Inconvenience is a Dealbreaker
Convenience is a must if recycling programs are to be successful. When consumers have to drive across town to drop off their recyclables, they’re more likely to question the impact that their individual contributions will make to the preservation of the planet. That’s a long-term decision, given that it takes glass an average of 1 million years to break down, aluminum an average of 500 years and tin approximately one century.

Drive by any landfill, and you’re likely to see what has become a national problem: overflow. As a result, cities have turned to incinerating their waste, which is hardly a solution because of the air pollution that such methods can produce. Ironically, incinerators often produce a variety of toxic ash which must then be stored somewhere, creating a vicious circle. Even more ironic is the estimate environmentalists have projected that nearly 70 percent of this waste could be recycled.

Recycling Begins at Home
What can consumers do within their own households to promote recycling, regardless of whether or not their communities have adopted environmentally conscious programs?

It starts the next time you’re at the grocery store. Instead of relying on the bags your store uses to package your groceries (most of which tear under the weight of cans and other heavy items), bring your own bag. If you didn’t bring your own bag and you’re making a small purchase of just one or two items, tell the clerk you don’t need a bag. While you’re strolling the aisles, seek out products - paper napkins and paper towels, for example - made of recycled material. They’re labeled with a series of arrows that form a circle, so they’re easy to spot. Yes, they often cost a little more, but the payoff is definitely worth the small investment. When you’re in the laundry detergent aisle, select containers labeled as refills, rather than brands packaged in large, plastic containers.

There’s no need to repurchase containers when you can simply reuse the one you already own. Avoid purchasing paper plates and cups and plastic utensils. They provide you with a shortcut come dishwashing time, but they also create needless waste.

Many modern grocery stores - and in particular, organic food stores - offer a variety of items sold in bulk, from spices to cereal to pasta to peanut butter. Take advantage of these items; they avoid using packing material and producing waste, and best of all, they’re often much less expensive.

Before you purchase anything - food or otherwise - consider how long it’s likely to last. It’s more cost-effective both to your bank account and the environment to save your money and purchase long-lasting, more durable items that translate into less waste.

When you arrive home, consider such measures as installing a trash compactor in your kitchen (or using yours if you’ve neglected to do so). While they don’t eliminate waste, trash compactors can at least reduce the amount of space consumed by garbage. t everything has to be thrown in your trash compactor, either; call your local utility company to determine which materials are safe for putting down your garbage disposal, if you have one. Some utility companies will tell you it’s safe to place such materials as coffee grounds down your garbage disposal, and others will tell you to avoid it.

If your community doesn’t have its own recycling program in place, you can still do your part and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Purchase your own separate containers for newspaper, glass, plastic, alumnium, etc., making the collection process easier for your family. Make a date once a week for delivery to your nearest recycled material drop-off center. Designating the same day every week will make the task easier to remember — and honor.

To help illustrate the significance that individual efforts can have on the environment, consider the following factoids:

Two plastic soft-drink bottles create enough polyester for a baseball cap.

One recycled glass bottle saves enough energy to illuminate a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.

A recycled park bench contains approximately 1,000 bottles and jugs.