There's a reason why they make you pay for your extra bags of garbage......

Rebecca and I have recently upped our eco-lifestyle quite significantly after returning from Woofing (stands for workers on organic farms). We've been buying almost everything organic, including milk. We've also gone pretty much veg, but I still cheat because I have this strange philosophy that I don't want to be labeled. And well, sometimes I like to eat some meat. But, I haven't bought any meat in a long, long time.

We've also recently put in a "worm bin" in our kitchen where we compost a good deal of our organic waste. We have also both instigated worm programs at our schools thanks to Gerrie (aka "The Worm Lady"). We also have found that we have reduced our garbage output to 1 bag every two weeks. Suzuki does one a month. We could be there quite easily, but we've so far chosen to put our kleenexes in the garbage instead of the green bin or the worm bin. Perhaps it's time to ignore the cooties?

Also, I've joined freecycle, where people post items that they want or need. What people give away is quite normal, but what's funny is the stuff that people request. They always want something really specific, or something of value like "wanted: men's bike in good working condition". Why not post "wanted, your unneeded cash."

Anyways, as I said, we put out little waste. However, our downstairs neighbours put out quite a bit. They have a 5 year old boy, but they have been putting out two bags of garbage out for the last two weeks. I didn't mind not throwing out any garbage last week, but that's only because our garbage doesn't stink! We only throw the minimal amount of plastic packaging that comes with some of our food.

So, I called the neighbours, and they argued that it's the landlord's responsibility to buy the required tags or to have this building rezoned to accept more garbage on garbage day. They aren't as educated as they should be about these things (they use their green bin as a hockey stick holder), but I thought they would realize that the garbage tag program is not a way for the city to make money, it's an initiative to encourage people to reduce their garbage output!

So what's my point? Basically that we are going to approach them as subtly and courteously as possible to encourage them to think more responsibly. We're going to give them some bio degradeable bags for the green bin, and discuss recycling (like how you shouldn't put shoes and soccer balls in the blue box). And once again, I'm not mad or even dissapointed with them. Recycling is easy for people who are educated and pay attention to the world. It's the people who are apathetic and possibly illiterate that we need to educate in some way.

To really make a significant dent in the level of waste and pollution that this world produces, we have to make it so that ALL people either want, try, or have to.

Rebecca's friend Sue said that she makes choices in the grocery store because with Rebecca's image in her mind. She actually thinks about what she buys because of Rebecca's philosophies. That's awesome! And this is how it may have to happen. If policy doesn't change, then people will have to demand that change by influencing their peers and making their money "talk". As a friend says, "every dollar is a vote" meaning that if you spend a $ on something, then you're saying that that thing is OK.

My advice: get someone you know to produce less waste.

Just look at the picture.......

Not too much to say about this, but it reminds me of why I started a blog in the first place. I'm thinking of making some small notes for people in the neighbourhood to use sites like craigslist and freecycle. Speaking of which, I have someone picking up an old monitor this weekend through freecycle