place to recycle or donate, but as you can see there are lots ofthings you can do to keep your so-called garbage out of the landfill. As the commercial says, "return it; it's worth it!!!"




Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Dumpster Divers

Not only am I obsessive about recycling but I'm also obsessive about keeping an eye on our neighbourhood. I live in an apartment building, and through my neighbourhood watch, I've come to know who the regular dumpster divers are. I leave them be. These dumpster divers provide a very valuable service - they find the recyclables that they can cash in. This helps them get a bit of money and keeps recyclable material out of the dump. I was quite perturbed and disturbed lately on the last few of my neighbourhood watches. Other tenants were yelling at these dumpster divers that they were drunk bums and to get out. Like I said before, I know who the regulars are through the neighbourhood...They are relatively harmless. I asked them if they needed me to call the police. Of course not!!! I wish I had...I found the whole exchange upsetting and very unnecessary. So the next time you stoop so low as to yell off dumpster divers, think about a few things. They need a bit of cash, they do a job that is below what Canadians are willing to do for work and they do a good service for our environment.
This is obviously the first post to this blog. I am very concerned about the environment, the earth and our future on this planet we are so lucky to call home. I have become obsessive about recycling for many reasons including the ones above. This blog will be my experiences and observations as I work to recreate a healthy environment for myself and the rest of the inhabitants in this city and on this earth.