Environmental benefits to being a nag!

I’ve never been one to hold back my thoughts, opinions, or viewpoints. Often, without even being asked, I’ll share what I think about something. This has its good points and its bad depending upon the situation. There are very few areas or topics of discussion where I’ll simply stay quiet (and usually it’s because I either don’t want to share my viewpoint or know my company well enough to know it will not be well received whatsoever and I’m not up for a debate).

The environment is one of the areas where I never remain quiet. I will quickly scold anyone who tosses something aside to the ground and insist they pick it up or I shall (which results in further scolding). I’ll chastise those around me who use styrofoam cups and remind them of how long that cup will sit in a landfill (some reports say 400 years, others say 2000 years btw - even on the short end that’s far too long). If I am at someone’s house helping prepare a meal, I’ll ask, “where does the recycling go”? After awhile - after asking time and time again - nagging can pay off. Eventually they point to a bag in the corner, or a box, or a special basket. Whether it’s at my inlaw’s house, or an office I frequent, or a friend’s - all have eventually pointed to that wonderful receptacle after being asked numerous times!

Now, I don’t consider myself an idiot. I realize that having the bin and using it as it’s intended are two different things. Any positive change after so much nagging deserves many, many kudos and celebratory, congratulatory reinforcement of how great it is that they’re recycling now. After all the congratulations I’ll then ask, “where do you take it?” (we don’t have curbside recycling in my area, sadly). If they aren’t sure, or the usual drop off location is full, I’ll offer to take it myself. As long as they are trying, and it isn’t going into a landfill and they are rethinking their usual habits of use/toss progress is being made for the better.

Often people who are unable are still willing. Help them. It’s a win-win-win situation (yes, that’s right, 3 wins!). You win, they win, and the planet wins. There are numerous seniors, for example, who are unable to carry large boxes of paper out to recycle - even curbside. Offer to take it for them. If you see your neighbor repeatedly throwing out boxes filled with stacks of paper, offer to collect it weekly when you do your own recycling run - they can simply leave it outside. It may actually be easier than lugging it to the curb for them, too!
I’ve noticed that once people start recycling waste they become more conscientious in other areas. Not always, but sometimes. When someone is collecting 2 bags of paper weekly - from food boxes, newspapers, junkmail, office shreddings, etc - they might begin to look at how things they purchase are packaged and make friendly choices. Small changes, but enough drops will create an ocean.

There are unseen benefits to helping others recycle - In my case, I took aluminum cans from an office once a week. It was a moderate office with 30-ish people and free soft drinks were supplied by the company. The employees were, for the most part, pretty cooperative about recycling. As a result of this, and the free drinks, they had a lot of cans. Usually 2 full trashbags of crushed cans every week. Without curbside recycling in that area they didn’t know what to do with them, so I picked them up weekly. All the cans that I collected were donated to a local sports club in my area. Last year that sports club raised over $260 by recycling 28 tonnes of donated metal and cans. This also prevented 175 cubic yards of waste ending up in landfills and saved over 110,000 KW of energy. Not bad for a small group.

Here are some easy ways you can help make a difference in your neighborhood:

• Recycle. If you’re not already recycling then start. You’ll be amazed at how much garbage you generate when you do!
• Be vocal. Let people know they should be recycling and remind them that we all share the planet and many other people will be left long after they’re gone (a common argument).
• Offer your assistance! Do they need a bag or basket to store it in? Get them one. A paper bag from the grocery store will hold a lot of paper and boxes (when they’re flattened) and they’re free. Fold down the edges and make it easier to toss paper into without it falling over.
• Offer to help bring collected materials to a recycling drop-off location or center or take it for them if they’re unable.

Other ways to help:

• Don’t recycle old books to pulp! Give them to libraries, hospitals, group homes, shelters, etc. Often they are more than willing to take books and periodicals off your hands and their content can be recycled many times over before their pages are!
• When you buy a large item, such as a tv, refridgerator, treadmill, etc recycling the packaging. Simply throwing leaving the box for your 60″ plasma TV merely tells everyone who happens through your neighborhood, including criminals, that there’s a valuable television there. Crime experts recommend you cut down the box anyway so take it a step further and recycle that cardboard. Many times the delivery men who bring these large ticket items will happily cut down the box for you. Don’t be shy about asking.
• If you’re having work done in your home, beit the furnace or a plumber, many responsible tradesmen will take away their trash. Ask them if they recycle. If they don’t tell them you’d like to and ask them to leave it (and cut it down if it’s a large box).
• When you clean out your closet donate anything that has life left in it to shelters. This reduces landfill and helps others in need. Many have regular drives in which they pick up items left at the curb on certain days of the month. You can receive a tax write-off as well.

Show the planet some love.