I'm really making an effort to recycle more this year. Early last year, we cleaned out our garage, loaded up a trailer and took a bunch of stuff to the dump. We had a trailer full of "garbage", and we also had a bin full of items considered "hazardous waste" that we took to a hazardous waste drop-off location. I could be making myself look really bad here, but did you know that you're not supposed to throw away batteries? Or paint cans? Or cleaning supplies - into your regular garbage cans? I always "knew" this, but rarely took the time to actually sort these things out of the garbage and take to the hazardous waste place. :( Now I feel so bad!
The other day, I saw a TEENY TINY picture on the back of the baby monitor (below the belt clip) showing a garbage can with a circle and the diagonal line through it (ie: do not put this item in the garbage). This picture is SO SMALL and kind-of hard to tell what it is - I really had to look close to figure out what the picture was telling me. (They need to make these types of do's & dont's more obvious, gee whiz!) It makes me wonder how many other electronic devices should not go in the garbage - even if you take the batteries out first? (b/c we now know not to throw away the batteries, right?!).
The floor of my pantry has become a mini-recycle center - and is covered in bins for various recycle-able items. I've got a bin for paper, magazines, plastic bottles/containers and plastic bags. I made a stop today at the recycle place to toss out old magazines/catalogs - which I used to just throw in the garbage (EEK - again - feeling so guilty...). I cannot imagine how many hundreds of magazines I've tossed into the kitchen garbage. :(
The other day, I saw a TEENY TINY picture on the back of the baby monitor (below the belt clip) showing a garbage can with a circle and the diagonal line through it (ie: do not put this item in the garbage). This picture is SO SMALL and kind-of hard to tell what it is - I really had to look close to figure out what the picture was telling me. (They need to make these types of do's & dont's more obvious, gee whiz!) It makes me wonder how many other electronic devices should not go in the garbage - even if you take the batteries out first? (b/c we now know not to throw away the batteries, right?!).
The floor of my pantry has become a mini-recycle center - and is covered in bins for various recycle-able items. I've got a bin for paper, magazines, plastic bottles/containers and plastic bags. I made a stop today at the recycle place to toss out old magazines/catalogs - which I used to just throw in the garbage (EEK - again - feeling so guilty...). I cannot imagine how many hundreds of magazines I've tossed into the kitchen garbage. :(
- If any of you want to collect your plastic grocery bags for me, I will take them to the kids' school. They have a big bin in the hallway for plastic bags.
- And, if you want to make a stack of old magazines/catalogs - I will take those to the recycle place as well when I take my stuff.
Just this morning, I used up the end of my shampoo bottle. I just about put it in the bathroom garbage - but instead set it on the counter and took it to my pantry "mini-center" and felt so glad that I didn't just throw it "away" to that invisible "place" (that really does exist...it's called the DUMP)...
Let me just tell you this - if you have not made a trip to the dump anytime soon - and if you want to get motivated to recycle this year - take a trip there and you will soon start changing your ways! I could not believe what I saw! It was shocking. Sweet Hubby & I drove away feeling SO GUILTY. It really makes you realize that when you "throw something away", it really does NOT actually "go away" - it GOES SOMEWHERE - to an actual place - a real location with an address and zip code. Yes, it's out of YOUR HOUSE, but it's not "gone", just somewhere else. It's so easy to have an out of sight, out of mind view of "throwing something away"...take a trip to the dump and that will soon change. You will SEE first hand where your garbage actually "goes" when you throw it "away". It also is a great place to take your kids to show them and to talk to them about the importance of recycling.
Let me just tell you this - if you have not made a trip to the dump anytime soon - and if you want to get motivated to recycle this year - take a trip there and you will soon start changing your ways! I could not believe what I saw! It was shocking. Sweet Hubby & I drove away feeling SO GUILTY. It really makes you realize that when you "throw something away", it really does NOT actually "go away" - it GOES SOMEWHERE - to an actual place - a real location with an address and zip code. Yes, it's out of YOUR HOUSE, but it's not "gone", just somewhere else. It's so easy to have an out of sight, out of mind view of "throwing something away"...take a trip to the dump and that will soon change. You will SEE first hand where your garbage actually "goes" when you throw it "away". It also is a great place to take your kids to show them and to talk to them about the importance of recycling.
I think I sense a fun homeschool or family field trip coming! Pack your lunches, set out a picnic blanket and enjoy the aroma and seagulls flying overhead! :) (just kidding.....kind-of).
*If you do take a trip to the dump, take some cash with you...they don't take debit cards. :)
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