How to recycle effectively (Lip service?)

[sophiecentaur]

it just because people don't follow directions.

We could put it all down to that if the directions were, in fact published consistently. The fact is that the information we are given tends to be more about the days of collection and warnings about putting things in the wrong bins - without being specific what's what.

Washing aluminium cans is a waste of time and water

Yep.

a glass pot and window glass is not the same stuff at all

Wouldn't you think it would be easy for the council to make that clear? Information is sparse about pretty much everything that the authorities do or want. I guess it's largely down to ignorance on their part - and the fact that most of the public don't read or care about these things.

 

[Stephen Tashi]

We could put it all down to that if the directions were, in fact published consistently. The fact is that the information we are given tends to be more about the days of collection and warnings about putting things in the wrong bins - without being specific what's what.

In my location in the USA, I can email the recycling company and ask specifics. They answer within a day or so. However, it would be better if I understood the recycling process. For example, I don't understand how the recyclables are separated. What tasks are done "by hand" and what tasks are automated?

 

[WWGD]

<Snip>

Yep.
Wouldn't you think it would be easy for the council to make that clear? Information is sparse about pretty much everything that the authorities do or want. I guess it's largely down to ignorance on their part - and the fact that most of the public don't read or care about these things.

And it is harder then for people in general to care when they see the proponents of the project do not seem to.

 

[sophiecentaur]

However, it would be better if I understood the recycling process.

Same here. BUT we a 'special' and that doesn't apply to many members of the public; it's a PF type of thing. People need stuff spelled out to them (just consider how people like their cooking recipes; what to do, not why). I despair sometimes.

And it is harder then for people in general to care when they see the proponents of the project do not seem to.

That's life. I suppose the only way to change things os to get involved with local town politics and take on the responsibility of whatever it is that winds you up worst.

 

[Andy SV]

I think it's fun to recycle directly. I have used cans for shims and gallon glass jugs are awesome for sun tea. Cereal boxes can make a nice gasket. An empty bag of chips or crisps may or may not have become a vacuum diaphragm.

 

[sophiecentaur]

I think it's fun to recycle directly. I have used cans for shims and gallon glass jugs are awesome for sun tea. Cereal boxes can make a nice gasket. An empty bag of chips or crisps may or may not have become a vacuum diaphragm.

There is nothing that cannot be used for anything else. My shed is full of reusable (and actually reused) items. I was very pleased to be able to mend the mechanism for lifting the sink plug in our bathroom when the lifting lever had corroded and fallen to pieces, yesterday. An old screwdriver shaft was just the right size to fit. There is no way I could have found a replacement bit in a shop. I would likely have had to buy a whole new sink and taps. All it cost me was a smear of epoxy resin to fix the ball seal. My Dad showed me how to use a cereal packet to replace a car water pump gasket, way back in the 60s. Not so easy to do that sort of thing these days with cars, though.

 

[WWGD]

I think it's fun to recycle directly. I have used cans for shims and gallon glass jugs are awesome for sun tea. Cereal boxes can make a nice gasket. An empty bag of chips or crisps may or may not have become a vacuum diaphragm.

You can go further while showering. Get yourself just wet-enough, turn off the water, put soap on yourself, then rinse off and done. I estimate a saving of some 60%. EDIT: Not strictly recycling, more like pre-cycling, i.e., using less to start with..

 

[Andy SV]

I have a small tub and I like some relaxing rub a dub dub
Plus I water with it

 

[WWGD]

I have a small tub and I like some relaxing rub a dub dub
Plus I water with it

Sorry, it was intended for all other than fairy-tale characters ;).

 

[sophiecentaur]

You can go further while showering. Get yourself just wet-enough, turn off the water, put soap on yourself, then rinse off and done. I estimate a saving of some 60%. EDIT: Not strictly recycling, more like pre-cycling, i.e., using less to start with..

Can there be any other way? If the shower is on constantly, all the shower gel washes off before you can 'scrub'.

 

[WWGD]

Can there be any other way? If the shower is on constantly, all the shower gel washes off before you can 'scrub'.

You can always leave certain parts of your body of the water in the process or expose it only lightly. Sort of like the way people wash their hands while leaving the water full-on.

 

[sophiecentaur]

You can always leave certain parts of your body of the water in the process or expose it only lightly. Sort of like the way people wash their hands while leaving the water full-on.

True - if you have a large shower cubicle. Ours is too small to escape the jets unless you point it at the wall. I can't bring myself to be so wasteful. Washing hands under a running tap can waste an awful lot of water.

 

[WWGD]

True - if you have a large shower cubicle. Ours is too small to escape the jets unless you point it at the wall. I can't bring myself to be so wasteful. Washing hands under a running tap can waste an awful lot of water.

I cringe when I see some people leaving the water running at full speed while brushing their teeth. I just wet it before and after. But it seems socially out-of-line to say anything. I am not that socially adroit.

 

[Andy SV]

I would like to see self shutting taps
Ones that wold slowly turn off in about three seconds but had an option to lock on by pulling up

 

[sophiecentaur]

I cringe when I see some people leaving the water running at full speed while brushing their teeth. I just wet it before and after. But it seems socially out-of-line to say anything. I am not that socially adroit.

You have our full permission to be as grumpy about it as you like. I have been telling my wife about that for forty years+ and she seldom remembers.

I would like to see self shutting taps
Ones that wold slowly turn off in about three seconds but had an option to lock on by pulling up

Those taps that need constant pushing are totally useless for hand washing and the plug is always missing in pubs!

 

[sophiecentaur]

You have our full permission to be as grumpy about it as you like. I have been telling my wife about that for forty years+ and she seldom remembers.

A happy ending to this story. She now takes great care about running taps.

Let's keep working together to ensure that our efforts to recycle are making a positive impact on the environment

I am not optimistic about this or anything else about our environment, aamof. People, and the people they elect to be politicians, are incapable of thinking ahead. Their decisions are based on today's pleasure, rather than tomorrow's repercussions.

 

[PeroK]

I am not optimistic about this or anything else about our environment, aamof. People, and the people they elect to be politicians, are incapable of thinking ahead. Their decisions are based on today's pleasure, rather than tomorrow's repercussions.

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that we are now effectively entrenched (as a world society) into an unsustainable way of life. Sometime in the past 40 years there needed to be a complete sea-change in perspective of our place in the natural world. To resolve as a world community not to destroy the conditions that sustain human life. That hasn't happened.

If we reran recent history 100 times would it ever have happened? Or, is the destruction of our environment an inevitable consequence of some fundamental weakness as a species? Despite our intelligence and the apparent possibility of action, we seem like helpless animals, unable to stop ourselves over-consuming.